Ulcers are open sores that are resistant to healing or recur after treatment. They may be acute or chronic and are associated with a variety of health conditions, especially diabetes and circulatory disorders. Small and uncomplicated ulcers are often treatable at home, but large ulcers and those that fail to respond to home care require medical attention to prevent the development of a potentially life-threatening infection. Always consult your doctor if you develop a sore or wound that fails to improve after a few days of home treatment.
Step 1
Clean the ulcer to remove dead tissue and surface contaminants and to minimize infection. Irrigating with warm saline several times each day is generally sufficient for uncomplicated leg ulcers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends soaking wounds with an excessive amount of debris or dry tissue in a large bucket of warm water or saline.
Step 2
Take oral antibiotics if any symptoms of infection are present such as swelling, redness, warmth or fever. The New Zealand Dermatological Society cautions against using topical antibiotic ointments, as doing so may increase antibiotic resistance and/or trigger an allergic reaction.
Step 3
Cover your leg ulcer with the type of dressing recommended by your healthcare provider. Occlusive dressings are often the most effective for leg ulcers, as they keep the wound moist and encourage healing, but non-absorbent, absorbent, self-adhering or debriding dressings are other options.
Step 4
Change your dressing once or twice each week if it remains dry. If your ulcer is weeping, you should change your dressing more frequently.
Step 5
Wear a compression garment to reduce swelling and speed recovery from your leg ulcer. As many as 70 percent of chronic venous ulcers improve within 12 weeks of beginning compression therapy, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society.
Step 6
Undergo surgery to treat leg ulcers that fail to respond to other treatment options. Surgery can eliminate any infection, repair damaged blood vessels and trigger a chronic ulcer to begin healing. Skin grafting, which involves removing healthy skin from another part of the body and transplanting it to the ulcerated area, is helpful for large ulcers.
Step 7
Eat a balanced diet high in iron, protein, zinc and vitamin C, and get plenty of sleep each night. Adequate sleep and a healthy diet are important for wound healing.
Things You'll Need
- Saline solution
- Sterile dressings
- Compression garment
