Leg sores may result from a congenital or acquired disease. This is a very unpleasant phenomenon, which is quite difficult to cope with. For example, according to official statistics, at least 2 million people suffer from trophic ulcers. The reason can be both a weakened immune system and a complication caused by diabetes.
About the general symptoms of a trophic ulcer
Sores on the legs, which are a trophic ulcer, are difficult to recognize at an early stage. For example, if a person spends all day on his feet, then he takes the fatigue of the lower extremities and the pulling pain as the norm. Redness noticed, a small area of white skin or swelling - due to an insect bite or allergy. At the same time, the main part of the population begins to think: how to smear sores on the legs in order to eliminate the aesthetic defect? In the course are green, alcohol, ointment and much more, which leads only to aggravation of the disease.
As soon as the process of development of a trophic ulcer has begun, an urgent need to go to an appointment with a phlebologist. These are the following symptoms:
- heaviness and buzzing in the legs;
- weakness growing in the evening;
- unpleasant itching, causing a slightly noticeable inflammation of the skin;
- swelling that occurs after prolonged sitting, drinking plenty of fluids, or taking long walks;
- gastrocnemius muscle cramps occurring at that moment in time when complete relaxation occurs (deep night or morning).
Leg sores for diabetes
Patients with diabetes begin to notice over time sores on their legs - the skin is rough and noticeably flaky. Hair becomes dull, palms and soles are covered with cracks and calluses, and the skin becomes yellowish. Nails can also become deformed and thicken.
Many types of sores on the legs, as well as dermatological disorders indicate the presence of diabetes mellitus even before the doctor diagnoses it.
Skin lesions can be avoided through strict adherence to hygiene rules. The use of conventional cosmetics should be minimized, since, for example, exposure to toilet soap can lead to a decrease in the acidity of the skin and its ability to withstand microbes. For washing hands and feet, as well as for washing, use a pH-neutral soap. To cleanse the face, you can use cosmetic milk or water lotion.
Types of ulcers
Many people suffer from leg ulcers. This disease looks like a deep defect in the skin or basement membrane and inevitably causes inflammation. The cause of the ulcer is malnutrition of cells, which in turn worsens the ability to recover.
Ulcers are:
- arterial;
- venous;
- pyogenic;
- diabetic;
- neurotrophic.
The resulting open sore on the leg does not heal for a long period of time (2 months or more).
The main causes of leg ulcers
The causes of ulcers may be arterial insufficiency, diabetes and other factors.
As for diseases of venous insufficiency, the appearance of ulcers can be caused by varicose veins, thrombosis, failure of perforating veins. These diseases lead to stagnation of blood in the veins, malnutrition of tissues and their destruction.
Arterial insufficiency can lead to ulcers due to obliterating thromboangiitis and Menkeberg arteriosclerosis. In addition, the cause of trophic ulcers may be lurking:
1. In various infections:
- fungal (coccidioidosis, sporotrichosis, etc.);
- bacterial (ecthyma, boils, etc.);
- protozoal (leishmaniasis).
2. In metabolic disorders:
- Gaucher disease
- calcification of the skin;
- gout
- diabetes mellitus;
- bullous pemphyogoid, etc.
Leukemia, sarcoma, melanoma, metastases and any other malignant neoplasms can trigger the appearance of an ulcer.
Sores on the legs can also be the result of ordinary corns, burns, insect bites, frostbite, radiation dermatitis and other factors.
How to recognize a leg ulcer?
The process of the onset of an ulcer is difficult not to notice, since the symptoms are quite obvious. It all starts with the appearance of burning, itching and redness, as well as a slight roughness to the touch.
Are there spots on the legs? You do not need to wait for peeling of the skin and the appearance of non-healing wounds; it is better to immediately consult a doctor, because if you leave the disease unattended and start, it can “hook” the muscles and even the periosteum.
Prevention of trophic ulcer
A person suffering from varicose veins or another disease that increases the likelihood of ulcers on his legs should adhere to the following recommendations:
- wearing compression hosiery and elastic bandage;
- minimization of long-term loads and physical inactivity;
- Avoid overheating and hypothermia.
Venous leg ulcers
The following symptoms indicate that the leg was affected by a venous ulcer:
- swelling;
- dryness, itching, thickening, and sometimes a brownish color (if severe swelling occurs, the skin looks stretched and shiny);
- with the development of varicose eczema, scaly and small cracks are observed;
- the inflammatory process of an ulcer can be accompanied by an unpleasant odor and the release of a pale yellowish-greenish liquid.
The location of the venous ulcer is usually the inside of the leg just above the ankle.
Venous ulcer factors
The following points can aggravate a venous ulcer or provoke it:
- healed ulcers that damage the venous system;
- a fracture or any other injury;
- blood clot in a deep vein;
- surgical intervention;
- working conditions under which a person sits or stands for a long period of time;
- deep vein inflammation;
- pregnancy;
- overweight.
How to cure leg ulcers?
