Varicose skin changes

Varicose eczema and varicose ulcers

Brown pigmentation of the skin, swelling (oedema) and dry, flaky or itchy skin (eczema/dermatitis), are all signs of damage to the skin of the leg from varicose vein disease.  In the advanced stages of varicose veins the skin can break down completely and cause a varicose ulcer.

Varicose eczema tends to be very resistant to treatment with usual steroid creams.  Varicose ulcers require frequent specialised dressings, correction with compression hosiery and take months to heal.  If the varicose veins are treated these problems will resolve relatively quickly.