Trophic venous eczema of the lower extremities - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Feel itchy on your feet? Is your skin red and flaky? Such symptoms are characteristic of a specific disease called varicose dermatitis. This is not the simple dermatitis that many of us imagine.

Varicose dermatitis is a skin lesion that occurs in places where the veins have ceased to fulfill their functional purposes. It is not an independent disease. Occurs as a result of vascular damage by varicose veins and thrombosis.

In case of damage to the extremities by varicose dermatitis, it is necessary to contact a phlebologist, since first of all it is necessary to treat the cause of the disease, and not the affected area.

Trophic venous eczema - what is it?

Trophic venous eczema is a pathological condition that occurs in the form of autoimmune dermatitis, that is, serous non-infectious inflammation of the skin (mostly the papillary layer of the dermis and epidermis), accompanied by symptoms of swelling, redness, itching and pain.

Trophic venous eczema

Venous eczema is a type and common form of eczema, which is caused by congestion in the skin due to impaired venous outflow. Venous eczema is also called varicose, congestive or gravitational. It most often has a chronic (recurrent) course. The pathology affects one or both lower extremities in combination with venous insufficiency. In the modern European, and most popular among leading experts, classification of chronic venous diseases - CEAP, this pathology is designated as C4a. This means quite severe tissue damage due to chronic venous edema.

Why does trophic venous eczema occur?

Venous eczema is most often observed in middle-aged and elderly patients - according to leading European dermatologists, it affects up to 20% of patients over 70 years of age. This is due to the following reasons:

Phlebeurysm.
Previous deep vein thrombosis of the affected limb.
The presence of venous trophic ulcers.
Previous cellulitis on the affected limb.
Chronic swelling of the lower leg, aggravated by hot weather and prolonged static position (standing).

The main cause of the pathology is varicose veins, which is why you can sometimes come across the term “Varicose eczema”.

Venous eczema of atypical localization

Quite often, signs of eczema can be found in young patients with a long history of varicose veins. There is no doctor, both in public and private clinics, who would not observe venous eczema in patients under 40 years of age.

Prevention of venous dermatitis

Physical activity is beneficial. Aerobic exercises without jumping, walking at a fast pace, cycling, elliptical trainer, skiing improve microcirculation in the legs. Swimming has a powerful anti-edematous effect. At the same time, running, jumping, intense interval training and especially weight training increase impact load and increase intra-abdominal pressure. These sports should not be practiced by people prone to varicose veins.
While resting, it is good to keep your legs elevated to help the veins carry blood to the heart and relieve swelling.
Avoid standing still for long periods of time. If you have to stand for a long time without moving, taking steps in place, alternately bending your knees and hips and bending over will help the veins conduct blood.
A contrast shower on the legs and feet should become a daily morning routine for people with problem veins. Alternate dousing with cold and hot water gives tone to the vascular wall and increases blood flow.
Compression stockings are specially designed medical products that apply intense compression to the foot and ankle and become looser further up the leg, which promotes good circulation and helps blood move upward against gravity. They are put on in the morning, being in a horizontal position. Depending on the stage of the disease, stockings, knee socks and tights are produced with varying degrees of compression. Your doctor will help you choose the right compression stockings.
Losing weight significantly reduces the likelihood of disease. Physical activity should be combined with proper nutrition.

Trophic venous eczema is very bad

Varicose eczema has a chronic, relapsing course and a tendency to progress. Quite often you can encounter a situation, especially in public hospitals, when only dermatologists treat venous eczema. Considering the main etiological component of the pathology, impaired venous outflow, treatment of such patients takes years.

Chronic recurrent eczema on the right lower limb

The disease slowly recedes, but invariably appears again. Moreover, trophic changes in the lower extremities progress, lipodermatosclerosis occurs, and then an ulcer appears.

Symptoms of venous dermatitis

As with other types of eczema, with varicose dermatitis the following changes are characteristic of the skin:

Itching may be the first symptom; it appears unnoticed and gradually progresses, becoming more pronounced at night. Sometimes it is more pronounced on one of the lower extremities.
Swelling, which is less in the morning, but intensifies in the evening.
Dryness and flaking;
Transparent discharge that dries out in the form of crusts. If an infection occurs, the liquid becomes cloudy, purulent, and the drying crusts turn yellow.

These changes primarily affect the inner surface of the ankle, and as the disease progresses, they spread to the foot and lower leg.

On lighter skin, the affected areas appear light brown or pink. In dark-skinned people, the lesion takes on a dark brown or grayish tint and can be difficult to notice. The disease occurs with periods of exacerbation, when symptoms intensify, and remission, when they disappear.

