Stasis dermatitis or varcose/gravitational eczema is an endogeous eczema as a consequence of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and often accompanied by chronic leg ulcers.
Clinical features
Presents initially as poorly demarcated erythematous plaques of the lower legs bilaterally, classically involving the medial malleolus.
Chronic stasis dermatitis may appear as fibrotic skin thickening and hyperpigmentation. The changes are characteristic in both light-skinned (top) and dark-skinned (bottom) people, here appearing more pronounced in the bottom photo. | Thomas Habif, MD.
This photo shows a central large weeping ulceration surrounded by chronic changes of hyperpigmentation and thickened fibrotic skin. | Roberto A. Penne-Casanova/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Venous stasis ulcers develop as a result of inadequately treated stasis dermatitis; they may quickly follow the first signs of stasis dermatitis. | Thomas Habif, MD.
