It is widely believed by vein specialists that stasis dermatitis is due to chronic venous insufficiency. As a matter of fact, in a cross sectional study, 3.7 % of patients with vein problems reported having venous stasis dermatitis.

Since it has been shown that patients with venous insufficiency have a higher likelihood of having contact dermatitis, researchers at the Department of Dermatology and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University Hospital at Zurich, Switzerland eliminated all factors that led to nonspecific dermatitis (contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, dry skin, etc. The researchers found that in those patients who have venous insufficiency as the only underlying cause for the dermatitis, treatment of venous hypertension led to complete and definitive treatment and resolution of the stasis dermatitis. The study was supported by the Swiss Society of Phlebology and the lead author of the study was K Sippel (Phlebology; 2011; volume 26: 361-365).

image from www.VeinsVeinsVeins.com with permission

from Dr. Hratch Karamanoukian