Feet often swell, especially at the end of the day or after periods of standing for a long time. Swelling most often occurs on the lower leg. Varicose veins may also be visible in the form of bluish tubercles and nodules, and spider veins are also characteristic.

Some people also experience these symptoms:

Change in skin color, which becomes darker, brown, grayish, with a purple tint. This manifestation may appear before all other symptoms.
The affected surface becomes sensitive and painful when touched.
When saturated with liquid, the dermis thickens and becomes rougher to the touch; this condition is called lipodermatosclerosis.
Areas of skin thinning (atrophy) appear that look like thin, whitish scars.
Pain in the area affected by varicose eczema.
Plaques and nodules of a purple hue on the legs and tops of the feet, in the place of which painful ulcers form.
Venous dermatitis is often accompanied by other types of eczema, such as atopic or dyshidrotic.

If varicose eczema is not treated, a trophic ulcer may form on the lower leg. This is a wound that appears in the area of greatest damage to the skin, does not heal on its own, is prone to suppuration and is very difficult to treat. This is facilitated by poor blood supply to tissues compressed by edema.

Cellulite is another complication that develops if treatment is delayed. This is an inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue, which is accompanied by severe swelling, redness, pain, fever and discharge of pus. It occurs when pyogenic bacteria penetrate through damaged skin, and local disruption of microcirculation and decreased immunity contribute to the formation of an infectious focus.

Why does trophic venous eczema almost always appear on the lower extremities?

The answer to this question lies in the pathogenesis of varicose veins, the dominant cause of venous eczema. Varicose veins affect exclusively the lower extremities, where, according to the gravity gradient, it is in their distal parts that trophic disorders occur. One of which is venous eczema.

Trophic eczema of the lower extremities

Pathological eczematous changes in the skin of the lower extremities are most often caused by varicose veins, since they are the cause of impaired venous outflow (up to 90% according to leading experts in the region).

Reasons for appearance

The main cause of varicose dermatitis of the lower extremities is a violation of venous circulation. This condition develops as a result of varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, and venous thrombosis of blood vessels. The development of the disease is provoked by:

long stay “on your feet” – work in a standing position, long walking;
cardiovascular diseases;
overweight;
traumatic lesions of veins;
a “sedentary” lifestyle, due to which an increased load is placed on the venous valves.

Trophic venous eczema - diagnosis

Diagnosis of venous eczema in public and private urban medical institutions often begins in a dermatologist’s office, where a specialist evaluates local changes in the skin. It is very important here that the patient is referred to a good phlebologist in a timely manner. If eczematous changes are associated with venous pathology, then treatment of skin manifestations only is likely to be ineffective. Even a visual examination by a phlebologist using all kinds of functional tests often does not reveal the true cause of the pathology. At this stage, the best solution would be a good ultrasound examination of the veins of the lower extremities.

Ultrasound diagnosis of trophic venous eczema

Only competent modern diagnostics of the venous system will help determine the correct treatment tactics.

Stages of development of varicose dermatitis

Like many diseases, varicose dermatitis has 3 stages of the disease:

— 1st stage. It appears as minor changes on the skin in the vein area. A purple-red tint appears on the skin, periodic itching in the legs, minor peeling and thickening of the skin, and a decrease in temperature in the damaged areas. A slight appearance of transparent bubbles may occur.

— 2nd stage. Swelling of the legs and painful sensations appear. Peeling and itching become more intense. The number of watery blisters on the skin increases, which begin to burst and cause wounds. When palpating the affected area, you can feel lumps similar to a wen.

— 3rd stage. The number of bubbles increases. The color of the skin takes on a brownish tint. As a result of the opening of the blisters, a moist area appears and the itching becomes unbearable. Ulcers form on the skin, which, if left untreated, begin to fester.

Trophic eczema, treatment in Moscow

Good treatment of venous eczema in Moscow can be divided into local (topical effect on skin inflammation) and treatment of the venous system. In the first, a dermatologist is often actively involved. Local treatment includes:

Ointments and creams, steroid drugs, both as part of the latter and as part of systemic treatment.
The use of antibiotics and antiseptics when an infection occurs.

Often, in the conditions of public medicine, patient care ends at the stage of the above topical treatment. This is not the best solution, since the disease is based on completely different reasons and a relapse of the disease will not take long to occur. Namely, venous stasis, which requires a slightly different approach. It is very important that a patient in Moscow has a timely appointment and diagnosis with a good phlebologist who can determine the correct tactics for managing the patient. The treatment of venous eczema is based on eliminating stasis and improving venous blood flow. Correction of the latter most often involves removing pathologically altered varicose veins. The presence of innovative technologies in modern Moscow centers makes it possible to effectively treat even complicated forms of varicose veins, moreover, on an outpatient basis.

