Ulcers occur when a part of the lining of the intestine or stomach becomes eroded and they come in different types. The main types include venous ulcers, peptic ulcers, arterial ulcers, mouth ulcers, and genital ulcers. They can range in size and sometimes cause no symptoms at all. Treatments will vary depending on the cause and type of ulcer a patient has.
The following are the treatment options for the different types of ulcers:
1. Treatment of venous ulcers
Venous ulcers are one of the slowest healing ulcers. Some of them can even take months to heal fully. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics for venous ulcers to ensure it doesn’t come back. Your doctor will teach you how to bandage and clean your wound too. Compression therapy might be recommended for venous ulcer treatment, which improves the blood flow. Your doctor might recommend the use of painkillers until the pain subsides. Instead of only one course of treatment, your doctor might recommend a combination of treatments.
2. Treatment of peptic ulcers
One of the main types of ulcers, there are many treatment options for peptic ulcers. As with other ulcer treatments, the cause determines the type of treatment required. Your doctor might give you medications to kill H. pylori or he/she can prescribe medications to decrease or block acid production. Your doctor might also prescribe antacids that provide relief from pain caused due to the ulcer. Sometimes, doctors prescribe medicines that help protect your small intestine and stomach linings. One such example of these medicines is misoprostol.
3. Treatment of arterial ulcers
Arterial ulcers are one of the common ulcer types. Since arterial ulcers are caused because of blood flow issues, your doctor will treat the blood circulation so that it is restored. Your doctor might ask you to take antibiotics for arterial ulcer treatment. There are some surgical options that your doctor might recommend, such as angioplasty. This enables you to feel better since you get relief from the symptoms. Amputation might be an option if the wound is highly infected or if blood flow problems cannot be treated.
4. Treatment of mouth ulcers
Mouth ulcers usually go away without any type of treatment within a week or two. These are one of the main types of ulcers. Your mouth ulcer can cause you pain for which your dentist can prescribe a mouthwash to help you feel better. Else, he/she will prescribe an ointment or gel so that painful symptoms subside. Your doctor might recommend you to make some changes such as drinking water frequently, keeping your mouth clean at all times, avoiding strong-tasting foods, and using warm salt water to rinse your mouth. Your doctor might recommend some medicines too.
5. Treatment of genital ulcers
The treatment of genital ulcers depends on what is the root cause. Sometimes, genital ulcers go away by themselves and so do not require any type of treatment. Other times, the ulcers stay for longer. If an STI (sexually transmitted infection) has caused the genital ulcer to develop, then your doctor will prescribe medications such as antibiotic medicines or antiviral medications that could help you feel better. Your doctor might suggest an ointment to be applied to the affected area for treating the genital ulcer if the ulcer doesn’t go away on its own.
The treatment of the main types of ulcers depends on the cause of the ulcers and their severity. Different types of ulcers require a unique treatment plan so that you can recover fast and heal completely. Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes too.