Varicose Eczema: An Overview

Varicose eczema, also known as gravitational or stasis eczema, is a type of skin disorder that can inflict you mostly when you become middle aged or elderly. It is caused by poor circulation in your legs and not directly caused by food allergies or coming into contact with substances that you are allergic to. If you do not seek treatment for your varicose eczema skin, you can develop nasty ulcers that are quite difficult to heal.

Varicose eczema is often preceded by the presence of varicose veins. The veins are formed when blood does not flow properly to deeper veins from the surface veins. This results in the build up of pressure on the surface veins, causing the pooling of blood. However, only some people with varicose veins go on to develop varicose eczema. Unfortunately, not much is known why this is the case.

Varicose eczema skin is both unhealthy and fragile. It is easily broken and can leave you with a nasty sore, known as a varicose ulcer. If you do not seek early treatment, it is possible that the small sore can grow even bigger and deeper. When this happens, it becomes harder to treat. It is also probable that your ulcer can attract bacteria which will make the eczema even worse than it already is.

There is also a chance of developing varicose eczema when you are younger. You get this condition due to having varicose veins, phlebitis or deep vein thrombosis in the past. This can happen in your late teenage years, especially if you are a female. It has been found that women are at higher risk of developing varicose eczema due to their hormones, especially in pregnancy.

You need to keep varicose eczema skin moist with an emollient. However, you should select any over the counter emollients carefully. Check the ingredients to find out if you are allergic to any of them before use. It may also be that a cheaper emollient can work better than an expensive one.

Using an emollient twice a day helps. There are even some that you can use in the bathtub that will help to lock in the moisture that chlorinated water usually removes from your body. This is especially true if you use hot water. You should also avoid using bubble bath and soap until your condition has cleared up.

Your doctor may prescribe you a short course of topical steroid cream to keep your itchy varicose eczema under control. You can also explore your options with natural treatments to also see if they can work for you.