Skin ulcers refer to defects in the skin and mucous membranes. They are formed due to necrosis of tissues that do not heal for a long time after the necrotic dead areas fall off. Ulcers on the skin appear due to a sharp decrease in regeneration processes, with metabolic disorders in the body, and other painful human conditions.
Causes of occurrence
Skin ulcer, the symptoms of which depend on the provoking disease, may be the result of:
- traumatic injuries of various origins (thermal, mechanical, electrical, chemical or radiation);
- malignant and benign tumors, which are sometimes covered with ulcers (lymphogranulomatosis, sarcoma);
- disorders of venous circulation (with thrombophlebitis, arteriovenous fistulas, varicose veins);
- arterial circulatory disorders (with thrombosis, embolism, sustained vasospasm);
- impaired lymph flow (for blood diseases, diabetes, anemia, scurvy);
- various infections;
- neurotrophic disorders (with tumors, progressive paralysis);
- changes in the walls of blood vessels (withRaynaud's disease, atherosclerosis, syphilitic aortitis, endarteritis obliterans).
Complications
Skin ulcers are dangerous with various complications:
- attached infection;
- secondary bleeding from damaged vessels;
- penetration (growth of an ulcer near the organs or perforation in the cavity), which interferes with the work of the organs and disrupts their functions;
- degeneration of ulcers into malignant (the so-called malignancy).
Treatment of ulcers
Skin ulcers are treated taking into account the underlying disease, so the approach must be comprehensive. For the treatment of external manifestations, conventional means are used with the obligatory thorough skin care, bed rest, limb immobilization, physiotherapy measures such as ultraviolet radiation or sollux.
Skin ulcers in a child and the initial stages of the disease are treated by frequent bandaging with hypertonic solutions. Additionally, proteolytic enzymes are used to cleanse pus. Bandages with antiseptics and ointments are applied to the cleaned ulcer.
It is also important to carry out general therapeutic measures aimed at improving reparative or immunobiological processes in the body. This means a complete diet rich in vitamins, as well as exercise therapy, blood substitutes and immunomodulators.
Surgical methods of treatment are used only in cases where conservativeineffective. At the same time, pathological scars and altered tissues are removed from the ulcer. The tissue defect is covered with a skin graft. When prescribing adequate treatment, it is important to consider the pathogenesis of ulcer formation. Therapy is aimed at restoring tissues and stopping diseases that have affected the formation of an ulcer. To consolidate the positive effect after the elimination of the ulcer on the skin, a spa treatment is indicated with the inclusion of measures to increase immunity and vitamin therapy.
