Varicose eczema

Varicose eczema is a long-term skin condition that affects the lower legs and is common in people with varicose veins.

It is also known as venous eczema, gravitational eczema and stasis eczema.

Symptoms

Like all types of eczema, the affected skin becomes:

itchy red and swollen dry and flaky  scaly or crusty

There may be periods when these symptoms improve and periods when they become more severe.

Your legs may become swollen, especially towards the end of the day or after long periods of standing. Varicose veins (swollen and enlarged veins) are often visible on the legs.

Some people also have other symptoms, such as:

brown discolouration of the skin red, tender and tight skin that can eventually become hardened (lipodermatosclerosis) small, white scars (atrophie blanche) pain eczema affecting other parts of the body

Left untreated, leg ulcers can develop. These are long-lasting wounds that form where the skin has become damaged.