Varicose Eczema: When it Becomes an Urgent Problem
Is Varicose Eczema Serious?
Yes, varicose eczema is serious, since it is a warning sign that the skin is being damaged by inflammation. If neglected and left untreated, varicose eczema will inevitably lead to a painful leg ulcer or worse.
Initial Stages
Varicose eczema may come and go. If you are healthy with a good immune system, your natural healing process will likely prevail. So as long as you are taking care of yourself and keeping the area moisturized, it may clear up giving you the impression that the condition has gone away completely.
However, as time goes by, as the damage gets worse, the injury caused by poor nutrient supply and lack of oxygen to the skin may exceed the body’s capacity to repair the skin. When this happens, the eczema will not get better. At that point, home remedies will no longer be effective. Although some of the damage may be reversible, more and more of the skin will be damaged beyond repair. At this stage, the skin may be permanently scarred and discolored.
When does this condition become an urgent problem?
Initially, varicose eczema starts out as a little rash that comes and goes. As it progresses past the initial stage it will not only become serious, but it will become urgent. The signs that it has become urgent and therefore needs medical care are:
- You scratch it in your sleep, damaging the skin, and actually causing a leg ulcer because of how itchy it is. You might even wake up in the morning to find the sheets have blood on them and your skin is broken with a leg ulcer.
- The area bleeds when you knock it because the skin is unhealthy and it will not heal properly.
- Your skin weeps and leaks fluid from the area of varicose eczema. In this case, you need to worry about infection.
- The varicose eczema has caused an actual infection. You will be able to tell if there is pus, spreading redness, and pain. Also, you may develop a high temperature, fever, shivers, or feel generally unwell. Seek immediate medical help.
