Skin
Skin Ulcers
Open skin sores that discharge pus and resist healing — treated with slippery elm and lobelia poultices, comfrey applications, improving circulation (contrast hydrotherapy, alternating hot/cold), vitamin C, B complex, garlic, and correcting the underlying circulatory or nutritional deficiency.
Also known as: leg ulcers, venous ulcers, non-healing skin wounds, pressure sores, abscess (definition: collection of pus from infection)
📝 At a glance
Likely root causes: Poor circulation (especially in leg ulcers with varicose veins).; Nutritional deficiencies.; Dead cell accumulation that becomes necrotic..
First thing to try: Slippery elm and lobelia poulticeMashed plant material applied right on the skin. How to make a poultice →: A classic combination to relieve pain and restore skin tissue.
See a doctor if: See a doctor if symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening, or if you are unsure — natural supports are meant to complement, not replace, professional care.
🔎 Start with the cause
Lasting relief rarely comes from covering a symptom. First find what is feeding the problem, change what you can, and then help the body do what it was designed to do — heal.
Likely root causes
- Poor circulation (especially in leg ulcers with varicose veins).
- Nutritional deficiencies.
- Dead cell accumulation that becomes necrotic.
- Underlying systemic disease (diabetes, venous insufficiency).
- Prolonged pressure (in bedsores).
- Abrasion and friction injuries that become infected.
Change what you can
- Slippery elm and lobelia poulticeMashed plant material applied right on the skin. How to make a poultice →: A classic combination to relieve pain and restore skin tissue.
- Apply over the ulcer.
- Comfrey: Use three parts comfrey with one part lobelia — apply as a poulticeMashed plant material applied right on the skin. How to make a poultice → directly to the ulcer or wound.
- For circulation: Apply alternating hot and cold contrast treatments to the legs to stimulate blood flow.
- Chelation therapy (intravenous, medical) has helped some patients with circulatory leg ulcers.
- Apply chlorophyll liquid mixed with water several times daily.
- Keep the wound clean and protected from contamination.
- Nutrition: Vitamin E (200 IU daily), vitamin C (500–1,000 mg daily with food), vitamin A as beta-carotene, B complex, garlic and kelp.
🌿 Then assist nature: remedies & protocols
With the cause being addressed, these are the actual things people do for this — ranked by the community. Vote ▲ on what helped you and ▼ on what didn't, and open How to do it for the steps. Each shows two quick signals: Evidence (how much science backs it) and Gentleness (how safe and in keeping with whole, natural health).
★ Start here — our first-line pick, pinned for safety
This addresses the underlying circulation problem behind most skin ulcers and works alongside — not instead of — medical wound care.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: Elevating the legs and using properly fitted compression reduces the pooling of blood and fluid in the lower legs that slows healing in venous skin ulcers.
- Elevate the legs above heart level for periods throughout the day, especially while resting.
- Wear compression stockings as fitted and recommended by a healthcare provider.
- Avoid long periods of standing or sitting with legs down without a break.
- Move and walk regularly to support natural calf-muscle circulation.
20-30 minutes of elevation several times a day; compression worn during waking hours · Daily
Caution: Compression stockings should be properly fitted; improperly fitted compression can worsen poor circulation, so ask a healthcare provider for correct fitting. People with diabetes or arterial (not venous) circulation problems should have this evaluated by a doctor before self-directed compression, since compression can be harmful with arterial disease.
When to get help: See a doctor promptly for an ulcer with spreading redness, increasing warmth, red streaks, fever, or one that isn't healing after several weeks — diabetic foot ulcers in particular should never be self-treated.
Source: Standard vascular wound-care guidance
Comments & experiences ▾
Also helps — ranked by the community (vote to reorder)
A basic care habit to follow alongside your medical team's specific wound-care plan.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: Keeping an ulcer clean, moist, and protected from further trauma reduces the bacterial load and friction that can slow healing, complementing whatever medical treatment plan is in place.
- Gently clean the ulcer with mild soap and water or saline as instructed by your healthcare provider.
- Pat the surrounding skin dry without scrubbing the wound itself.
- Apply the dressing type recommended by your provider, keeping the wound bed appropriately moist.
- Change dressings on the schedule your provider recommends, watching for changes in the wound each time.
5-10 minutes per dressing change · As directed, often daily
Caution: Never attempt to debride (remove dead tissue from) an ulcer yourself — this requires trained medical care. Diabetic foot ulcers require medical supervision; do not manage these entirely at home.
When to get help: See a doctor promptly for spreading redness, increasing warmth, red streaks, fever, or an ulcer that isn't healing after several weeks.
Source: Standard wound-care guidance
Comments & experiences ▾
A supportive nutritional habit alongside medical wound care, especially important since poor nutrition can slow healing.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: Adequate protein, vitamin C, and zinc are needed for collagen formation and tissue repair, so correcting nutritional gaps can support (though not replace) medical ulcer treatment.
- Include a source of protein at each meal to support tissue rebuilding.
- Eat plenty of vitamin C-rich foods such as citrus, berries, and bell peppers.
