Venous leg ulcer
A leg ulcer is a long-lasting (chronic) sore on your leg or foot that takes more than four to six weeks to heal.
Venous leg ulcers are open, often painful, sores in the skin that take more than four to six weeks to heal. They most often develop on the inside of the leg.
A venous leg ulcer can develop after a minor injury if there is a problem with the circulation of blood in your leg veins. If this happens, the pressure inside the veins increases.
You should see your GP if you think you may have a venous leg ulcer as the condition is unlikely to improve without specialist treatment.
With appropriate treatment, most venous leg ulcers will heal within three to four months.
You can help reduce your risk of developing a venous leg ulcer in several ways, such as wearing a compression stocking, losing weight and taking care of your skin.