An ulcer is a sore on the skin or mucous membrane, accompanied by tissue disintegration. Ulcers can cause loss of epidermis and frequent parts of the dermis and even subcutaneous fat. Ulcer is most common in the skin of the lower extremities and in the digestive tract. Ulcers that appear on the skin are often seen as inflamed tissues with reddened areas of the skin. Skin ulcers are often seen when exposed to heat or cold, irritation, or problems with blood circulation. They can also be caused due to lack of mobility, which causes prolonged pressure on the network. This stress in the blood circulation turns into a skin ulcer, commonly known as bedsores or decubitus ulcers. Ulcers often become infected, and the form of pus.
Video Ulcer (dermatology)
Signs and symptoms
Skin ulcers appear as open craters, often round, with eroded skin layers. The skin around the ulcer may be red, swollen, and painful. The patient may feel pain in the skin around the ulcer, and the fluid may escape from the ulcer. In some cases, ulcers can be bloody and, rarely, the patient has a fever. Ulcers sometimes do not seem to heal; healing, if that happens, tends to be slow. Ulcers that heal within 12 weeks are usually classified as acute, and longer as chronic.
Ulcers develop gradually. In stage 1 the skin is red with soft tissue underneath. In the second stage the skin redness becomes more pronounced, swelling appears, and there may be some blisters and loss of the outer skin layer. During the next stage, the skin can be necrotic down through a deep layer of skin, and the fat under the skin can become visible and open. In stage 4, deeper necrosis usually occurs, the fat under the skin is completely exposed, and the muscles can also be exposed. In the last two stages of illness can lead to fat loss and deeper muscle necrosis; in severe cases can extend to bone level, bone damage can begin, and there may be sepsis joints.
Chronic ulcers can be painful. Most patients complain of continuous pain at night and during the day. The symptoms of chronic ulcers usually include increased pain, loose granulation tissue, foul odor, and broken wounds instead of healing. Symptoms tend to worsen after the wound becomes infected.
Vein skin ulcers that may appear in the lower legs, above the calf or in the lower ankle usually cause leg pain and swelling. If these ulcers become infected they can develop unpleasant odors, improving tenderness and redness. Before the ulcer is established, there may be dark red or purple skin over the affected area and the skin is thickened, dry, and itchy.
Although skin ulcers do not seem to be of great concern at first glance, they are concerned about the condition especially in people suffering from diabetes, as they are at risk of diabetic neuropathy.
Ulcers can also appear on the cheeks, soft palate, tongue, and on the inside of the lower lip. These ulcers usually last 7 to 14 days and can be painful.
Disposal
The different types of discharge from ulcers are:
- Serous, usually seen in healing ulcers
- Purulent, seen in an infected ulcer. Yellow cream vapor is observed in staphylococcal infections; Opalescent removal bleeds in streptococcal infection, while greenish discharge is seen in pseudomonas ulcers
- Bloody (sanguineous), usually seen in malignant ulcers and in healing boils with healthy granulation tissue
- Seropurulent
- Serosanguinous
- Serous with sulfur grains, seen on actinomycosis
- Yellowish, as seen on tuberculosis ulcers
Maps Ulcer (dermatology)
Cause
Injuries in which ulcers arise can be caused by various factors, but the main cause is a disorder of blood circulation. In particular, chronic wounds and ulcers are caused by poor circulation, either through cardiovascular problems or external pressure from the bed or wheelchair. A very common and dangerous type of skin ulcer is caused by so-called stress-sensitive wounds, more commonly called sleep wounds and that often occur in people lying in bed or using wheelchairs for long periods of time. Other causes produce skin ulcers including bacterial or viral infections, fungal infections and cancer. Blood disorders and chronic wounds can cause skin ulcers.
Venous venous ulcers due to circulatory disorders or blood flow disorders are more common in older people.
Grading
Grading of ulcer Wagner is as follows:
Management
Investigation
Some of the investigations done for ulcers are:
- Study fluid usage: Culture and sensitivity
- Edge of biopsy: Edges contain increasing cells
- Radiography of the affected area to search for periostitis or osteomyelitis
- FNAC lymph nodes
- X-rays and Mantoux examination on suspected tuberculosis ulcers
Treatment
Skin ulcers may take a very long time to heal. Treatment is usually to avoid infected ulcers, remove excess debit, keep the environment wet, control edema, and reduce pain caused by nerve and tissue damage.
Topical antibiotics are commonly used to prevent infected ulcers, and injuries or ulcers are usually kept clean of dead tissue through debridement.
Generally, as part of the treatment, patients are advised to change their lifestyle if possible and change their diet. Improving circulation is important in treating skin ulcers, and patients are usually advised to exercise, quit smoking, and lose weight.
In recent years, progress has been made in accelerating the healing of chronic wounds and ulcers. Chronic wounds produce less growth hormone than is necessary for tissue healing, and healing can be accelerated by replacing or stimulating growth factors while controlling the formation of other substances that work against them.
Foot ulcers can be prevented by using compression stockings to prevent blood clots and backflow. It is likely that someone who has experienced a skin ulcer will have it again; the use of compression stockings every day for at least 5 years after a skin ulcer has healed can help prevent recurrence.
See also
- Skin lesions
- Skin diseases
- List of skin conditions
- Venous insufficiency ulcer
- Arterial insufficiency ulcers
- Neuropathic ulcer
References
External links
- Innovative treatment for chronic skin ulcers
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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