Venous leg ulcer
Venous leg ulcers are open, often painful, sores in the skin that take more thana monthto heal. They usuallydevelop on the inside of the leg, just above the ankle.
If you have a venous leg ulcer, you may also have:
A venous leg ulcer can be susceptible to bacterial infection. Symptoms of an infected leg ulcer can include:
Contact your GP if you think you've developed a venous leg ulcer. They're unlikely to get better on their own, as they usually require specialist medical treatment.
You should also contact your GP or leg ulcer specialist if you've been diagnosed with a venous leg ulcer and have symptoms that suggest it could be infected.
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A leg ulcer is a long-lasting (chronic) sore on your leg or foot that takes more than four to six weeks to heal.
Venous leg ulcers are open, often painful, sores in the skin that take more than four to six weeks to heal. They most often develop on the inside of the leg.
A venous leg ulcer can develop after a minor injury if there is a problem with the circulation of blood in your leg veins. If this happens, the pressure inside the veins increases.
You should see your GP if you think you may have a venous leg ulcer as the condition is unlikely to improve without specialist treatment.
With appropriate treatment, most venous leg ulcers will heal within three to four months.
You can help reduce your risk of developing a venous leg ulcer in several ways, such as wearing a compression stocking, losing weight and taking care of your skin.