Venous Stasis Ulcers: Causes, Symptoms, and Modern Treatment Options

Introduction: A Hidden Danger of Untreated Vein Disease

If you’ve noticed a painful, slow-healing wound near your ankle or lower leg, especially if you have a history of varicose veins, leg swelling, or skin discoloration, you could be dealing with a venous stasis ulcer.

These wounds may start as dry patches or itchy skin—but left untreated, they can progress to open sores that significantly impair quality of life.

At Sheen Vein & Cosmetics, we help patients not only treat venous ulcers but also address the underlying cause: chronic venous insufficiency.

In this blog, you’ll learn:

  • What venous stasis ulcers are
  • What causes them
  • Warning signs and symptoms
  • How functional and modern vein therapies can restore healing and prevent recurrence

What Is a Venous Stasis Ulcer?

A venous stasis ulcer, also called a venous leg ulcer, is a wound that occurs when the veins in the lower legs fail to return blood properly back to the heart. This creates chronic pressure in the veins, which damages the skin and underlying tissues, eventually leading to breakdown and ulceration.

These ulcers are:

  • Usually located above the ankle, on the inner or outer lower leg
  • Painful or tender, with red or brown skin around the area
  • Often slow to heal and prone to infection
  • Recurrent, unless the underlying venous disease is treated‍

What Causes Venous Ulcers?

The root cause of venous stasis ulcers is chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)—a condition where the valves in the leg veins become weak or damaged, allowing blood to pool in the lower legs.

This pooling creates high venous pressure, which leads to:

  • Swelling
  • Inflammation
  • Leakage of fluid and blood proteins into surrounding tissue
  • Skin thickening, darkening, and eventually breakdown

Over time, the tissue becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients, making it vulnerable to ulceration and infection.

Contributing Risk Factors Include:

  • History of varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Obesity
  • Inactivity or prolonged standing
  • Previous leg injuries or surgeries
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes or metabolic syndrome
  • Aging and genetics

Symptoms of Venous Stasis Ulcers

Venous ulcers don’t typically happen overnight. There are usually progressive signs that worsen over time.

Early Signs:

  • Leg swelling (especially in the lower leg and ankle)
  • Heaviness or aching that worsens with standing
  • Itchy, dry, or flaky skin
  • Brownish discoloration near the ankles (from hemosiderin deposition)
  • Hardened, thickened skin (lipodermatosclerosis)

As Ulcers Develop:

  • Red, open wounds that may ooze or crust
  • Pain or burning sensation
  • Foul odor or signs of infection (pus, increased redness, warmth)
  • Surrounding skin may appear shiny or taut

Without intervention, venous ulcers can become chronic, infected, or necrotic—leading to significant disability.

Diagnosing Venous Stasis Ulcers

At Sheen Vein & Cosmetics, a full evaluation includes:

1. Visual and Physical Exam

  • Location and appearance of ulcer
  • Surrounding skin condition
  • Signs of infection or lymphatic compromise

2. Venous Ultrasound

  • Checks for venous reflux (backflow) or obstruction
  • Identifies dysfunctional valves in superficial or deep veins
  • Essential for determining the root cause and best treatment plan

How Are Venous Ulcers Treated?

Healing a venous stasis ulcer involves two essential steps:

  1. Treating the wound itself
  2. Fixing the underlying venous insufficiency as a whole

Step 1: Local Wound Care

  • Debridement: Removal of dead or infected tissue to promote healing
  • Dressings: Use of advanced wound dressings (foam, hydrocolloid, alginate) that maintain a moist, healing environment
  • Infection Control: Topical or oral antibiotics if infection is present
  • Skin barrier support: Zinc oxide, silver, or honey-based dressings may be used depending on the wound

Step 2: Compression Therapy

Compression is one of the cornerstone of venous ulcer treatment. It helps:

  • Reduce leg swelling
  • Improve venous return
  • Lower venous pressure
  • Speed wound healing

Options include:

  • Gradient compression stockings
  • Multilayer inelastic compression wraps
  • Unna boots (zinc oxide-based bandage)

Note: Compression should only be used after ruling out significant arterial disease.

Step 3: Treating the Veins (Definitive Therapy)

To prevent recurrence and promote long-term healing, the underlying venous insufficiency must be treated.

Options include:

✅ Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)

Minimally invasive laser treatment that closes malfunctioning veins.

✅ Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy

Injects a medicated foam into affected veins, causing them to collapse.

✅ Visual Sclerotherapy

Visual sclerotherapy is a non-surgical treatment that uses targeted injections to eliminate spider veins and small varicose veins.

These procedures are performed in-office with local anesthesia, no stitches, and minimal downtime. Treating the reflux source improves healing and reduces the risk of another ulcer.

Additional Functional Approaches:

To support long-term healing and vascular health, we often recommend:

  • Anti-inflammatory diet rich in antioxidants and healthy fats
  • Supplements like diosmin, horse chestnut, butcher’s broom, vitamin C, and zinc
  • Movement protocols: daily walking, calf raises, and ankle pumps
  • Smoking cessation and weight loss strategies‍

Complications of Untreated Venous Ulcers

Ignoring a venous ulcer can lead to:

  • Chronic infection or cellulitis
  • Tissue necrosis
  • Venous eczema or dermatitis
  • Severe pain or immobility
  • Amputation (in rare, severe cases)

Early intervention makes a major difference in healing speed and quality of life.

Final Thoughts: Healing From the Inside Out

Venous stasis ulcers may start as a skin issue, but they’re truly a circulatory problem that needs root-cause resolution. Without treating the underlying vein disease, ulcers will continue to recur—often worse each time.

The good news? With today’s advanced vein therapies and comprehensive care, you can heal faster, stay active, and reduce your risk of recurrence.

📞 If you’re dealing with a leg ulcer or chronic skin breakdown, don’t wait.

Schedule a Comprehensive Vein Evaluation at Sheen Vein & Cosmetics and let us help you restore circulation and reclaim comfort.

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