Wound Care

Wound care is vital for the health of your feet. Anytime someone suffers from a wound in their feet, it can become problematic because of the limited blood flow. After all, your feet are the furthest areas from your heart, and your circulatory system has to work against the effects of gravity.

When it comes to diabetic patients, though, the concern is even greater. Poor circulation from diabetes means that your skin isn’t getting vital oxygen and nutrients. Your skin can dry out, crack, and heal very slowly, which increases your risk of a serious infection.

The goal of wound care is to prevent serious foot wounds by learning how to care for your feet at home and visiting your podiatrist regularly. Wound care also involves intervening with medical attention as soon as any wound occurs (even if it seems minor). Your podiatrist works diligently to preserve the health of your feet to lower your risk of diabetes-related complications.

What are the symptoms of foot wounds?

Foot wounds sometimes cause no obvious symptoms initially. While you would think a wound on your foot would cause pain, it doesn’t always when you have diabetes. 

It’s possible that blood sugar surges have led to nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy), meaning you have foot numbness and can’t feel when you have a wound. This is why daily foot inspections are critical.

It’s important to understand the signs and symptoms of foot wounds, which may include:

• Redness
• Swelling 
• Drainage in your socks

These issues indicate that you may have a wound or infection, and you need to come in to Advanced Family Foot Care Centers for immediate wound care treatment. 

How does a podiatrist treat wounds?

Advanced Family Foot Care Centers offers comprehensive diabetic foot and wound care services. Your podiatrist examines your feet thoroughly and determines the severity of any wounds you may have. To treat your wound, your podiatrist may:

• Clean the wound
• Prescribe antibiotic medications
• Apply a topical antibacterial ointment
• Remove dead skin (wound debridement)
• Design custom orthotics to offload pressure as the wound heals

For more serious cases, where ulceration or gangrene are present, limb salvage surgery may be necessary. This highly specialized procedure involves removing deteriorated skin and grafting tissues to promote healing. No matter which wound care treatment you need, the caring podiatrists at Advanced Family Foot Care Centers help you every step of the way. 

Advanced Family Foot Care Centers provides expert wound care services to prevent limb-threatening ulcers. Call the office or request an appointment online today.