Vascular ulcers are open wounds on the skin that do not heal or can take a long time to heal. They can recur even after they have healed.

They occur either because there is not enough blood being supplied to the skin to heal injuries that may be caused by minor trauma or pressure, or due to blood that pools in the veins and causes they skin to be prone to breakdown.

Arterial or ischemic ulcers are usually the result of atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries" (a build-up of fatty deposits on the inner wall of arteries). When the arteries become narrowed, the flow of blood to the tissues is reduced. These ulcers are usually found on the toes and edge of the foot and are often very painful. Treatment for arterial ulcers may involve an angiogram or dye study, with treatment of the narrowed segments with balloons or stent. If this is not possible, further surgery may be required.

Venous or stasis ulcers occur when impaired blood flow in the veins causes pooling of blood in the legs. These ulcers are often associated with varicose veins. Venous ulcers are usually found on the lower leg between the knee and the ankle and the leg is often swollen and discoloured. Compression or pressure bandages are the main treatment for venous ulcers, with radiofrequency ablation and sclerotherapy being recommended to prevent recurrent ulcers.