What Are Common Risk Factors For Developing Varicose Eczema
Varicose eczema occurs most often in middle-aged and older adults, occurring in about 20 percent of people who are more than 70 years old. Older age along with having varicose veins increases your risk of developing varicose eczema.
Living with overweight or obesity or pregnancy can also raise your risk of developing varicose eczema due to your veinsâ added pressure.
Current or past health conditions can also elevate your risk. These include conditions that affect blood flow or your limbs, such as:
Venous Disease: Prevalence And Risk Factors
As a result of differing definitions, the prevalence of venous disease varies from one study to the other . However, we know that the number of people with advanced venous disease is rising because of the increasing number of patients in groups at risk of venous disease, including older people and overweight and obese adults .
Advanced venous disease can lead to venous ulceration it is estimated that between 70,000 and 190,000 people in the UK have a leg ulcer . Advanced venous disease and leg ulcers can negatively affect quality of life .
The Outlook For Infected Eczema
The outlook for infected eczema depends on the severity and type of infection. You should notice an improvement in your symptoms several days after starting treatment.
Treating the infection doesnt mean you wont be at risk for future bouts of infected eczema.
Take preventive measures so you can stop eczema flares from getting infected. Managing eczema flare-ups can also go a long way in preventing related infections.
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Other Causes Of Infected Eczema
An infection from Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, or other bacteria is just one cause of infected eczema. Others include fungal infections and viral infections.
People with eczema may be more prone to herpes simplex viruses, so its important to avoid others who have cold sores.
Eczema itself isnt contagious, and most infected cases usually arent either. However, some of the causes of the infection may be contagious to people who have eczema, such as exposure to herpes simplex.
If you have eczema with frequent broken skin, its important to take care around others who have herpes simplex. The telltale sign of this is usually a cold sore.
Is Eczema Different For Infants Or Toddlers Than It Is For Older Children
A painful, itchy rash on a babys face, torso or body may be eczema
Eczema looks and acts differently in infants and toddlers than it does in older children. The location and appearance of eczema changes as they grow, so its important to know what to look for during every stage of your infant or toddlers life.
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What Causes A Varicose Ulcer
Skin affected by varicose eczema is thin and unhealthy and can easily break down as soon as this happens, the area should be treated to help the skin heal quickly. If left untreated, the small hole can deepen and widen, and the resulting wound is called a varicose ulcer . These ulcers are typically found just above the inside of the ankle. They often ooze and can attract bacteria, both of which can aggravate the surrounding skin, making the eczema even worse. Sometimes events can occur the other way round varicose eczema can develop for the first time around an existing ulcer or wound on the lower leg, but treatment remains the same.
What Does Varicose Eczema Look Like
What does varicose eczema look like? What Causes Varicose Eczema? Is varicose eczema serious?
I get asked about varicose eczema a lot. So here are 5 essential facts about Varicose Eczema to help inform you when you make your decision about whether to have specialist treatment. I will cover What it is, what it looks like, what causes it, when it is a problem and how it can be treated.
What is varicose eczema?
Varicose eczemais an inflamed area of skin on the leg caused by a fault in the function of the veins under the skin called superficial venous reflux or by a problem in the deep veins following a deep vein thrombosis.
What does varicose eczema look like?
The skin becomes itchy and swollen, dry and flaky or scaly. On lighter skin it looks red or brown and on darker skin it tends to look dark brown or grey. In addition to leg, the eczema may spread to other parts of the body.
What causes varicose eczema?
Unhealthy leg veins have a negative impact on blood flow and nourishment to the skin, which then becomes inflamed and damaged, a medical problem called chronic venous insufficiency.
When is varicose eczema a problem?
How can varicose eczema be treated?
If you would like more information about varicose eczema, please get in contact and one of our advisors will be happy to help you.
PS: During the COVID-19 Pandemic, if you have an urgent problem with your veins or you are worried about your leg ulcer, please contact the NHS 111
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Eczema Symptoms In People Of Color
In People of Color, an eczema rash may appear gray or brown. This can make outbreaks harder to see.
However, People of Color who get eczema may also get dark or light skin patches even after eczema symptoms go away. These can last a long time. Doctors call these patches hyperpigmentation and depigmentation or hypopigmentation.
A dermatologist can evaluate these patches, which may respond to treatments like steroid creams.
The following atopic dermatitis symptoms are common in babies under the age of 2:
- rashes on the scalp and cheeks
- rashes that bubble up before leaking fluid
- rashes that can cause extreme itchiness, which may interfere with sleeping
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Symptoms Of Varicose Eczema
Like all types of eczema, the affected skin becomes:
- itchy and swollen
- dry and flaky
- scaly or crusty
On lighter skin it looks red or brown. On darker skin it tends to look dark brown, purple or grey and can be more difficult to see.
