7 signs your wound requires a doctor's visit

If you're dealing with a wound that won't heal, diagnosis is always a job for a doctor. But the seven signs here can help you decide how urgently you need to see one.

Cuts or bruises that heal unusually slowly but do not appear infected

• Possible cause is weakened immunity, which can be caused by poor nutrition, vitamin K deficiency, steroid medications or cancer treatment
• Talk with your doctor about vitamin supplementation or changes in steroid use; follow-up with a registered dietitian may be useful.

A wound that is swollen, red or hot or has pus or red lines radiating from it; may be accompanied by fever

• Possible cause is cellulitis (a bacterial infection of the skin) or a foreign object stuck in the wound
• See your doctor, who may prescribe an antibiotic. If symptoms are worsening quickly, go to the emergency room
• Cellulitis can cause serious infection that can spread

Poor wound healing accompanied by chest pains, shortness of breath and changes in urinary habits

• Possible cause is a disease of the heart, lungs, kidneys or other major organs
• See your doctor, who will probably order diagnostic tests

Poor wound healing accompanied by excessive thirst, increased urination, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger or blurred vision

• Possible cause is undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes
• See your doctor, who will order a test to measure your blood sugar levels
• If you have diabetes that is poorly controlled, you may need to switch from a family doctor to an endocrinologist

In people with diabetes, poor wound healing in the feet; may be accompanied by a reduced ability to feel pain, heat or cold; loss of balance or sharp pains that worsen at night

• Possible cause is diabetic neuropathy
• See your doctor
• There is no cure, but symptoms can be managed with medication
• To prevent progression, keep your blood sugar and blood pressure under control and take your diabetes medication as prescribed

Sores on the legs or feet that won't heal, accompanied by cold feet, leg or foot pain or numbness or changes in the toenails or amount of hair on the legs or feet

• Possible cause is peripheral arterial disease, a restriction of blood flow in the arteries of the leg caused by accumulation of arterial plaque
• See your doctor
• Circulation can be improved with exercise, smoking cessation, and a heart-healthy diet; in some cases, medication or surgery is needed

A sore in the mouth or on the lip or skin that doesn't heal; may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss

• Possible cause is oral cancer or skin cancer
• See your doctor, who may order diagnostic tests

When your body speaks, you should listen. Most people aren't very good at it, though, and it's tempting to ignore a problem that could signal something more serious. Even if you do pay attention to your symptoms, it's not easy to know what they mean, so a visit to the doctor is always the right answer.