Venous Skin Ulcer

Home Treatment

Venous skin ulcers can take months to heal and often recur. You can reduce your healing time and your risk of having an ulcer recur by taking the following important measures:

• Carefully follow your doctor's instructions for wound care, and ensure that your compression bandages are changed regularly. Bandages are typically changed weekly.
• Make sure you're getting enough vitamin C and flavonoids, which are available at most drug and health food stores. They have a proven benefit for venous skin ulcer healing.⁷
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol use, both of which impair skin ulcer healing and prevention.
• For both treatment and prevention, elevate your legs above the level of your heart whenever possible. Prop the foot end of your bed up 6 in. (15 cm) to 8 in. (20 cm) on blocks. During waking hours, try to elevate your legs higher than your heart for 30 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day.
• Maintain a balanced, nutritious diet.
• Exercise regularly. Walking is an excellent activity for improving lower leg circulation.
• Avoid prolonged standing or sitting, both of which slow healing.
• Ask your doctor whether aspirin may help your ulcer heal more quickly.
• Try using an herbal preparation containing substances extracted from horse chestnuts (aescin). Studies have shown that aescin can help reduce swelling and ease the pain caused by venous insufficiency. Be sure to tell your doctor about any herbal supplements you are taking.⁸

Once your wound has healed, wear your compression stockings regularly, removing them only for bathing and sleeping. Compression is the key to preventing venous skin ulcers. For more information, see:

Venous skin ulcers: Using compression stockings.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: September 17, 2007
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology
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