Advanced Wound Healing Institute

What Does a Foot Ulcer Look Like?

An ulcer on the foot looks like a red sore, most commonly found on the ball of the foot or under the big toe. A foot ulcer is an open sore that can be shallow or involves only the surface of the skin or may be deep that it extends through the full thickness of the skin and may even involve tendons and bones.

Foot ulcers are estimated to occur in at least 15 percent of patients with diabetes. Thus, it is even more important for them to understand how to identify these wounds so they can prevent it from getting worse. Also, statistical analysis reveals that diabetic foot affect males more often than females and those patients in their forties and fifties tend to develop wounds more frequently compared to other age groups.

You may notice drainage on your sock or in your shoes. Other signs are skin irritation, redness, pain, numbness, black or dead tissue around the area, and unusual swelling. If the sore gets infected, you will see pus and smell a bad odor.

Untreated foot ulcers can develop gangrene and lead to an amputation.  Infected ulcers that are not treated right away can develop into abscess, cellulitis, osteomyelitis (bone infection), and gangrene.

To avoid this, if you discover an ulcer, you need to go to a podiatrist as soon as possible. The sooner you identify a foot ulcer and have it seen by a podiatrist, the more likely you are to avoid infection and other serious complications.

Complete recovery may depend on the size of the ulcer, other health conditions you might have such as diabetes/atherosclerosis, blood circulation, pressure from standing or walking, and the quality of wound care.

For more information on foot ulcers, you may contact Advanced Wound Healing Institute at (239) 430-3668 (FOOT). Advanced Wound Healing Institute is part of Family Foot and Leg Center, P.A.