Why does my varicose vein itch

Posted in Blog Category. May 7, The Vein Institute. How does venous eczema develop? How to treat itchy varicose veins Venous eczema, also called varicose eczema, can be treated in a number of ways.

Here are a few tips: Moisturize: Apply at least twice a day to calm the irritated skin. Avoid scratching: It sounds counterproductive but scratching the itchy areas can often worsen the itch.

Scratching can lead to further trauma in the vein and more histamine produced by the body. Scratching can also cause cuts that lead to an infection. Or an ulcer which can form due to the excess swelling and fluid. There are a lot of symptoms associated with varicose veins ranging from cosmetic issues like visibly gnarled veins to swelling, burning, and pain. One common symptom of varicose veins is itching. The veins and the skin around them itch and can be a hassle for individuals to deal with.

Itchy varicose veins develop because of a condition that can manifest in unison with varicose veins called venous stasis dermatitis. This condition occurs when the blood that builds up in the damaged blood vessels begins to leak out of the blood vessels. Additionally, the damaged veins and the inflammation and swelling they cause can also be linked to a lack of oxygen reaching the skin near the veins.

Both of these factors end up causing venous stasis dermatitis or itchy veins. Itchy varicose veins are essential to treat because the symptoms will continue to worsen and you will develop other conditions that can make your legs feel and look worse.

First, the repeated itching can irritate the skin and end up causing wounds. In fact, some people have scratched so hard they have broken skin. Many of our vein clinic patients are surprised to find out that itching is a very common early symptom of venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency occurs when the one-way valves in the leg veins are not functioning allowing blood to flow backwards towards the feet.

This backwards flow of blood leads to high pressure in the venous system venous hypertension. This venous hypertension creates inflammation in the skin. The inflammation in the skin is known as venous stasis dermatitis stasis — means not flowing, dermatitis — inflammation of the skin. Venous eczema is often seen. Most patients think the eczema is only a skin problem. The exact cause of the itching has been extensively studied and now it is felt that the increased venous pressure causes the dermal skin capillaries tiny blood vessels to leak causing scarring and eventually decreased oxygen levels in the skin.