Venous stasis eczema (varicose eczema)
This common inflammatory dermatosis commonly affects the lower limbs and often coexists with varicose veins. Clinical signs include inflamed red eczematous skin, itch, scaling, sometimes weeping crusting skin, pigmentation (haemosiderin deposit), hardened skin, tight red/brown skin/tissues (lipodermatosclerosis – vulnerable to ulceration)
and atrophy blanching. Treatment usually consists of topical corticosteroids and emollient therapy. A potent steroid for a short time can be more steroid-sparing than a milder potency for a longer period (Davis, 2001). Emollients and
paste bandages are appropriate therapies. Secondary infection can present in venous stasis eczema. Clinical signs include
increased spread of eczema, itching, erythema, weeping and yellow crusting, and may require systemic antibiotics;
switching to an antimicrobial emollient may be useful if infection is diagnosed.