ymptoms of stasis dermatitis
The symptoms of stasis dermatitis include:
skin discoloration
itching
scaling
ulcers
You may also experience symptoms of venous insufficiency, including:
leg swelling
calf pain
calf tenderness
a dull ache or heaviness in your legs that gets worse when you stand
In the early stages of stasis dermatitis, the skin on your legs may look thin. Your skin may also itch, but try not to scratch it. Scratching can cause the skin to crack and fluid to seep out.
Over time, these changes can become permanent. Your skin may eventually thicken, harden, or turn dark brown. This is called lipodermatosclerosis. It may also look lumpy.
In the final stages of stasis dermatitis, your skin breaks down and an ulcer, or sore, forms. Ulcers from stasis dermatitis usually form on the inside of your ankle.
Common causes of stasis dermatitis
Poor circulation causes stasis dermatitis. Typically, poor circulation is the result of a chronic (long-term) condition called venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency occurs when your veins have trouble sending blood to your heart.
There are one-way valves inside your leg veins that keep your blood flowing in the right direction, which is toward your heart. In people with venous insufficiency, these valves become weak. This allows blood to flow back toward the feet and pool in your legs instead of continuing to flow toward your heart. This pooling of blood is what causes stasis dermatitis.
Varicose veins and congestive heart failure are also known causes of leg swelling and stasis dermatitis.
Most of the conditions that cause stasis dermatitis usually develop in people as they get older. However, there are also several causes that are unrelated to age, including:
surgery, such as using a leg vein for bypass surgery
deep vein thrombosis in your leg
traumatic injury to your lower legs
What are the risk factors for stasis dermatitis?
Stasis dermatitis affects people with poor circulation. It’s common among adults over the age of 50. Women are more likely to get it than men.
