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A leg ulcer is a shallow sore on your lower leg that won't heal.

Leg ulcers sometimes start after a knock or bump breaks the skin on your lower leg. A wound can turn into a leg ulcer if it doesn't heal. This can happen if the blood flow to your legs is not good enough.

Doctors call these sores venous leg ulcers. Venous means the ulcer is caused by the veins. See, How veins in your legs work.

Older people are more likely than younger people to get a leg ulcer. You are also more likely to get one if:^{1 2}

• You have bad arthritis in your leg joints
• You have a heart condition called heart failure
• You have had a blood clot in your leg (deep vein thrombosis)
• You have had a leg ulcer before.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.