Most wounds heal on their own. You get a cut, your body gets to work, and within a few weeks it’s gone. But for millions of Americans, that process stalls, and what starts as a manageable wound becomes something much harder to treat.

June is Wound Healing Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about chronic wounds and the specialized care that can make a real difference. A wound is generally considered chronic when it fails to heal within four weeks. Not simply slow, but stuck in a cycle of inflammation or infection that requires specialized intervention.

Here are the four most common chronic wound types treated at Charleston Wound Care.

1. Diabetic Ulcers

Diabetic ulcers develop in people living with diabetes, most often on the feet or lower legs, due to a combination of poor circulation and nerve damage. Because nerve damage reduces sensation, wounds can go unnoticed until they’ve already become serious.

Signs to watch for: redness, swelling, warmth, drainage, or odor around a wound on your feet or legs.

2. Venous Leg Disease Wounds

When veins in the legs can’t efficiently return blood to the heart, pressure builds over time and causes the skin to break down into an open wound. These wounds typically appear on the lower leg near the ankle and can persist for months or years without proper treatment.

Signs to watch for: a lower leg wound that won’t improve, swelling, skin discoloration, or a heavy or aching feeling in the leg.

3. Ischemic Ulcers

Ischemic ulcers occur when inadequate blood flow, often from peripheral artery disease (PAD), prevents tissue from receiving the oxygen and nutrients it needs to heal. They tend to be deep, painful, and may have a pale or darkened appearance.

Signs to watch for: deep or painful sores on the feet or legs, coolness of the limb, or pale or bluish skin around a wound.

4. Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers (also called bedsores) form when prolonged pressure cuts off circulation to an area, most often over bony areas like the heels, hips, and tailbone. They are most common in people with limited mobility or those who are bedridden, and range from surface redness to deep wounds involving muscle or bone.

Signs to watch for: skin changes over a bony area, persistent soreness, or an open wound in someone with limited mobility.

When to Seek Specialized Care

If a wound hasn’t shown clear improvement after two to four weeks, it’s time to see a specialist. Don’t wait if there are signs of infection, if the wound is growing larger, or if the person has diabetes, a circulatory condition, or limited mobility. Early treatment leads to better outcomes and can help prevent serious complications including hospitalization or amputation.

At Charleston Wound Care, we specialize in exactly this. We develop personalized treatment plans using the most advanced options available, with the goal of healing wounds quickly and helping patients get back to living their lives. This Wound Healing Awareness Month, don’t let a slow-healing wound go untreated. We have three locations across the Lowcountry in Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, and Summerville. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.