There are many causes of foot ulcers such as diabetes, cellulitis, and trauma. Understanding what causes ulcers makes treatment and prevention more effective.
1. What causes foot and toe ulcers?
There are many possible reasons why you might get foot and toe ulcers. The most common causes include:
- Neuropathy from diabetes.
- Cellulitis, a common bacterial infection.
- Trauma to the foot or toe.
- Poor circulation (caused by a variety of conditions).
- Peripheral arterial disease.
- Unusually formed toes.
- An unusual walk that puts too much pressure on one part of your foot or toe.
- Friction when your foot or toe rubs against the toe box of your shoe.
Although they don’t cause ulcers, foot and toe ulcers are often found alongside toe conditions such as hammertoe, mallet toe, and claw toe.
2. How big are foot and toe ulcers?
There are many different sizes of ulcers. They start as small as 1 centimeter wide (about the size of a pea or a Cheerio) and can grow to the size of your entire foot if left untreated.
The depth of the ulcer can change, too. Several different classification systems exist to define the depth of an ulcer. The Wagner Diabetic Foot Ulcer Grade Classification System, for example, has six grades:
Grade 0: Your skin is intact (undamaged).
Grade 1: The ulcer is “superficial,” which means that the skin is broken but the wound is shallow (in the upper layers of the skin).
Grade 2: The ulcer is a “deep” wound.
Grade 3: Part of the bone in your foot is visible.
Grade 4: The forefront of your foot (the section closest to your toes) has gangrene (necrosis).
Grade 5: The entire foot has gangrene.
3. Are foot and toe ulcers contagious?
No, foot ulcers aren’t like other foot conditions that might be passed from person to person (contagious). You can’t spread a foot or toe ulcer to — or catch it from — someone else.
4. How do I take care of my foot and toe ulcers?
Your healthcare provider might teach you how to care for your ulcers at home. You might be instructed to:
- Wash the affected area with mild soap.
- Keep the wound clean and dry.
- Change the bandages as directed.
- Take prescribed medications as directed.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Ask your healthcare provider how much water you should drink every day.
- Follow a healthy diet, as recommended by your healthcare provider.
- Exercise regularly, under your healthcare provider’s care.
- Wear appropriate shoes.
- Wear compression wraps as directed.