Understanding Foot Ulcers | Wounds

Ulcers don’t only happen in your mouth after an unfortunate mala session. Your feet can develop ulcers too.

A foot ulcer is an open wound on the leg or foot, with varying degrees of severity. Milder cases may only affect the surface of the skin, but more severe cases can extend deeper to even affect other parts of the foot like the tendons or bones. Ulcers typically don’t heal on their own, and have a high risk of infection.

Foot ulcer | Family Podiatry Centre | Best Foot Doctor Podiatrist DPM Clinic Singapore Malaysia

What causes Foot Ulcers?

  • Impaired blood circulation
  • A compromised immune system
  • Underlying diseases e.g sickle cell anemia

The  most common cause of foot ulcers is diabetes due to the associated nerve damage and poor blood flow to the limbs, which impairs healing.

Ulcers usually develop at areas of high stress: the ball of the foot and heel, or areas where shoes rub against the skin. Trauma such as stepping on a sharp object or scratching the skin may also lead to the development of a wound which can become an ulcer. If left untreated, the ulcer can become gangrenous, forcing the need for amputation.

Best Foot Ulcer Treatment

Thankfully, ulcers are easy to identify, and recent advances in medical technology mean that they can be treated without trouble as well. However, for more severe cases more specialised attention may be required to assess the extent of the damage. In these cases, we recommend visiting a podiatrist to see what can be done for your situation.

Written by Kardem Kiter
Written by Kardem Kiter

Based in Singapore, Degree in Podiatric Medicine from the University of Johannesburg. Published in The Foot and member of The Golden Key Honour Society.

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