Learn all about stasis dermatitis, including its symptoms, causes, and treatment options. Discover expert advice on managing this condition and improving your skin health. Ideal for anyone seeking relief from stasis dermatitis.
Normal, dry to atopic skin
Stasis dermatitis: all you need to know about this skin disease
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Stasis dermatitis: causes, symptoms and treatments
Stasis dermatitis is a condition where there is poor circulation in the lower legs causing swelling and itching. It is one of the seven types of eczema
What is stasis dermatitis?
Stasis dermatitis, also called gravitational dermatitis, venous eczema, or venous stasis dermatitis, happens when the blood from the lower legs is not moving through the whole body very well. This causes water and blood cells to stay in the lower legs.
Stasis dermatitis mostly affects people with poor circulation and people over the age of 50. Women are more likely to develop the condition than man. Not everyone with venous insufficiency develops stasis dermatitis, but poor circulation increases the risk as it is one of the main causes.
The symptoms of stasis dermatitis often start with swelling around the ankles with a feeling of heaviness in the lower legs either standing or walking.
Other symptoms can include:
Redness in lighter skin tones or brown, purple, gray in darker skin tones
Itching which is a current symptom in all forms of eczema
Scaling
Dryness
Thickened skin around the ankles
Sores that ooze or look scaly
Skin ulcers
Is stasis dermartitis due to heart failure ?
Heart conditions such as congestive heart failure are one of the conditions that make you more likely to develop stasis dermatitis.
What is the best treatment for stasis dermatitis?
Diagnosing stasis dermatitis involves a skin exam and testing to determine what may be causing the poor circulation.
The following tips are ways to get the blood moving in your legs:
Elevating legs above the heart
Wearing compression stockings
Diet modification to avoid high-salt food
Exercising
Taking breaks to walk about 10 minutes each hour
Wearing comfortable clothes
In addition to these tips, your doctor may give you specific treatments to treat more severe symptoms:
Topical corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
Steroids to rubbed on the ankles to treat pain and swelling
Antihistamine pills to use against itchiness
Oral antibiotic to use in case of infection
As we explained, stasis dermatitis is caused by venous insufficiency, which cannot be reversed. However, symptoms can be treated and appropriately managed to relieve the pain.
Moisturizers can be used to reduce irritation on your skin, but they must be fragrance free. Petroleum jelly and thick creams are the best options.
Avoid all products containing alcohol and harsh ingredients that cause dry skin and when bathing, use lukewarm water and soft towels only.
What happens if stasis dermatitis is left untreated?
If stasis dermatitis goes untreated it can worsen and result in:
Chronic venous ulcers that form on the lower legs and can bleed and ooze
Osteomyelitis, which is a bone infection
Bacterial skin infection, such as abscesses or cellulitis
What can be mistaken for stasis dermatitis?
Stasis dermatitis is commonly mistaken for cellulitis, lipodermatosclerosis, contact dermatitis, lymphedema, eosinophilic cellulitis, and popular urticaria.
Stasis dermatitis is a condition causing blood leakage into the skin as the body is having trouble to push it back to the heart. Common in older adults, it can be managed with medications to relieve the symptoms.
