If I Have Scabs And Peeling Skin On Feet And Legs, Will They Heal Better Covered Or Uncovered?

Varicose eczema, also known as venous, gravitational or stasis eczema, is a long-term skin condition that affects the lower legs. It's common in people with varicose veins.

Varicose eczema tends to be a long-term problem. Nevertheless, treatments are bachelor to help keep it under command.

Symptoms of varicose eczema

Like all types of eczema, the affected skin becomes:

itchy and bloated
dry out and flaky
scaly or crusty

On lighter peel it looks red or chocolate-brown. On darker skin it tends to wait night brown, purple or grey and tin be more difficult to run across.

In that location may be periods when these symptoms amend and periods when they are more than severe.

Your legs may become bloated, peculiarly at the end of the day or subsequently long periods of standing. Varicose veins (swollen and enlarged veins) are often visible on the legs.

Some people as well have other symptoms, such equally:

discolouration of the skin
tender and tight skin that can eventually become hardened (lipodermatosclerosis)
pocket-sized, white scars (atrophie blanche)
pain
eczema affecting other parts of the trunk

If varicose eczema is not treated, leg ulcers can develop. These are long-lasting wounds that form where the skin has become damaged.

When to get medical communication

See a GP if you take symptoms of varicose eczema. Your medico will often be able to brand a diagnosis just past looking at your skin.

A GP will besides ask you questions to make up one's mind whether yous have a trouble with the period of blood in your leg veins, as this is the main cause of varicose eczema.

To help make a diagnosis, a GP may want to know if you have e'er had wellness weather condition such as:

varicose veins – swollen and enlarged veins
DVT (deep vein thrombosis) – a blood clot in the veins of your legs
leg ulcers – areas of damaged skin that have several weeks to heal
cellulitis – an infection of the deeper layers of the pare and underlying tissue
surgery or injury to your legs

A GP may also check the pulse in your feet and may do an ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) test to see if compression stockings are suitable for you.

The ABPI examination involves comparing blood pressure readings taken from your ankles and upper arms. A meaning difference in the readings suggests a problem with the flow of blood in your arteries – in which example, compression stockings may not be safe to apply.

Referral to a specialist

Y'all may exist referred to a infirmary specialist for further tests. Yous might come across a doctor or surgeon who specialises in conditions affecting blood vessels (vascular specialist), or a doctor who specialises in skin weather (dermatologist) if:

you take varicose veins and changes to your peel, such equally varicose eczema, lipodermatosclerosis (difficult, tightened pare) or a history of leg ulcers
you have very poor blood menstruum in your legs
your symptoms do not get better, despite treatment
it'southward possible you have contact dermatitis

Causes of varicose eczema

Varicose eczema is usually caused by increased pressure in the leg veins.

When small valves in the veins end working properly, it'southward difficult for claret to be pushed upwards against gravity and it tin leak backwards.

This increases the pressure in the veins, which can cause fluid to leak into the surrounding tissue. It'due south thought that varicose eczema may develop equally a result of the immune system reacting to this fluid.

Varicose eczema is more mutual in people with varicose veins, as these are too ofttimes a sign that the leg veins are not working properly.

Some people develop the condition for no obvious reason, although there are some factors that increase the chance of this happening, including:

gender – varicose eczema is more common in women
obesity – this can increment the pressure in your leg veins
pregnancy – this tin also increase the pressure in your leg veins
not beingness able to move for a long period of time – this tin can affect the circulation of blood in your leg veins
having previously had DVT (deep vein thrombosis) – blood clots that develop in leg veins which can harm the valves in your veins
increasing age – people generally find information technology harder to move near as they get older, which tin can affect their circulation

Treating varicose eczema

For most people, treatment involves a combination of:

cocky-assistance measures – including means to improve your circulation, such as keeping active and frequently raising your legs
emollients – moisturisers applied to the peel to stop it from condign dry
topical corticosteroids – ointments or creams practical to the skin to help treat the eczema and relieve symptoms
compression stockings – specially designed stockings, normally worn every day, that squeeze your legs tightly at the foot and ankle and go looser further upwardly your leg, helping to amend your circulation

If these treatments practice non help, a GP may refer you to a skin specialist (dermatologist) in case there'southward another cause for your symptoms, or if they're concerned you may also accept contact dermatitis.

If y'all have varicose veins, y'all may be referred to a medico or surgeon specialising in conditions affecting the blood vessels (vascular specialist) who can talk to you about the handling options for varicose veins.

Find out more virtually treating varicose eczema.

Other types of eczema

Eczema is the proper name for a group of pare weather that cause dry, irritated skin. Other types of eczema include:

atopic eczema (besides chosen atopic dermatitis) – the well-nigh common blazon of eczema
contact dermatitis – a blazon of eczema that happens when you come into contact with a detail substance
discoid eczema – a long-term type of eczema that appears as circular or oval patches on the peel

Page concluding reviewed: 25 Oct 2019
Next review due: 25 October 2022