Treatment of trophic eczema in our phlebology center

Leading medical centers in Moscow for the treatment of venous pathology use thermoobliteration techniques for these purposes. In a good city medical phlebology center you can count on safe, effective treatment. Modern vein removal procedures are performed under local anesthesia through skin punctures with minimal surgical trauma.

How to treat varicose dermatitis

Each stage of development of varicose dermatitis has an individual approach to treatment. In order to get rid of varicose dermatitis, systemic treatment is necessary:

Gets rid of foci of inflammation;
Relieve swelling of the legs;
Increase blood flow speed;
Constant hydration of thickened areas of the skin;
Prevention of purulent inflammation.

The first stage of treatment of varicose dermatitis

At this stage, medications are taken that increase the muscle activity of blood vessels. Along with medications, treatment includes wearing compression garments. It improves the functioning of vascular walls. Lingerie helps relieve swelling and fatigue in the legs. Antihistamines are used to relieve itching. To prevent skin cracking, moisturizers are used.

If you are faced with the task of choosing compression underwear for yourself, a loved one or relative, we recommend reading the article “Compression stockings: how to choose, compression class, sizes.”

The second stage of treatment of varicose dermatitis

Treatment is the same as in stage 1. To reduce itching, antihistamine and hormonal ointments are used simultaneously. Antiseptic creams are applied to areas with suppuration.

In addition, valerian or motherwort are used to increase calmness of the whole body. Be careful when using such tinctures; they should be used only after being prescribed by your doctor.

The third stage of treatment of varicose dermatitis

In this case, surgery is required. Since recovery is possible only after restoration of vascular changes. Initially, it is necessary to eliminate the acute manifestation of inflammation, this is achieved by:

Raise the affected leg to a height of 25-35 degrees for blood outflow;
Washing of emerging ulcers;
Administration of injections that increase the permeability of blood through the vessels;
Using elastic bandages to increase pressure on the surface of the leg;
The use of antihistamines intravenously.

Trophic varicose eczema - treatment without surgery

The main factor in the development of congestive eczema is the pathology of the venous system. Therefore, there is no need to talk about any effective treatment without radical intervention. The best solution would be to stop the inflammation and carry out a procedure to remove varicose veins. But is surgery really that scary?

Trophic eczema - laser treatment in our center

Modern European technologies for vein removal are not inferior to advanced manipulations in dentistry in terms of minimal surgical trauma and possible side effects. But today it would not even occur to anyone to refuse caries treatment due to fear of intervention.

Possibilities of traditional medicine

Hirudotherapy. Treatment with leeches is more based on eliminating varicose veins, blood clots, and improving blood rheology;
A medicine based on horse chestnut will relieve inflammation and swelling;
Dermatitis is treated with folk remedies taken directly from the garden. For example, a cabbage leaf applied to the site of swelling;
Club moss can be used as an anti-inflammatory powder.

The use of folk remedies for self-treatment is not recommended without consulting a doctor.

Only a specialist can assess the extent of the lesion and prevent serious complications in time. Stay healthy, follow our news! Bye!

Author of the article: Elena Smirnova (dermatologist)

Trophic venous eczema - laser treatment (EVLO, EVLT), radiofrequency treatment (RFA, RFO)

Considering that radical treatment of varicose eczema is the treatment of venous pathology, it is modern methods of removing varicose veins that will be the main way to combat eczema itself. Today, the undisputed leaders at the forefront of innovative treatment of varicose veins are thermal obliteration techniques, laser and radiofrequency. If we compare both technologies, there are simply no fundamental differences for the patient.

Treatment of trophic eczema with radiofrequency

What are the advantages of thermoobliteration technologies:

Radicality and effectiveness (when used by experienced specialists, the result is practically 100%).
Low invasiveness, the procedure is carried out through skin punctures.
Highest cosmetic value.
Full outpatient, no need for anesthesia or hospitalization.
Safety and comfort of the procedure for the patient.

The result of laser treatment of trophic eczema after 1 month

After endovascular treatment, the symptoms of eczema quickly resolve on their own.