There may be periods when these symptoms improve and periods when they are more severe.
Your legs may become swollen, especially at the end of the day or after long periods of standing. Varicose veins are often visible on the legs.
Some people also have other symptoms, such as:
- discolouration of the skin
- tender and tight skin that can eventually become hardened
- small, white scars
- pain
- eczema affecting other parts of the body
If varicose eczema is not treated, leg ulcers can develop. These are long-lasting wounds that form where the skin has become damaged.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Nummular Eczema
If you have nummular eczema, here are the signs and symptoms that can develop. The following pictures show what you may see on your skin.
Tiny bumps and blister-like sores
The is often the first sign. The tiny bumps and blister-like sores may appear after you injure your skin. For example, a scrape on the back of one knee could trigger nummular eczema bumps on the backs of both knees.
Coin-shaped raised spots
The tiny bumps will crust over and join together. This causes the coin-shaped spots that this type of eczema was named for. Nummular means resembling a coin, and these round to oval-shaped spots can look like imperfectly shaped coins.
Spot color varies with skin tone
If you have a darker skin tone, you may see brown spots. The spots can also appear lighter than your natural skin color. On lighter skin tones, the spots are pink or red. Regardless of color, these raised spots can last for weeks or months.
Itchy, extremely dry skin
The spots can be intensely itchy. This itch tends to worsen when you relax or try to sleep. Some people say the skin with nummular eczema burns or stings. The skin between the spots is often extremely dry.
Infection
Scratching the intensely itchy spots can cause raw, open skin. If germs from your hands spread to the open and raw skin, you may develop an infection. Signs of an infection include yellow or golden crusts on the spots of nummular eczema.
If you develop an infection, get immediate medical care.
Spots flatten
What Are The Symptoms Of Eczema
The most important thing to remember is that eczema and its symptoms are different for everyone. Your eczema may not look the same on you as it does on another adult or on your child. Different types of eczema may even appear in different areas of the body at different times.
Eczema is usually itchy. For many people, the itch can range from mild to moderate. But in some cases, it can become much worse and you might develop extremely inflamed skin. Sometimes the itch gets so bad that people scratch it until it bleeds, which can make your eczema worse. This is called the itch-scratch cycle.
What to look for:
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Further Tips On Support Stockings
- They are available in different colours, so do ask for the one that suits you best. That way, you are more likely to use them.
- They should be removed at bedtime and put on first thing in the morning. It is important to put them on before your legs start to swell in the mornings.
- There are open or closed toe options. Open toe stockings may be useful if:
- You have painful toes due to arthritis or infection.
- You have large feet.
- You want to wear socks over your support stockings.
- You prefer them.
- Stockings should be replaced every 3-6 months. Each time you should be measured again, just in case the size needs to be changed.
- You should always have at least two pairs prescribed so that one pair can be washed and dried while the other is worn.
- Do not tumble dry support stockings, as this may damage the elastic.
- They can be made to measure if the standard sizes don’t fit you. This can still be done with a prescription.
- Support stocking applicator aids are available if you are unable to get them on. You can discuss this with your pharmacist or nurse.
Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe
The doctor will do an exam to determine the cause of the swelling vein studies may be suggested and, rarely, a culture or skin biopsy may be done. Compression stockings may be recommended.Stronger corticosteroid creams may be used for short periods . Infection may be treated with oral or intravenous antibiotics. Oral medications may be used to control heart failure or reduce the presence of fluid.
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What Is Dermatitis And What Does It Look Like
Dermatitis is a word used to describe a number of skin irritations and rashes caused by genetics, an overactive immune system, infections, allergies, irritating substances and more. Common symptoms include dry skin, redness and itchiness.
In the word dermatitis, derm means skin and itis means inflammation. The word as a whole means inflammation of the skin. The rashes range from mild to severe and can cause a variety of problems, depending on their cause.
Dermatitis causes no serious harm to your body. It is not contagious, and it does not mean that your skin is unclean or infected. There are treatment methods and medications that can manage your symptoms.
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When To Seek Medical Care
If the leg swelling does not respond to simple support hose, see the doctor to look for the underlying cause of the swelling. Also seek help if the itchy areas do not improve with self-care.Evidence of infection includes pain, fever, increased swelling and redness, or open areas accompanied by pus.Ulcers or sores require medical attention.
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Wednesday 9 September 2020
Have you ever Googled, whats that rash? You may have been looking for yourself, your child or a friend.
Chances are youve had a rash or two in your lifetime. What is a rash? A rash is a temporary flare-up on the skin. It usually appears as red spots or reddening. It can sometimes be dry, scaly or itchy.
