Venous skin ulcers: Using compression stockings

A venous skin ulcer is an open wound that typically develops on the lower leg and can take months to heal. If you have had a venous skin ulcer before or have one of a number of high-risk conditions that impair your lower-leg blood circulation, you have a significant risk of developing a venous skin ulcer.

Key points

• Wearing compression stockings is the single most effective way of controlling the painful fluid buildup and pooling of blood in the lower legs that cause venous skin ulcers.
• You can greatly improve your chances of remaining ulcer-free by wearing compression stockings on a daily basis.
• If you develop a venous skin ulcer, you can speed healing by wearing compression stockings during your waking hours and elevating your legs above the level of your heart whenever you can.

 What are compression stockings?

 Why is compression treatment so important?

 How do I put on compression stockings?

 Where to go from here

You can find more information about vein, circulation, and skin ulcer problems in these topics:

• Venous Skin Ulcer
• Varicose Veins
• Deep Vein Thrombosis

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