01
A practical time limit
Minor scrapes in a person with normal sensation and normal pulses usually shrink within two weeks. A wound that is the same size after that, or any open area on the foot of a person with diabetes, should be examined for a reason. Repeating the same dressing without that examination misses venous pressure, arterial disease, and infection.
02
Clues that point to a cause
Swelling, brown skin, and a sore on the inner ankle suggest vein disease. A painful wound on a toe, with a cool foot, suggests poor arterial supply. A painless wound under a callus in diabetes suggests neuropathy and pressure. These patterns overlap, so they are clues for the clinician, not a diagnosis to make at home.
- Increasing redness, smell, or drainage can mean infection
- Black edges mean tissue is not viable
- A wound that probes deep needs assessment for tendon or bone involvement
03
What to take to the visit
Bring a list of antibiotics and dressings already tried, and any diabetes or vascular reports. Note when the wound started and whether walking or standing makes the leg swell. Emergency care, rather than a clinic request, is the right route for fever, rapidly spreading redness, or a foot that has become cold and pale.
This page is general education about vascular conditions and the way they are usually assessed. It does not diagnose a person or replace a consultation. Decisions about tests and treatment depend on an individual clinical assessment. Nothing on this website promises a particular result, a cure, or freedom from pain.