How to treat sore legs? It all depends on the factors that caused the ulcer or hinder its healing. As soon as each of them is taken under control, for example, the level of sugar in the blood, the skin lesion will go away by itself.
Treatment usually involves cleansing the wound, using anti-inflammatory drugs, and using dressings. If you have healthy arteries, you can also use pressure dressings.
A positive effect can be achieved through vascular surgery. Implantation of a new foot artery, or balloon angioplasty, is a procedure that expands a narrowed artery and eliminates its blockage.
Sometimes, in order to hide an ulcer, they resort to plastic surgery - they transplant the skin from some inconspicuous area to the surface of the wound.
Home treatment
The basic rules for the treatment of trophic ulcers include:
- Special diet: carbohydrates should be reduced, vegetables and fruits should be significantly increased, and spices and spicy foods should be completely eliminated.
- Bed rest. Of course, you should not lie in bed all the time, but rest should be daily.
- Special exercises of a regular nature aimed at eliminating stagnation of blood and improving metabolism: flexion and extension of the legs in the supine position, rotation of the feet, crossing of legs extended upwards, etc.
- Wearing special orthopedic shoes that reduce the risk of injury.
Important! If the home treatment method recommended by the doctor for a long time does not lead to the desired result, then it is unlikely that you can do without surgical intervention.
A few recipes for treating trophic ulcers:
- The tatarnik proved to be pretty good. Dry leaves of a camel thorn must be ground to a state of dust, and then sieved, folded into a jar and placed in a dark place. After treating the wound with some pharmacy product (for example, "Rivanol") you need to blow powder on it and fix it with a bandage. The result - the ulcer dries up, and the resulting crust disappears over time.
- Curd whey based product. From home milk, you first need to make yogurt, then pour the resulting product into gauze and hang. Serum is recommended to be used to lubricate an ulcer, and cottage cheese - to apply to the affected area.
- Streptomycin. A few crushed tablets can not only relieve pain, but also quickly heal the wound.
What is swelling of the lower extremities?
Swelling on the legs is a pathological process that causes accumulation in the intercellular space of a different volume of fluid. Outwardly, this phenomenon is similar to swelling.
At the same time, a person begins to feel heaviness in his legs or even pain. As a result of pressure, a fossa is usually observed. The occurrence of puffiness is usually accompanied by the following points:
- increased permeability of the walls of blood vessels;
- violation of the lymphatic and venous outflow of fluid, which leads to increased pressure in these vessels;
- the chemical composition of blood plasma and tissue fluid is not normal.
Causes of edema
Edema on the legs may appear due to hemodynamic disturbances in the osmotic regulation zone. The location of these zones is the atrium, therefore, the result of their reaction to such a malfunction is a significant decrease in blood flow in the limbs. Then there is a reaction of the sympathetic nervous system, leading to an increase in blood levels of catecholamines, which reduce the excretion of fluid from the body and lead to a narrowing of peripheral vessels.
The role of the endocrine system in the process of regulating the amount of fluid in the body cannot be ignored. If the hypothalamus begins to produce antidiuretic hormone, then this inevitably leads to an increase in the total volume of blood circulating through the vessels. Such a change can lead to increased pressure, including hydrostatic, which greatly complicates the evacuation of excess fluid from the tissues. In addition, the presence of a large volume of blood stretches the vascular walls, which leads to an increase in permeability and the ingress of protein molecules from the blood wort into the tissues. The result is venous congestion, causing a spasm of the vessels of the lymphatic system, which further complicates the outflow of fluid from the tissues.
Causes of skin rashes
A spot on the foot itches - what to do? First you need to find out the cause of its appearance: to determine which disease caused it. The primary action is an appeal to a qualified specialist who will find out exactly why the skin has changed color and select the necessary treatment.
Hormonal failure, a disease of an internal organ, or the manifestation of an allergy are the main causes of skin rashes. Every person periodically encounters the appearance of red spots, but if they are present on the body from birth, you should immediately seek help from a vascular surgeon and phlebologist.
You can get rid of spots on the body by reviewing your own diet. The exclusion of spicy, smoked and fried foods can significantly refresh the skin color and improve its condition. A dry sore on the leg will be much faster if you do not comb it.
A bright pink rash can be triggered by a lack of vitamins. In this situation, it is recommended: heavy drinking, proper nutrition (plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables) and bed rest.
Anything can be the cause of the ailment, starting from an allergic reaction to the use of depilation cream or cosmetic products and ending with uncomfortable shoes.
Some useful tips
Sore legs do not go away? A damaged part of the body will heal much faster if, immediately after the injury has been received, it is carefully treated. Particularly severe cases require qualified assistance from medical professionals who will suture if necessary and help the victim with valuable advice and useful recommendations.
If there is no qualified specialist nearby, then it is recommended to use any antiseptic agents that are at hand to treat the damaged part of the body: Zelenka, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, etc. After treatment, the wound should be covered with a temporary sterile dressing. Bandage the damaged areas at least 2 times a day and remember that for the treatment of wet and dry wounds you need to use different means.