Warning Signs of Venous Ulcers

Venous ulcers are a common and serious complication of poor circulation. However, skin changes “set the stage” for easy wound formation before these slow-healing sores appear. Here’s what that looks like.

Poor circulation — a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) — affects millions of aging adults in the United States at any given time. CVI is diagnosed at stage three or above on the venous disorder spectrum:

Stage 0: No visible signs, but your legs feel achy
Stage 1: Visible blood vessel damage (spider veins)
Stage 2: Moderate-to-large varicose veins emerge
Stage 3: Leg swelling (edema) with no skin changes
Stage 4: Skin changes appear (texture and/or color)
Stage 5: You have a healed venous ulcer (open wound)
Stage 6: You have an acute, or active, venous ulcer

As vascular specialists who seek to halt CVI progression and prevent serious complications, our board-certified experts at Vascular Vein Centers know that avoiding venous ulcers starts with recognizing their early warning signs — and then taking the proper steps to reverse course.

A short tutorial on venous ulcers

Venous ulcers are open sores caused by poor circulation in the lower extremities. Also known as venous stasis ulcers, these slow-healing wounds appear when skin tissues are damaged by an insufficient supply of oxygen-rich blood.

CVI-related skin changes — a condition known as stasis dermatitis — can gradually lead to tissue breakdown or wound formation without proper care. Though venous ulcers can appear anywhere on the lower extremities, they’re most commonly found on the inner ankle.

Skin changes set the stage for ulcers

Among the most obvious “warning signs” of a venous ulcer is the development of a visible open sore on your lower leg, ankle, or foot. But well before you’re dealing with a hard-to-heal wound, you experience specific skin changes that “set the stage” for eventual wound formation.

The following skin changes are “early warning signs” of a forthcoming ulcer:

Noticeable swelling
Thinning, tissue-like skin
Dark, discolored areas
Dry, itchy skin patches

As stasis dermatitis progresses, you may notice more advanced skin changes like:

Skin that’s flaky or scaly
Thickening areas of skin
Tight, shiny skin patches
Bumpy skin appearance

Catching and treating the problem at this point — before the skin tissue has broken down and opened up — can halt the wound formation process in its tracks and safeguard against further complications.

Halt wound formation before it starts

Treating stasis dermatitis can stop venous ulcer formation at its earliest stage. To prevent a slow-healing wound before it emerges, our comprehensive approach may include topical medicated lotions, compression therapy, and lifestyle modifications like exercise, weight loss, and avoiding hot showers and harsh skin cleansers.

Wound worsening and progression

If a venous ulcer isn’t caught in its early formational stage, the appearance of an open sore is imminent. Once the skin tissue has degraded to the point of breaking open, expert care is vital. Give us a call right away if you notice any open or bleeding wounds, such as:

A shallow sore with a red base
A sore covered by yellow tissue
A sore with a strong, bad odor
A sore that’s draining liquid (pus)

The sore may have unevenly shaped borders; surrounding skin may be shiny, tight, warm, and discolored — and may also feel itchy or tingly.

The problem with venous ulcers is that they won’t heal on their own — and even with proper interventional care, these sores can take weeks or even months to heal.

Prevent infection, promote healing

The longer a venous ulcer lingers, the greater the risk of permanent tissue damage as well as life- or limb-threatening complications like infection and gangrene.

That’s why we aim to stop wound formation in the first place, or, failing that, strive to treat a venous ulcer as soon as it appears. Our approach has two goals:

Prevent infection

Venous ulcer care may include antibiotics to help prevent (or treat) an infection, as well as topical medicated ointments to protect against germs. Daily wound cleaning flushes out bacteria and removes minor debris and dead cells; it’s important to keep the ulcer covered with clean, dry bandages as directed.

In severe cases, we may recommend an in-office procedure called debridement to clear debris and dead tissues and help prevent wound worsening that leads to gangrene.

Support faster healing

Pain relievers and other therapies can help ease overactive nerves near the sore, while custom-fitted compression stockings support improved circulation. In some cases, we may recommend a skin graft procedure to improve your healing timeline.

Depending on your specific case, you may additionally benefit from venous disorder treatment (i.e., varicose vein removal) or chronic disease management to address a contributing condition like diabetes.

When it comes to venous ulcers, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure — and we’re here to help you stay healthy. Schedule a visit at your nearest Vascular Vein Centers office in College Park of Orlando, Kissimmee, Waterford Lakes of East Orlando, Davenport/Haines City, Lake Mary, or The Villages, Florida, today.