Skin Ulcers

Whether it's a bed sore, blister or a venous skin ulcer, all these terms fall under the condition of what is called a skin ulcer. Skin ulcers are areas of the skin that can sometimes lack the protection of having a covering of skin. Without the upper protective covering of the skin, the bottom layer of skin is open to the air, making it susceptible to infection. This can be caused by scratches or scrapes that never heal, a disease of which open sores are a symptom or when blood supply is cut off to an area for more than two to three hours, as in the case of bedsores. They can appear on any part of the body.

What do skin ulcers look like? Pictures of skin ulcers show an area that can first become red or purple and then move through a gradual progression of tissue death to an open and oozing sore. They may or may not be uniform in shape and size. This is because the cause of skin ulcers can vary. Certain illnesses like diabetes can cause open sores on the feet while other sores are the result of injury. There are even situations that are the result of side effects from medication, as in the case of Lipitor and skin ulcers. Are skin ulcers contagious? Depending on the underlying cause, skin ulcers may or may not be contagious. Whether the result of injury, bacterial or viral infection all open sores should be treated with caution. In the case of pressure related skin ulcers, symptoms can be alleviated, even prevented, by repositioning the patient every two hours.

The treatment of a skin ulcer can vary depending on the cause. In worst case scenarios, the only skin ulcer treatment that will help is surgery. With venous skin ulcers, compression treatment and elevation is a common therapy. Small skin ulcers typically only require topical antibiotics; however, there are times when oral antibiotics will be prescribed to help effectively cut any type of infection. When dressings are changed regularly, it effectively helps to speed the healing process. Dietary changes are also known to have a positive effect on skin ulcers. The picture of a skin ulcer from a patient with a high protein intake shows significant healing compared to one whose intake is much lower.

Even animals can develop this problem. A skin ulcer on a cat can be caused by anything from old age to a fungal infection. A picture of a skin ulcer may help to get an idea of the cause but it is always best to seek the help of a professional. As with humans, skin ulcer cures consist of topical or oral antibiotics with frequent changes of the skin ulcer's dressings.