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If you have varicose veins, you are probably used to the many surprises that come with them. New varicose veins, new pains in the area of the veins, new colors surrounding them — these are just some of the many side effects that varicose veins may bring.
After a while, you might come to expect these. However, there are some other side effects that might make you more concerned.
One of those side effects is red spots. These may appear like acne on your varicose veins, or in small clusters in surrounding areas.
We’re vein professionals in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, and we’ve seen pretty much everything there is to see with varicose veins. In this article, we’re going to break down why these red spots appear, if they’re dangerous, and what you can do to make them go away.
What Are My Varicose Vein Spots?
Most likely, the spots you now see are something called varicose eczema.
This has a few other names you might be familiar with as well, including venous eczema, gravitational eczema, or stasis eczema.
There are a few telltale signs that you might have varicose eczema. First, the eczema will appear as a series of red dots, often spaced closely together. You might also find that your skin in this area is dry, flaky, and itchy.
Color-wise, varicose eczema tends to be a red or brown color, though on darker skin it can appear gray or purple.
Some people report additional side effects from varicose eczema. These include skin discoloration, tightness, hardness, or occasional small, white scars.
Regardless of how varicose eczema presents itself, it is likely that your varicose eczema will be inconsistent in its symptoms. In other words, some days might be better than others for your varicose eczema.
What Causes Varicose Eczema?
Varicose eczema is thought to result directly from your varicose veins.
Varicose veins occur when vein valves stop working properly, causing blood to pool in your veins.
When blood pools like this, it can build pressure within the vein, causing fluid to leak into the surrounding tissue. While this isn’t necessarily dangerous, it can cause numerous annoyances — like varicose eczema.
Scientists speculate that varicose eczema is your body’s immune system reacting to this fluid leakage.
As varicose eczema stems largely from varicose veins, the risk factors for varicose eczema are largely the same as the veins themselves. For example, women are more likely to suffer from varicose eczema, with pregnancy increasing that risk.
Furthermore, factors like inactivity, increasing age, obesity, and more can all lead to an increased chance of varicose eczema.
How Can I Treat Varicose Eczema?
Thankfully, varicose eczema has many treatment options.
First, you can start applying topical moisturizers to your skin. This will stop your skin from becoming dry and flaky, though it may not fully get rid of the red spots you see forming on your skin.
Next, most over-the-counter creams that treat other kinds of eczema will also work on varicose eczema. This includes creams like topical corticosteroids, which can frequently be purchased over the counter.
Changing your behavior can also affect your varicose eczema. Improving your circulation by staying active might reduce your varicose eczema, or at the very least stop it from spreading further.
Finally, you might consider purchasing compression stockings. These can help improve your circulation, which in turn may decrease the likelihood of further varicose eczema development.
If none of these treatments work, you may want to seek a dermatologist to better resolve your issue. However, as with almost all varicose vein-related ailments, there really is only one long-term solution.
Solve Varicose Eczema Forever
The best way to treat all varicose vein-related problems is going to the source.
Treating your varicose veins is a quick and low-pain process. In fact, many patients who undergo vein treatment are able to return to work on the same day!
If you are sick of varicose eczema, vein pain, or any other issue that might arise from your varicose veins, reach out to us. We’ll work with you to find the perfect solution to all your varicose vein problems.