Your skin is actually covered in trillions of bugs, these are called microorganisms and together they make up your skin microbiome. When they are balanced and happy so is your skin. Rash conditions like eczema and dermatitis are caused when your skin microbiome is out of balance. Find out more about your skin microbiome by listening to our podcast: My Amazing Body.
There are many types of rashes, including eczema, hives, and heat rash. Some rashes can be temporary, or they might be a chronic condition. Sometimes rashes can be a sign of a serious illness, like measles, so its important you seek medical advice if you are concerned about a rash.
Weve listed some common rashes, their symptoms and how you can treat them. The rashes we mention usually occur on your face and sometimes other parts of the body. If youve got a rash downstairs it could be a symptom of an STI and we recommend you talk with your GP or get a sexual health check.
Is It Cradle Cap
“Cradle cap” in babies is a condition that doctors call seborrheic eczema or seborrheic dermatitis. It appears as oily, scaly patches on the scalp. In contrast, atopic dermatitis is more often found on the cheeks, though it can also affect the scalp. Also unlike eczema, cradle cap typically isnât itchy. Usually cradle cap clears up without treatment in a few weeks or months.
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What Is Venous Stasis Dermatitis
Venous stasis dermatitis is one name for a type of skin irritation thats caused by poor circulation . Its also known as gravitational dermatitis, venous eczema, or varicose eczema. It generally occurs on the lower legs, which are the parts of the body mostly affected by poor circulation or varicose veins.
How Common Is Eczema
Eczema affects up to 15 million Americans. Infants are prone to eczema and 10% to 20% will have it. However, nearly half outgrow the condition or have significant improvement as they get older.
Eczema affects males and females equally and is more common in people who have a personal or family history of asthma, environmental allergies and/or food allergies.
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Skin Rash From Varicose Veins: How To Treat And Reduce Itchiness
That itchy skin rash on your legs could be a sign you have varicose veins.
Veins are responsible for sending the blood from your legs back to your heart. A lot of times, this is an uphill climb. To compensate for the effects of gravity, veins use tiny valves to keep the blood flowing in the right direction. When these valves become damaged, blood flow through the veins can be inhibited. One result of this damage can be varicose veins.
Varicose veins are veins that have become enlarged or twisted. Age, sex, weight, family history, pregnancy, and sitting or standing for extended periods of time are a few of the risk factors for developing varicose veins.
What Worsens Dermatitis What Triggers It
Try your best to figure out what triggers your dermatitis. Its important to remember that it can affect people differently.
Is your dermatitis triggered by a chemical you clean with? Do you get it every time you go to your uncles house, because hes a smoker? Does your scalp feel itchy since you started that new shampoo? Did that rash on the inside of your wrist appear after you tried that new perfume? Does excessive sunlight make your dermatitis better or worse? Do you feel itchy every time you wear that wool sweater?
Remember what else worsens dermatitis: stress, hot showers, allergens like pollen and pet dander, etc. Find out what worsens your dermatitis and do your best to avoid it.
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How Do You Treat Varicose Eczema
Varicose eczema is treated by both addressing the causal factors, such as chronic venous insufficiency, and with skin-based treatments such as steroid creams. You can also manage your condition with compression stockings, oral antibiotics if your skin is infected, vitamin C supplements, and rutin, a plant pigment and antioxidant. You can try elevating your legs above your heart every two hours to reduce swelling and avoiding foods high in salt.
Steroid Applied To The Skin
If the skin becomes very inflamed, your doctor may prescribe a topical steroid . Topical steroids work by reducing inflammation in the skin. The steroid is applied as an ointment rather than a cream if the skin is very dry. A moderate-strength steroid is usually prescribed unless the skin is very inflamed, in which case a very strong ointment may be needed.
Topical steroids are usually applied once a day . Rub a small amount thinly and evenly just on to areas of skin which are inflamed.
To work out how much you should use for each dose, squeeze out some ointment from the tube on to the end of an adult finger – from the tip of the finger to the first crease. This is called a fingertip unit. One fingertip unit is enough to treat an area of skin twice the size of the flat of an adult’s hand with the fingers together. Gently rub the cream or ointment into the skin until it has disappeared. Then wash your hands.
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What Causes Varicose Eczema
Varicose eczema is caused when pressure increases in the veins running under the skin and in the deep muscles of the legs. This raised pressure is due to leaky valves in the veins. When the valves are not working well, it is difficult for the blood to flow back up the legs against gravity. So they are more full of blood than they should be, which means the pressure inside them is higher. The increased pressure in the veins makes them leak. Fluid and blood cells leak out of the veins and under the skin. This sets off a reaction under the skin. The effect of this is inflammation of the skin and then eczema. Over time the affected skin becomes harder and discoloured. Because skin with eczema is scaly and can become broken, it is more prone to developing ulcers.
Varicose eczema can also occur after a blood clot forms in the deep veins.