Tips to Help Prevent Your Venous Stasis Dermatitis from Worsening
Venous stasis is a skin problem that occurs due to venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency develops when your leg valve veins weaken, allowing blood to flow backward. Blood pools in your veins, fluid accumulates in your lower legs, and pressure under your skin increases. The pressure prevents blood and oxygen from nourishing your skin, and it changes color, and you experience disturbing symptoms. Venous stasis dermatitis Somerville symptoms often develop in your lower legs and ankle. You may experience swelling, discoloration, itching, scaling, and dry skin. Managing venous stasis dermatitis can help prevent it from becoming worse. The following tips can help prevent your venous stasis dermatitis from worsening.
Exercise
Exercise helps improve blood circulation and strengthen your calf muscles. It also reduces swelling and improves your overall health. Your doctor can recommend exercises for obese patients to help minimize venous stasis dermatitis symptoms. Walking is a good activity if you have venous stasis dermatitis. Your doctor can guide you on other good exercises and how often you should do them.
Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing
Tight clothes can interfere with blood circulation, worsening your venous stasis dermatitis. If clothing rubs against the affected skin, it can irritate it. Wool, polyester, rayon, and other rough cloth textures can irritate stasis dermatitis skin and cause flare-ups. Loose-fitting cotton clothes are the best for venous stasis dermatitis patients.
Use compression garments
If your dermatologist recommends, you wear compression garments, ensure you put them on as instructed. Compression stockings improve circulation in your legs, prevent open sores, and reduce the chances of another flare. Talk to your doctor if you have trouble wearing your socks or if they cause discomfort. In most patients, compression garments reduce swelling within weeks.
Avoid injuring or irritating areas with venous stasis dermatitis
The skin with venous stasis dermatitis is very sensitive, and injuring or irritating the area can lead to an infection or open sores. Avoid anything that can irritate the skin, such as pet hair, plants, grass, cleaning products, or perfume. Scratching can also aggravate stasis dermatitis, leading to an infection. To prevent scratching, your dermatologist can prescribe a cream or recommend you place a cool compressor on the itchy region for fifteen minutes.
Be cautious when bathing
Some soaps and rough-textured towels can irritate venous stasis dermatitis skin. If you have stasis dermatitis, your dermatologist recommends you use a mild, fragrance-free soap to avoid irritation. After bathing, apply petroleum jelly or a fragrance-free moisturizer on your skin within two minutes. The cream keeps your skin moisturized to help prevent the stasis dermatitis area from becoming scaly and irritated.
Do not miss dermatology appointments
Sometimes, you may have to live with venous stasis dermatitis for life. You may take time to learn how to manage the condition and determine what works best for you. Ensure you attend all appointments with your dermatologist. The provider can teach you how to manage the situation at home with habits and medications in case you have flare-ups.
Although sometimes you may have to live with venous stasis dermatitis for life, you can prevent it from worsening through exercise, wearing fitting clothing, and using compression garments. Schedule an appointment at Somerset Surgical Associates for venous stasis dermatitis treatment to relieve your leg swelling.