Zinc oxide and ichthammol Resources

Healthy skin is important — but, as the largest organ of the body and with its external aspect, it can be vulnerable. We can protect skin from the sun, and avoiding smoking and stress and eating a well-balanced diet may delay premature ageing of the skin and prevent various skin complaints (American Academy of Dermatology Association [AAD], 2022). However, it still requires great care.

Ulceration of the lower limbs can be a painful, debilitating condition which may have a profound effect on the patient physically, psychologically, and socially. With an ageing population, it is likely that we will see greater numbers of patients suffering with chronic wounds and associated skin conditions in the coming years. Where there are variations in care, and sub-optimal treatment regimens, delayed healing may be both common and costly to the NHS. National programmes have been put in place to address these inequities, however all clinicians are integral in the management of patients with wounds to ensure that accurate assessment takes place, both on initial contact and opportunistically throughout the care period. Following assessment, appropriate treatment plans should be implemented, preventing further skin breakdown, and improving outcomes for the patient and healthcare system.