Skin Ulcers as a Painful Disorder with Limited Therapeutic Protocols

 A skin ulcer is a type of open wound on the skin caused by injury, poor circulation, pressure, or infection. Specific forms of wounds are described using distinct terms, such as surgical incision, burn, and laceration. Skin ulcers can be extremely painful and take a long time to heal. They can become infected and cause other medical complications if left untreated. Treatment for skin ulcers is determined on the basis of the ulcer condition as well as the underlying cause. However, there is still a shortage of effective and safe medications for skin ulcer since current treatment guidelines for wound management consists only of wound dressing, antibiotics, and pain control. Wound healing and anti-inflammatory agents used for treating skin ulcers are quite limited. Recent revelations about natural compounds and their multifunctional pharmacological attributes, especially those with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and wound-healing activities, have been very encouraging for therapeutic skin ulcer development. Various phytochemicals, such as curcuminoids, flavonoids, xanthones, polyphenolic compounds, saponins, and terpenoids, were reportedly used as alternative agents for the treatment of skin ulcers. This chapter describes skin ulcers, their pathophysiology, as well as current therapeutic protocols. In addition, some selected phytochemicals and herbal extracts with strong prospects as well as their commercially available products for the treatment of skin ulcers, are highlighted.