home conditions stasis eczema

This is also known as Varicose Eczema, Gravitational Eczema or Hypostatic Eczema.

This is a common disorder of the lower limbs and typically starts as swelling on the inner ankle. This is often controlled with the use of a compression bandage of stocking. The Eczema often starts as a red patch in the same place. From here it often spreads and can involve the entire lower leg. Corticosteroid ointments may give temporary relief.

Generally women are more effected than men, and most commonly occurs in the over 50's age group.

Stasis Eczema is particularly prone to spread to other areas of the body (autosensitisation).

The causes for this condition can be from:

• Venous thrombosis (blockage in the vein) - following a period of immobility (surgery, injury, labour etc.). The contraceptive pill can predispose a person to developing thrombosis.
• Absent Valves - Dominantly inherited. The valves are absent rather than damaged. The valves are found inside the veins. This helps in the return of blood to the heart. If these are not working properly or absent then the blood can pool in the lower limbs leading to Stasis Eczema.
• Disease compromised muscle pump can result from a neuromuscular disease like poliomyelitis (polio), or disuse atrophy (wasting) of the muscles such as severe arthritis.

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The muscles (particularly of the legs) also help in returning blood back to the heart, from where it is pumped out to all areas of the body. The muscles do this by contracting (squeezing) around the veins and pushing the blood up towards the heart. This usually done by the person being mobile and walking around in daily life. Obviously if daily life is interrupted by an illness or injury, this system can become compromised and can result in this skin condition.

So valves and muscle contraction are a vital part of your circulation, and not just the dominating force of the heart.

Chinese names for this include "Pouring down sore" and "Damp toxic sore".

Chinese Herbal Medicine can improve this condition considerably, but a gradual relapse is common due to the nature of the poor circulation underlying this condition.

Conventional treatment (Biomedicine) is the application of topical Corticosteroid drugs, however the condition usually becomes sensitive to the drugs.

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