Results of treatment of trophic venous eczema. Photos before and after treatment

The result of treatment of trophic eczema using endovenous laser coagulation (EVLC) using German Biolitec technology in our center

Photos before and after treatment of trophic eczema on the left lower limb

The result of treatment of trophic venous eczema using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in our patient

Photos before and after treatment of trophic venous eczema on the left lower limb

Frequently asked questions from patients on the Internet about trophic venous eczema

How to treat venous eczema of the legs in Moscow?

For good treatment of venous eczema of the lower extremities in Moscow, you need to contact a competent specialist, a phlebologist. The doctor will conduct a detailed diagnosis, including an ultrasound examination. Only after this can we talk about modern treatment. The best solution would be to find a good city phlebological center, where the ultrasound will be performed by the phlebologist himself.

What is the modern treatment for venous eczema of the legs in Moscow?

In Moscow, good modern treatment of venous eczema that meets European standards includes innovative technologies for both diagnosis and treatment. Leading city phlebological centers, including our Moscow Innovative Phlebological Center, successfully treat venous eczema. First, a detailed duplex angioscanning of the venous system of the lower extremities is performed. Only then is treatment prescribed, including the fight against local inflammation and modern treatment of the true cause of eczema, varicose veins.

How to treat venous eczema with folk remedies?

Specialists of the Moscow City Phlebological Center have good experience in working with various trophic disorders in venous diseases, including venous eczema. Leading phlebologists at our center do not recommend treating venous eczema with folk remedies. The disease responds well to treatment using modern technologies, but we often encountered serious complications after treatment with folk remedies.

My mother has venous eczema on her legs, which doctor is best to see?

If you suspect that your mother has venous eczema, it is better to first contact a good phlebologist, a doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of venous pathology. First you need to understand the cause of inflammation in the lower extremities. You may need the help of a dermatologist. If eczema is of venous origin, then now there are modern European technologies with the help of which curing your mother will not present any special problems.

Treatment of venous dermatitis

In case of dermatitis associated with vein pathology, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. If treatment is not started on time, dangerous complications can develop that can be very difficult to cope with.

All therapy is divided into drug treatment and a number of non-drug measures aimed at alleviating the condition and reducing symptoms.

For venous dermatitis, soaps and bubble baths are contraindicated, as they dry out the skin and irritate areas of the body affected by eczema. Regular moisturizing lotion can be used as a substitute for soap by applying to damp skin and then rinsing off.
When using a shower or bath for personal hygiene, the water should be lukewarm, or even cool. Hot water causes severe loss of moisture and worsens the itching.
Contact with water should be short. Water washes away the fatty protective layer, and moisture freely evaporates from the skin. You should not take a bath longer than 10 - 15 minutes.
Products containing alcohol, dyes and fragrances are dangerous for eczema skin. They can cause irritation and allergies, and worsen the symptoms of dermatitis.

Treatment with medications

Emollients, or medicated moisturizers, help keep skin hydrated and elastic and prevent damage and cracking. This is one of the most important groups of drugs in the treatment of all types of eczema. Use the product on your legs and feet twice a day, or more often if your skin is very dry. Apply it with light movements, in enough quantity to make the skin look slightly shiny.
Glucocorticosteroids are medications based on adrenal hormones. They have an anti-inflammatory effect. Entering the subcutaneous tissue, glucocorticoids inhibit immune cells and prevent them from releasing inflammatory mediators - chemicals responsible for the symptoms of eczema. In the treatment of venous dermatitis, these drugs should be used with caution, since tissue swelling and increased vascular permeability in the area of the pathological process lead to the fact that the drug is absorbed in large quantities and enters the bloodstream. Side effects can be quite serious: decreased immunity, obesity, increased blood pressure and blood sugar levels, suppression of the adrenal glands. Therefore, moderate or weak glucocorticoids are used according to their potency, and they are prescribed for a short course. Hydrocortisone and prednisolone ointments are suitable.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments regulate immunity and suppress inflammation, while they do not contain hormones and are free of their side effects. These drugs include Elidel cream; it is well suited for targeted therapy of varicose veins dermatitis.
Zinc oxide is used in this disease due to its drying effect. Due to swelling, eczema against the background of varicose veins often becomes wet, and clear discharge oozes from the lesions on the skin. Zinc oxide reduces itching, softens and alleviates general discomfort.
Antimicrobial agents become relevant if an infection occurs. In conditions of impaired microcirculation, edema and damage to the epithelium, bacteria inhabiting the surface of the body easily penetrate inside, into the subcutaneous tissue, and cause inflammation. In this situation, antibiotics must be taken in tablet form, and antiseptic solutions must be used topically. The doctor selects a suitable drug, usually a broad-spectrum antibiotic from the group of penicillins, cephalosporins or macrolides.