Diabetic Foot Ulcer and Foot Sores Treatment in Lubbock TX are formed as a result of the breaking down of skin tissue which causes the underlying layers to be exposed.
Diabetic Foot Ulcer and Foot Sores
Diabetic foot ulcers are mostly caused due to poorly controlled diabetes. They commonly affect the bottom of your big toes and balls of your feet. They can affect the skin tissue deep into the bones.
Diabetic foot ulcers are mostly identified by non-healing wounds with drainage from the wound. The skin around the area becomes very dry and your feet may be more prone to cracking. You may also notice a lump that may not be painful.
Everyone with diabetes has an increased risk of diabetic foot ulcers. However, with good foot hygiene and care, it can be prevented.
Diabetic foot ulcers and foot sores treatment
Diabetic foot ulcers and foot sores treatment
Treatment of diabetic foot ulcers include:
Off-loading
Taking pressure off the affected foot or leg is known as off-loading. Pressure can make the infection worse and make the ulcer expand. Taking pressure off the foot can improve the condition of the ulcer.
Debridement
Dead skin and foreign objects can be removed from the surface of the ulcer using debridement. Your doctor may send the tissue surrounding the ulcer to a lab to determine the best antibiotic to treat the ulcer and to check for infection. Debridement allows medications to penetrate well into the ulcer.
Cleaning the ulcer
Ulcer can be cleaned using running water or wet cloth. The ulcer can be gently cleaned with the cloth to remove all dirt, debris, and foreign substances.
Disinfecting the skin around an ulcer
Disinfecting the skin around the ulcer with disinfectant help to eliminate infections.
Applying medical ointment
Applying medical ointment on the ulcer helps to keep the ulcer protected from infection. It also helps to aid healing of the ulcer
Dressing the ulcer
Dress the ulcer and keep the ulcer dry with frequent changing of the dressing. Dressing the ulcer keeps it safe from external forces such as germ, dirt, debris, and infection. Always change the dressing with it is wet with fluid to keep the ulcer dry. Use dressing that contains calcium alginates help to keep the ulcer dry and inhibit bacterial growth.
Medications
If the ulcer is infected, using antibiotics, anti-platelets, or anti-clotting medications can help to kill all the germs and microorganisms that are infecting the ulcer.
Surgery
Surgery is only needed in rare cases when other conservative treatments are not improving the ulcer. Surgery may be done to alleviate pressure around the ulcer by shaving down the bone or removing foot deformities such as bunions or hammertoes. Surgery can prevent your ulcer from getting worse and also prevent amputation.
What is Arterial Foot Ulcer?
What is Arterial Foot Ulcer?
Arterial ulcers are ulcers that develop as a result of damage to the arteries which is due to the lack of blood flow to tissues.
Arterial ulcers often occur between or on the tips of the toes, on the heels, on the outer ankle, or areas where there is pressure on the foot from walking or ill-fitted footwear.
Arterial ulcers are painful and have a “punched out” appearance and are usually round in shape.
What is Ischemic Foot Ulcer?
Ischemic ulcer is also known as arterial ulcer. Ischemic ulcers can occur when there is poor or reduced blood flow in your legs. The poor or reduced blood flow causes cells to die and damages tissue. Ischemic ulcers mostly occur on the feet and legs.
What is Charcot Foot Ulcer?
When disease attacks the bones, joints, and soft tissue in your feet, Charcot foot ulcer may occur. Charcot foot ulcers commonly affects people with nerve damage that can’t feel anything in their feet. People with Charcot foot ulcer may not realize something is wrong at the initial stage. It can cause painful sores or change the shape of your foot when the condition gets worse.
What is Callous Ulcer?
Callous ulcer is a chronic non-healing ulcer with hard base and rigid walls. Callous ulcer is caused by pressure or friction on the foot or particular part of the body. When pressure or friction is pressed against a particular part of the body over time, the part of the body gets hard and thickened. This hard or thickened skin forms a callous.
Callous ulcer normally develops on the bottom of the foot and palm. The inside of a callous ulcer is often filled with pale tissue. Callous ulcer can take a long time to heal.
What is Venous Foot Ulcer?
Venous ulcers are sores on the leg that are usually caused by damage to the veins. Venous ulcer is a break in the skin on the leg, usually around the ankle.
The veins in the leg are responsible for transferring blood from various parts of the body to the heart. The valves stop the flow of blood from the heart back into the veins. The valves prevent blood from flowing out of the heart.
When these valves malfunction, they are not able to stop the blood from flowing out of the heart into the veins. The blood then flows back into the veins due to the malfunctioning of the valves. The blood then pools in the vein and damage the vein. The pool of blood caused increased pressure in the lower part of the leg and weakens the skin. The pool of blood weakens the skin and cause tissues to die. The skin begins to discolor and break, causing venous ulcer.