- Include whole grains and legumes for B vitamins and steady energy.
- Stay well hydrated throughout the day to support circulation and skin health.
Ongoing while the ulcer heals · Daily
Caution: Nutrition alone cannot heal an ulcer caused by significant circulation problems — medical evaluation is essential. People with diabetes should coordinate any dietary changes with their healthcare provider to keep blood sugar stable.
When to get help: See a doctor promptly for spreading redness, increasing warmth, red streaks, fever, or an ulcer that isn't healing after several weeks.
Source: General nutrition-support guidance
Comments & experiences ▾
How the numbers work: a weighted voting system — trusted published sources cast endorsement votes for each protocol, and your ▲/▼ adds to them. Not medical advice.
🩺 When to see a doctor
- See a doctor if symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening, or if you are unsure — natural supports are meant to complement, not replace, professional care.
🌿 The seven pathways to health
Seven pathways for your skin ulcers — tap the circle to check one off (saved on your device), or ask Remy for help.
“Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health... In case of sickness 1cause should be ascertained, 2go to work intelligently to remove the disease. 3Unhealthful conditions should be changed, 4wrong habits corrected. 5Then nature is to be assisted in her effort 6to expel impurities and 7to re-establish right conditions in the system.”
🌿 Overview
A skin ulcer is an open sore with an inflamed base, continuously discharging pus. It differs from an abscess in that it is superficial rather than a deep, contained collection. Leg ulcers are especially common in people with varicose veins and poor circulation — the breakdown of skin tissue from inadequate blood supply creates wounds that will not close without addressing the underlying circulatory problem.
A skin ulcer is an open sore where the skin has broken down and is slow to heal, often discharging fluid. Ulcers have many causes — poor circulation (such as venous or arterial leg ulcers), prolonged pressure (pressure sores), diabetes (especially on the feet), infection, or injury — and the underlying cause largely determines how the ulcer is treated and why it is not healing.
Because a non-healing ulcer signals an underlying problem, proper care is usually medically guided rather than purely home-based: identifying and treating the cause (for example, compression for venous ulcers, or relieving pressure for pressure sores), specialized wound dressings, and managing infection. Supportive measures help the body heal — good nutrition, managing diabetes and circulation, not smoking, and protecting the area. Any open sore that does not heal within a couple of weeks, is spreading, increasingly painful, or shows signs of infection (redness, warmth, pus, fever) should be assessed by a doctor, and foot ulcers in people with diabetes need prompt, careful attention.
Common signs
- Open, inflamed sore with discharging pus.
- The wound refuses to close with normal healing.
- The base may be raised and angry-looking.
- In leg ulcers: typically on the lower leg, associated with varicose veins, swelling, and skin discoloration.
🍃 Supporting foods & habits
The gentle, everyday foods and supports that help in the background — secondary to the active remedies above. Vote on what helped you.
Vitamin-C- and protein-rich foods are essential for building the new tissue that closes an ulcer (signs of infection need treatment; diabetics need prompt, expert care).920
A slippery elm poultice is a traditional soothing dressing, but a non-healing sore needs medical evaluation of its cause (circulation, pressure, or diabetes).780
An aromatic resin with antiseptic properties traditionally used in washes and pastes for sores and skin irritation.600
How the numbers work: this is a weighted voting system — every published book or article recommending a remedy counts as an endorsement vote, and your ▲/▼ counts too. Not medical advice. *Ties are broken by our editor score (sources, safety, simplicity, cost, lifestyle fit, eight-laws alignment).
🍽️ Eating to help
Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.
Eat a nutritious whole-food diet. Garlic and onions daily (sulfur compounds support healing). Carrot juice and green/yellow vegetables (beta-carotene). Kelp. Avoid heavy starches, chocolate, excess sweets, and saturated fats. Stay well hydrated.
⚖️ Good to know
- Leg ulcers with poor circulation may require medical vascular treatment to heal — natural remedies can help but may not be sufficient alone if blood flow is severely compromised.
- Diabetic foot ulcers are a medical emergency — diabetics should never try to treat non-healing foot wounds at home without medical supervision.
- Any ulcer with spreading redness, warmth, or red streaks requires prompt medical evaluation for spreading infection.
⚕️ What a doctor may offerConventional treatments for this condition — for your information.Show ▾
RemedyRank's heart is natural healing — and honest information. Here is what conventional medical care commonly involves for this condition, listed to inform, never to promote. Decisions about treatment belong with you and your own physician.
Skin ulcers are treated by addressing the cause (circulation, pressure, diabetes) plus wound care.
Commonly offered
- Treating the cause (compression for venous, offloading pressure sores)–
- Wound care and appropriate dressings–
- Treating infection and managing pain–
- Diabetes/circulation management–
Worth knowing
- A non-healing sore needs medical evaluation to find the cause.
- Diabetics and those with poor circulation need prompt, expert care.
- Signs of infection (redness, pus, fever) need treatment.
👍/👎 shares whether a treatment helped you — community experience, not medical advice. For full professional details, see the sources under “Learn more” below.
📚 Learn more
Sources for further reading. These open in a new tab.
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