Nonhealing Ulcers: Causes, Venous Disease, and Treatment in Los Angeles
Nonhealing leg ulcers are open sores or wounds on the lower legs or ankles that fail to heal after several weeks. These ulcers are not only painful and frustrating — they can also signal serious underlying circulation problems. One of the most common causes is chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), where blood pools in the veins of the legs. This condition often leads to venous leg ulcers (VLU).
At the Vein & Wound Center of LA, we specialize in identifying whether your ulcer is venous-related and providing advanced wound care and vein treatments that target the root cause.
Types of Nonhealing Leg Ulcers
While venous leg ulcers (VLU) are the most common type, there are other causes of chronic wounds:
- Venous ulcers – Caused by venous insufficiency and pooling of blood in the legs
- Arterial ulcers – Due to poor blood flow from peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Diabetic ulcers – Often occur on the feet due to neuropathy and poor circulation
- Pressure ulcers – From prolonged pressure on skin and tissues, common in immobile patients
- Mixed etiology ulcers – A combination of arterial and venous disease
Because each type of ulcer requires different treatment, accurate diagnosis is essential.
Venous Leg Ulcers (VLU)
Venous ulcers develop when vein valves become weak or damaged, allowing blood to pool in the legs. This increases venous pressure, damages skin and tissues, and eventually causes open wounds.
Signs of venous ulcers include:
- Ulcers near the ankles, often on the inner leg
- Brown or dark discoloration of the surrounding skin
- Swelling, aching, or heaviness in the legs
- Wounds that are slow to close or repeatedly reopen
If left untreated, venous ulcers can persist for months or years, causing significant pain and infection risk.
Why Ulcers Don’t Heal
A wound may fail to heal if the underlying cause isn’t addressed. For venous ulcers, compression alone may not be enough if diseased veins continue to cause high pressure. Similarly, diabetic or arterial ulcers will not improve without treating circulation problems or blood sugar control.
This is why specialized evaluation with ultrasound and vascular testing is critical for patients with chronic ulcers.
Treatment Options for Nonhealing Ulcers
At the Vein & Wound Center of LA, we offer comprehensive wound care and vein treatment tailored to the underlying cause of your ulcer.
Wound Care Management
- Advanced dressings and topical therapy
- Debridement (removing damaged tissue to promote healing)
- Infection control and skin care education
Vein Treatments for Venous Ulcers
- Compression therapy to support circulation
- Endovenous thermal ablation to seal diseased veins
- Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy for faulty veins
- Varithena® foam treatment for larger veins
- Ambulatory phlebectomy for surface varicosities
By treating the root cause — venous insufficiency — alongside wound care, we promote long-term healing and reduce the risk of recurrence.
When to See a Wound and Vein Specialist
You should seek medical care if you have a leg ulcer that:
- Has not healed after 2–4 weeks of standard care
- Causes increasing pain, swelling, or drainage
- Is accompanied by skin discoloration, heaviness, or varicose veins
- Keeps coming back after closing temporarily
Early intervention improves healing rates and helps prevent serious complications like infection, cellulitis, or sepsis.
Advanced Wound and Vein Care in Los Angeles
At the Vein & Wound Center of LA, Dr. Christopher Kim and our team provide compassionate, specialized care for nonhealing ulcers of all types, with expertise in venous leg ulcers (VLU). Using state-of-the-art diagnostics and minimally invasive treatments, we help patients achieve faster healing and lasting relief.
👉 Call us at (213) 654-8346 or request an appointment online today to schedule your consultation.
