Crater-like wound on my leg turning black - what the hell is this (see pic)

[Bitworriedtbh]

Just as the title suggests! I got bitten last week, have no idea by what but it was itchy and the first day my leg was swollen and quite hard. Well now it’s turned into a small crater-like wound that feels really deep. It looks like a dark brown/black scab on it but I’ve tried lifting it a little and it’s like stuck in my leg, it looks hard but I’m sure it’s not actually a scab. When I tried to lift it (unsuccessfully) the skin around the wound peeled off. I have never had a bite end up like this! Any thoughts on what this is and whether it’s something that’ll heal on its own? Don’t want to bother the GP if it’s nothing!

Excuse the hairy legs and tattoo :D

Not something you should be telling someone who is potentially diabetic and who has posted a photo of something that looks VERY like a diabetic ulcer. If you’re diabetic, raised blood glucose interferes with wound healing and circulation problems can mean that the blood supply isn’t sufficient to heal a wound. Diabetes can turn the smallest of trauma - scratches, insect bites -into a leg or foot ulcer. My partner had a medication rash on his leg and three of the spots turned into foot ulcers which he’s still battling to heal three months later. He’s still taking antibiotics and having wound dressings twice a week, and having to keep his blood sugar under tight control and spike free. Diabetes puts him at risk of gangrene, which can take hold very quickly, and at risk of losing his foot.

It is. Because if you read the thread she has already been to A&E, assessed, had tests and sent home with antibiotics.

I'm sorry to hear about your partner but the OP's bite is just that. A bite.
Drs have said so.

@Bitworriedtbh I hope you follow up about the blood you're passing and the inflammation markers in your blood tests .

Er - are we on the same thread ? I’ve read all the OPs posts and nowhere did she say any doctor had said it was ‘just a bite’. GP diagnosed it as a leg ulcer which had gone necrotic, and all A&E said was that it wasn’t necrotic, but healing. And A&E didn’t do any blood tests at all, and didn’t even swab it to match the infection with the antibiotics, which will be broad spectrum. The OP has also said the blackened area is larger since she started the antibiotics, which indicates all is not well. Her GP has made an appointment for her to have a diabetes blood test - this will be the HBA1c test and will diagnose the condition if she has it. And FYI if she does have diabetes even something as small as an insect bite can set up a none healing leg ulcer.

A&E didn’t do any blood tests or swab the wound to find out what type of infection, if any. They just sent the op home with broad spectrum antibiotics. Potentially they’ve missed quite a lot.

It doesn’t particularly look like a diabetic ulcer.

It’s a FUCKING TICK which is why it’s getting BIGGER!! The legs are buried in the wound and it’s feeding off your leg!!

You'd have thought they'd have noticed that when she went to A & E 😂

Dont be silly. She has been to hospital. Ticks drop off when full. Its clearly ulcerated from a previous insect bite. They should be questioning why its not healing tho.

Looks better than the first photo,just looks like it's drying up and healing. You have antibiotics OP, don't stress. All these responses are quite something!

Aren't they just 😅

I never answer medical posts, but many years ago my mum had the exact same thing , a necrotisiing germ had got into her skin and was basically killing it, thats what the black was, she was lucky and they removed all the area and stopped it spreading, please get it looked at quickly just in case it is the same thing.

The black is a tattoo.

Oh blimey, I never realised that black was a tattoo....scrub the above then!

If the OP is diabetic it will affect the healing process - elevated blood sugar levels and poor circulation are complications of diabetes and wounds can take a long time to heal as a result. OP has already said she has symptoms and GP has booked diagnostic blood tests. If diabetes is confirmed the OP will be referred to the diabetic clinic and they will deal with the ulcer, if that’s what it is.

I had recent surgery and unfortunately due to crap advice they took my packing off too early and part of my stitches split open. It was a small hole and I was convinced it was infected as it was bleeding, looked black and red ect.

What they told me is for something to be necrotic or infected is it had to be weeping/oozing, smelling awful, very hot to the touch and red.

If it's not doing any of those and it looks quite dry I think you're ok OP. I know it's worrying as it looks nasty but it will be ok, maybe even get some iodine on gauze and tape it over?

Call an ambulance if you feel like you will faint during the drive to A & E.

Hopefully it has cleared up now as the thread was 2 weeks ago.