What is venous stasis dermatitis?
Venous stasis dermatitis is a stage of chronic venous disease. The typical progression of chronic venous disease is:
- Spider veins
- Varicose veins
- Swelling
- Skin changes (venous stasis dermatitis)
- Venous ulcers
Chronic venous disease can cause very severe health problems, with venous stasis dermatitis being among the most serious.
What does venous stasis dermatitis look like?
Venous stasis dermatitis causes significant changes in the appearance of the skin on your legs. The most common sign of venous stasis dermatitis is brown or red skin discoloration around your ankles and lower legs. This pigmentation, deposits of hemosiderin, develops when your blood’s hemoglobin breaks down. You may also have:
- Scaly skin
- Shiny skin
- Thickened skin
- Skin scarring
If you notice these changes in your legs, it's important to seek care at Dallas Vein Institute immediately. Venous stasis dermatitis can worsen, causing venous ulcers, if you don't take steps to heal now.
Why does venous stasis dermatitis happen?
Venous stasis dermatitis typically occurs in adults over 50 who have poor circulation. It's most common in women. A number of factors can raise your risk for venous stasis dermatitis, including:
- Hypertension
- Excess weight or obesity
- Many pregnancies
- Congestive heart failure
- Kidney failure
If you have blood clots in your legs, including deep vein thrombosis, you're more susceptible to developing venous stasis dermatitis, as well.
What is the best treatment for venous stasis dermatitis?
The best way to address venous stasis dermatitis is treating the underlying issue, the vein disease. At Dallas Vein Institute, the vein care specialists can administer minimally invasive treatments to eliminate your diseased veins.
VenaSeal
VenaSeal™ is an adhesive vein closure that seals your diseased veins, which reroutes your blood to healthy veins nearby.
ClosureFast
ClosureFast™ is a type of endovenous radiofrequency ablation treatment. It sends radiofrequency energy into the vein to force vein wall collapse. Your blood reroutes to other healthy veins.
Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy
Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy delivers an irritant into your diseased veins via injection. This triggers vein withering and destroys the disease veins.
Microphlebectomy
Microphlebectomy treats varicose veins, and it’s often combined with ClosureFast or VenaSeal. This treatment includes tiny incisions to extract, sever, and remove diseased varicose veins.
The Dallas Vein Institute specialists can help you decide which vein treatment will work best for your venous stasis dermatitis.
Call Dallas Vein Institute or book an appointment through online scheduling to learn more now.
