Understanding Venous Leg Ulcers: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

We’ve all experienced minor cuts, scrapes, or bruises on our legs. In most cases, these injuries begin to heal within two weeks. However, if a wound on your leg seems to be worsening, increasing in size, or producing drainage, it could be a venous leg ulcer (VLU)—a condition requiring medical attention.

What Are Venous Leg Ulcers?
Venous leg ulcers are shallow wounds with uneven edges, often accompanied by swelling, redness, or itching in the surrounding skin. You may also feel heaviness, aching, or throbbing in your legs. Discolored patches around the wound are another common symptom. Left untreated, VLUs can become chronic, significantly impacting your mobility and overall quality of life.

What Causes Venous Leg Ulcers?
The primary cause of VLUs is venous disease, a condition that hinders proper blood circulation. In healthy veins, blood flows back to the heart with the help of one-way valves. When veins become weak or damaged, blood can pool in the legs, creating pressure that damages the surrounding skin and tissue. This process disrupts the body’s natural ability to heal wounds.

Other Types of Leg Ulcers
While VLUs are the most common, other types of leg ulcers may occur due to different underlying causes:
• Malignant leg ulcers: Caused by skin tumors on the leg.
• Traumatic leg ulcers: Resulting from injury.
• Vasculitic leg ulcers: Triggered by autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
• Diabetic leg ulcers: High blood sugar levels and poor circulation in individuals with diabetes often lead to these ulcers.
• Arterial leg ulcers: Poor circulation in the arteries is the culprit for this type.

Treatment Options for Venous Leg Ulcers
Treatment for VLUs depends on the severity of the ulcer, your age, and overall health. Commonly recommended approaches include:
• Compression Therapy: A conservative approach often used as a first-line treatment, compression therapy can reduce swelling and improve blood flow, helping to manage symptoms.
• Sclerotherapy: A minimally invasive procedure where a solution is injected into the varicose veins, causing them to collapse and fade over time.
• Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT): Using laser energy, this procedure targets the damaged veins, causing them to close and reroute blood flow to healthier veins.
• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): Similar to EVLT, this method uses radiofrequency energy to seal off problematic veins.
• Varithena: Varithena is minimally invasive and doesn’t involve surgical vein stripping, removing the associated risks. You avoid general anesthesia, sedation and incisions. Varithena does not require multiple injections to numb the treatment site, unlike most thermal procedures, and doesn’t leave permanent foreign bodies behind after treatment.
• Micropheleblectomy: The procedure is performed by making a tiny 1-2mm micro-incision and the vein is teased out with a small hook. It is then divided and removed. The incisions are so small
that stitches are not needed to close them. They heal with excellent cosmetic results with only a butterfly closure.
• Ultra Sound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy: is unique because it removes unsightly or unhealthy veins without stripping them. First, an ultrasound will be used to find the affected vein, and then a needle is inserted to inject a sclerosing agent into the vein being treated. This agent causes a chemical reaction, which causes the vein to collapse leaving the body to then absorb that vein. This removes the varicose vein without creating any scarring or skin conditions. Veins generally need two to three treatments, and patients enjoy long-lasting cosmetic results afterward.

The Importance of Timely Treatment
Chronic VLUs can lead to severe complications, including cellulitis (a bacterial skin infection), deep tissue infections, or even amputation in extreme cases. Early intervention significantly improves healing outcomes.

Statistics Highlight the Scope of the Issue
• VLUs affect approximately 1-3% of adults in industrialized countries, with a higher prevalence among older individuals.
• Up to 50-70% of chronic leg ulcers are attributed to venous disease.
• Compression therapy, when used consistently, can reduce the recurrence of VLUs by as much as 50%.

Seeking Professional Care
If you notice a wound on your leg that isn’t healing after two weeks, don’t ignore it. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications and improve your quality of life. A vascular specialist can help identify the underlying cause and recommend the most effective treatment plan. For more information about venous leg ulcers and advanced treatment options, visit the Center for Vein Excellence at cfvein.com/blog/leg-ulcer-appearance.

Get support for your veins and circulation problems today.
You may need medical treatment for your veins, and the Central Florida Vein and Vascular Center wants to help. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you live better. Our board-certified Vascular Surgeons and Phlebologists specialize in minimally invasive vein therapy.

Central Florida Vein & Vascular Center

(352) 562-0078 . www.cfvein.com
13953 NE 86th Terrace, Unit 101
Lady Lake, FL 32159

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