There are four main types of ulcers – pressure, venous, arterial and neuropathic. Venous and arterial ulcers are vascular wounds caused by problems with the circulatory system.
Pressure ulcers occur when a person remains in the same position for too long, resulting in decreased blood circulation and tissue damage. Often the immobility is caused by advanced age or an underlying conditio. Pressure ulcers that have broken through the top two layers of the skin, leaving an open wound, require specialized treatment to remove damaged tissue and prevent or treat infection. Untreated pressure ulcers can lead to a variety of complications, and in some cases can be life-threatening.
Neuropathic ulcers, which may be painless, arise from minor trauma that went unnoticed because of a loss of sensation known as peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy interferes with the ability to sense injuries, leading patients to unknowingly place stress on a limb’s pressure points until an ulcer develops. Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic ulcers. If peripheral vascular disease is also present, there is greater risk for infection and amputation may sometimes be necessary.