Stasis Dermatitis

Stasis dermatitis is an inflammatory disease of the skin and appears quite frequently in the lower limbs and is a sequel of chronic venous insufficiency. It usually occurs in middle-aged and older and can lead to venous ulcers and hardening and discoloration of the skin (lipodermatosclerosis).

Why venous insufficiency occurs?

Chronic venous insufficiency is caused by dysfunction of the blood returning valves along the deep venous system, often associated with age. Venous insufficiency due to increased venous pressure in the lower limbs occurs, causing inflammation or stasis dermatitis. Inflammation is caused by decreased oxygen in the area which can cause skin damage a hardening of the skin.

Causes of stasis dermatitis

In many cases, prior to the dermatitis appear edema in the legs by increased fluid in the skin. There are risk factors for the development of edema as congestive heart failure or high blood pressure, and if treated can cause a decrease in the probability of occurrence of dermatitis.

Symptoms of stasis dermatitis

At first, small lesions can appear on the surface of the skin and making liquid contents have a shiny appearance, and then the rough area is formed with superficial flakes. In these phases the skin is red, but after a process of months or years, the skin may change to a brown color, it hardens and you can see an image in inverted glass of champagne called lipodermatosclerosis.

How do we diagnose dermatitis?

Normally, no additional tests are used for diagnosis of stasis dermatitis. Conducting a test such as Doppler ultrasound to study the deep venous system, it is of interest to exclude processes such as thrombosis.

Treatment

The treatment is to reduce or limit venous insufficiency compression therapies. Such compression may be effected with the use of compression stockings or more sophisticated methods as boots specifically designed for such use. It is very important to convey to the patient the importance of making a correct compression, since there has been a high degree of non-compliance is one of the causes of the poor performance of the process.

To control the dermatitis or eczema topical corticosteroids are used, whose power and dosage regimen must be indicated by the specialist, who consider the risk-benefit treatment and proper maintenance of balance.