Eczema (varicose)  

Varicose eczema, also known as venous eczema or gravitational eczema, is a type of eczema (chronic skin condition) that affects the legs. Like all types of eczema, the skin becomes red, flaky, scaly and itchy.

Varicose eczema usually occurs in the skin over and around varicose veins. It is caused by the faulty valves in varicose veins, which allow blood to flow in the wrong direction. Varicose eczema is usually a minor annoyance and leads to no major problems.

Eczema

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

• atopic eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) – this often runs in families and is linked to other conditions, such as asthma and hay fever
• contact dermatitis – a type of eczema that occurs when the body comes into contact with a particular substance
• discoid eczema – this tends to affect adults and causes circular or oval patches of eczema

Varicose veins

Varicose eczema is usually caused by varicose veins. These are swollen and enlarged veins that are usually blue or dark purple. They may also be lumpy, bulging or twisted in appearance.

Varicose veins develop when the small valves inside the veins stop working properly. In a healthy vein, blood flows towards the heart. Blood is prevented from flowing backwards by a series of tiny valves that open and close to let blood through. If the valves weaken or are damaged, the blood can flow backwards, leading to swollen and enlarged varicose veins.

The pressure inside these veins increases, and this can damage the skin, leading to varicose eczema as well as more severe skin damage.

See Varicose eczema - causes for more information about the causes of the condition.

How common is varicose eczema?

Skin problems due to venous disease (problems with your veins) become more common with age and tend to affect women more than men. Some estimates suggest that venous disease causes skin changes in 3% of adults. This rises to 20% of people above 70 years old.

You may be more likely to develop venous skin problems if you:

• have varicose veins
• are overweight, as this puts extra pressure on your veins

Outlook

Treatment for varicose eczema involves treating both the dry skin and the underlying blood flow problem. Emollients, which are moisturisers applied to the skin to reduce the loss of water, are often recommended. These also help to soothe the skin. Corticosteroid ointments are often used to help manage severe symptoms.

Graduated elastic medical compression stockings, which are specially designed stockings that steadily squeeze your legs, can help to improve your circulation. You will need to wear them every day.

These treatments usually control varicose eczema. However, if they are not effective or if you have lipodermatosclerosis, a more severe form of venous skin damage, you may be referred to a vascular specialist (a doctor who specialises in veins). They can investigate and treat the underlying venous problem. Treatment of varicose veins will often cure varicose eczema, lipodermatosclerosis and venous ulcers.

See Varicose eczema - treatment for more information about the different treatment options.