What are compression stockings for in congestive dermatitis?
Compression stockings are widely used in surgery and phlebology. They help prevent blood clots, improve venous outflow, and eliminate leg swelling. But dermatologists also use them in their practice, for example, in the treatment of congestive dermatitis.
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What is congestive dermatitis?
The second name for congestive dermatitis is congestive eczema. It is an inflammatory lesion of the skin of the legs and, in rare cases, the hands (e.g., in patients with arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis).
Congestive dermatitis is not an independent disease. It is a consequence of chronic venous insufficiency, which leads to circulatory disorders and deterioration of trophic (nutrition) tissues. The result is chronic swelling of the legs, hyperpigmentation of the skin, lipodystrophy, and in severe cases - ulcers (trophic ulcers).
Chronic venous insufficiency is often “neighboring” with varicose veins. Its prevalence varies according to different data (up to 40% in women and up to 17% in men). In a Turkish study conducted in 2006, the prevalence of congestive dermatitis in patients over 65 years of age was 6.2%.
Congestive dermatitis is not an independent disease. It is a consequence of chronic venous insufficiency, which leads to circulatory disorders and deterioration of trophic (nutrition) tissues. The result is chronic swelling of the legs, hyperpigmentation of the skin, lipodystrophy, and in severe cases - ulcers (trophic ulcers).
Chronic venous insufficiency is often “neighboring” with varicose veins. Its prevalence varies according to different data (up to 40% in women and up to 17% in men). In a Turkish study conducted in 2006, the prevalence of congestive dermatitis in patients over 65 years of age was 6.2%.
Why does congestive dermatitis occur?
The main “prerequisite” for the appearance of congestive dermatitis is venous hypertension (increased pressure inside the vessels). It develops due to a violation of the function of venous valves, poor blood outflow, weak work or complete failure of the “venous pump” of the calf muscle.
Note: during movements, the leg muscles actively contract and squeeze the veins, “pushing” blood to the heart. This mechanism in medicine is called “muscle-venous pump”, or “muscle pump”.
Venous hypertension in turn leads to dilated capillaries and their increased permeability, leg edema, impaired skin nutrition and its chronic inflammation.
How does congestive dermatitis manifest itself?
Congestive dermatitis can manifest itself with the following symptoms:
It is also common to see marked varicose veins, impaired lymphatic outflow (secondary lymphedema), white scarred areas (due to microthrombosis), lipodermatosclerosis, and trophic ulcers.
Note: during movements, the leg muscles actively contract and squeeze the veins, “pushing” blood to the heart. This mechanism in medicine is called “muscle-venous pump”, or “muscle pump”.
Venous hypertension in turn leads to dilated capillaries and their increased permeability, leg edema, impaired skin nutrition and its chronic inflammation.
How does congestive dermatitis manifest itself?
Congestive dermatitis can manifest itself with the following symptoms:
- the appearance of redness on the legs, flaky patches or plaques (usually more on the inside of the ankle);
- Lichenification (thickening) of the skin;
- itching;
- hyperpigmentation of the skin;
- crusting, especially if a bacterial or fungal infection has set in.
It is also common to see marked varicose veins, impaired lymphatic outflow (secondary lymphedema), white scarred areas (due to microthrombosis), lipodermatosclerosis, and trophic ulcers.
How is congestive dermatitis treated?
Treatment of congestive dermatitis (and chronic venous insufficiency) always starts with lifestyle changes. Doctors recommend that such patients move more, carefully control their weight, avoid prolonged standing and in the supine position keep the legs elevated (for example, on a pillow).
To care for the skin of the legs, mild emollients are used, in the acute period local corticosteroids (hormonal drugs) and anti-inflammatory drugs, moist dressings are indicated.
But an integral part of the therapy of congestive dermatitis remains compression therapy.
To care for the skin of the legs, mild emollients are used, in the acute period local corticosteroids (hormonal drugs) and anti-inflammatory drugs, moist dressings are indicated.
But an integral part of the therapy of congestive dermatitis remains compression therapy.
What kind of compression hosiery is needed for congestive dermatitis?
Since congestive dermatitis usually occurs against the background of moderate to severe chronic venous insufficiency, these patients require a fairly pronounced pressure on the leg tissues (20-30 mmHg) and, consequently, second-class compression stockings.
Lauma Medical offers various variants of medical knitwear of the second compression class:
Lauma Medical stockings of the second compression class are made of nylon (60%) and Lycra (40%) - they are comfortable to wear, effective and wear-resistant. Phlebologists recommend them for mild manifestations of congestive dermatitis or its chronic form (in case of severe symptoms / acute course of the disease it is preferable to use compression bandages).
Lauma Medical offers various variants of medical knitwear of the second compression class:
- compression stockings with lace with or without a toe (usually preferred by women);
- compression stockings with elastic band with or without toe (this model is suitable for both women and men).
Lauma Medical stockings of the second compression class are made of nylon (60%) and Lycra (40%) - they are comfortable to wear, effective and wear-resistant. Phlebologists recommend them for mild manifestations of congestive dermatitis or its chronic form (in case of severe symptoms / acute course of the disease it is preferable to use compression bandages).
Congestive dermatitis - a very unpleasant manifestation of chronic venous insufficiency, but even with it you can cope, if you follow the doctor's prescriptions and do not forget about compression stockings
Congestive dermatitis - a very unpleasant manifestation of chronic venous insufficiency, but even with it you can cope, if you follow the doctor's prescriptions and do not forget about compression stockings