Vascular - Caring for your skin now your ulcer has healed

Now that your leg ulcer has healed, it is important to continue caring for your skin and wearing the compression hosiery you have been prescribed in order to keep the ulcer healed. Your skin may be damaged if it becomes too dry or comes into contact with irritant substances.

What can I do to help keep my skin healed?

Washing

Use warm tap water. Pat dry. Ensure the spaces between your toes are thoroughly dried.

Avoid

Hot baths, perfumed soaps, rubbing the skin and disinfectants.

Moisturisers/Emollient

• Use the one recommended by your healthcare professional. Apply to freshly washed skin, in downwards strokes, twice daily or more often if the skin is dry
• Avoid placing moisturiser/emollient in-between toes
• Avoid over-the-counter products that may contain harmful ingredients Ask your healthcare professional for advice on the best moisturiser or emollient
• To prevent contamination of bacteria into the emollients, please ensure that the dispenser is not damaged, if so discard. When removing emollients from tubs, please ensure that you use a clean utensil to avoid contamination from hands

Look at your legs

Inspect them daily. Contact your healthcare professional if any redness, irritation or a break in the skin occurs.

Avoid

Scratching your skin, knocking your leg, hot sun, exposure to extreme cold and sitting too close to the fire.

Keep your skin healthy by eating a well-balanced diet consisting of:

• Protein - for example meat, fish, dairy produce, soya, pulses (beans, lentils and peas)
• Vitamin C – for example vegetables and fruit
• Iron – for example cereal, meat and dark green vegetables
• Drink plenty of fluids during the day (unless advised otherwise by your GP)

Exercise

Walking and doing foot and ankle exercises will help. Ask your healthcare professional for the leaflet ‘Leg Exercises’.

Compression Hosiery/Kits

If you have been given the compression stockings please continue to wear them. Your hosiery has been prescribed for you to help prevent recurrence of your leg ulceration. If you have any problems with your hosiery, please contact your health care professional. You should have already received the leaflet “Compression Hosiery/kits”. If not, please ask the healthcare professional providing your treatment.

Follow-up

Always attend your appointments.

Further information

If you think you may be developing another ulcer, contact your healthcare professional immediately. For further advice and information then please contact your appropriate healthcare professional.

Telephone Numbers for each service:
Telephone: .........................................................................
Single point of access number: ..........................................
Locality:  ...............................................................................

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Group
Oldham Care Organisation
Vascular Service Clinic:
Telephone:

Salford Leg Ulcer Services
Salford Care Organisation
Stott Lane, Salford, Manchester, M6 8HD
Email: salfordtissue.viability@nca.nhs.uk
Tel: 0161 206 1700 - Community
Tel: 0161 206 2113 - Acute
Fax: 0161 206 2654