What is varicose eczema?
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Varicose eczema, also called stasis, occurs more often in later life and is due to poor circulation. Itchy and irritated patches form on the skin, often around the ankles. An effective and hypoallergenic emollient cream such as Kalmaderm Emollient cream can be useful in soothing the red and itchy skin. Varicose eczema affects the lower legs people in their middle to late years. It is caused by poor circulation. Commonly the skin around the ankles is affected, becoming speckled, itchy and inflamed. The most common treatments are emollients and steroid creams. If varicose eczema is left untreated, the skin can break down, resulting in an ulcer.
Varicose eczema is due to increased pressure within the veins in the leg. The pressure builds up because valves in the veins fail to work. This increased pressure allows a chemical called fibrin to escape from small blood-vessels in the skin. Fibrin is then deposited around the blood-vessels, forming a barrier which prevents oxygen and other essential nutrients from penetrating through to the skin where they are needed. Lack of oxygen and other substances causes the eczema. The damage to the small blood-vessels from the high pressure in the veins causes the release of red blood cells into the skin. This causes the brown and purple pigmentation. Rubbing and scratching worsen the eczema. The incorrect use of disinfectants and certain creams may result in further aggravating the problem. Ulcers are more likely to occur in older people, where the circulation to the leg is poorer.
Topical medical applications in varicose eczema often cause eczema in other parts of the body. Researchers in France revealed that patients with leg ulcers or varicose eczema commonly suffer from contact eczema due to the allergic reactions to local applications of pharmaceutical preparations. This contact allergy may concern not only the active ingredient but also the excipient, the preservative, or even the perfume. They warned that in all cases of leg ulcers, of varicose eczema, but also of badly healed ulcers, tests should be carried out and urged the pharmaceutical industry to perfect non-allergenic preparations. Whilst varicose eczema is a chronic and often debilitating condition there are several alternatives available which have been shown to help the underlying cause (ie. varicose veins and poor blood supply) and alleviate the irritation of the resulting eczema.
