Have an open sore on your foot, ankle, or leg that will not heal? A non-healing wound is never something to wait out — particularly with diabetes or poor circulation, where an ulcer is the leading cause of foot and leg infections and amputations. The reassuring truth is that most ulcers heal when the right treatment starts early. At Family Foot & Leg Center our board-certified podiatric surgeons run a full advanced wound care program at 9 Southwest Florida locations with same-day appointments for wounds. Call (239) 430-3668 or book online now.
An ulceration is a break in the skin that will not close on its own, classified by its cause and depth. The three most common types we treat are diabetic (neuropathic) ulcers, ischemic (poor-circulation) ulcers, and venous stasis ulcers. Diabetic ulcers are by far the most frequent. They form at pressure points — often under a callus on the ball of the foot or heel — where repeated pressure quietly breaks the skin down. The reason they go unnoticed is diabetic neuropathy: nerve damage that removes the protective pain that would normally warn you, so a callus or blister erodes into an open wound without any pain to signal danger.
Diabetic/neuropathic ulcers sit on pressure points, are often painless, and are frequently ringed by thick callus. Ischemic ulcers from poor arterial circulation tend to appear on the toes, outer foot, or lower leg, are usually painful, and have a pale base as failing blood flow starves the skin. Venous stasis ulcers form around the inner ankle in legs with chronic swelling and varicose veins, weep clear fluid, have a reddish base, and infect easily. Identifying the type is essential because each is treated differently.
Southwest Florida has a large population of older adults and people living with diabetes and vascular disease — exactly the groups most at risk for foot ulcers. Our warm climate encourages open sandals and barefoot walking, so a small cut, blister, or burn on hot pavement or sand can go unnoticed in a neuropathic foot and become a wound. That combination is why prompt, expert wound care is one of the most important services a local podiatry practice provides.
If you have diabetes, neuropathy, or poor circulation, treat any open sore as urgent and do not manage it at home. Never use over-the-counter corn removers or tight, adhesive bandages, and never cut a callus yourself — these commonly trigger or worsen ulcers. A callus that looks black or blue is an ulcer forming underneath the surface. Inspect your feet every day and get medical attention at the first sign of a sore, drainage, redness, warmth, or odor. Early care is the difference between a wound that heals and one that threatens the limb.
We heal wounds by correcting every barrier to healing at once. That means professional debridement of dead tissue and surrounding callus, offloading the pressure with a total contact cast, removable boot, surgical shoe, or custom orthotic so the wound is not re-injured with every step, and aggressive infection control with cultures and antibiotics when needed, including evaluation for bone infection (osteomyelitis). We assess circulation and coordinate vascular studies or revascularization for ischemic wounds, apply advanced dressings and skin-substitute grafts to accelerate closure, and use compression (such as an Unna boot) for venous ulcers. Once healed, we prevent recurrence with protective footwear, diabetic inserts, and regular preventive care. For deformities driving the pressure, our surgeons can correct the underlying bone to stop ulcers from returning.
Family Foot & Leg Center has served Southwest Florida since 2005 under the clinical direction of Dr. Kevin Lam, DPM, FACFAS, DABLES, DABPS — named among America’s Top Podiatrists and trained at Temple University, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and Jackson Memorial Health. With on-site digital X-ray, advanced wound care, in-house diabetic limb-salvage expertise, custom orthotics, and 9 offices from Marco Island to Sarasota, we treat wounds urgently and work to save limbs — often the same day you call.
Usually because of ongoing pressure, poor circulation, infection, high blood sugar, swelling, or dead tissue. Healing requires fixing all of them together — offloading, restoring blood flow, controlling infection, and debriding — which is what a wound care program does.
Yes — they can become infected, reach the bone, and lead to amputation, especially with diabetes or poor circulation. But most heal and amputations are prevented when treatment starts early.
Debridement, offloading, infection control, circulation assessment, and advanced therapies like skin-substitute grafts, alongside blood sugar control and recurrence prevention with proper footwear.
Inspect feet daily, never go barefoot, wear protective shoes and diabetic inserts, have calluses professionally pared, control blood sugar, and see a podiatrist regularly. A black or blue callus is an early ulcer — have it checked immediately.
Any of our 9 offices — Naples, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, and Sarasota — with same-day or next-day wound appointments usually available.
A non-healing sore needs expert care now. Call (239) 430-3668 or book your appointment online 24/7.
Family Foot and Leg Center, PA — Podiatrist Naples FL | Foot Surgery | Heel Pain | Bunion Treatment | Diabetic Foot Care | Sports Podiatry | Serving Marco Island, Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte & Sarasota.
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Fax: (239) 692-9436
Tel: 239-430-3668