Stasis Dermatitis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Stasis dermatitis is a condition that affects the skin on your lower legs. Stasis dermatitis happens when certain medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, diabetes, blood clots, and obesity, cause your blood not to move as it should. Stasis dermatitis may change the look and feel of your skin. Your skin may look red or bluish, or you may get brownish, itchy spots. Your skin may become rough, thick, and scaly. Your ankles and lower legs may swell and feel painful. Stasis dermatitis may cause you to get leg sores. It may be difficult for you to move around.
  
  
• Caregivers will do a physical exam and ask you about your signs and symptoms. You may need blood or other tests to look for other medical conditions. Treatment may include rest, elevation of the legs, lotions, steroid creams, pressure stockings, and antibiotics. Treatment can help you manage your symptoms, such as pain, swelling, and itching. Treatment can help your skin to look better and help you to move around better. It may even keep stasis dermatitis from coming back.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• You may have an allergic reaction to the medicine you use to treat stasis dermatitis. Steroid or antibiotic creams may cause more redness and swelling on your skin. Pressure stockings may limit your movement. Even with treatment, your skin may look bumpy or dark. Your signs and symptoms may not go away or may return.
  
  
• You may get a blood clot in your leg. A blood clot can cause pain and swelling. It can stop blood from flowing where it needs to go in your body. The blood clot can break loose and travel to your lungs. A blood clot in your lungs can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. This problem can be life-threatening.
  
  
• Without treatment, you can get sores on your legs. The sores may take a long time to heal and may cause scars. Sores and swelling may make it hard for you to move around. You may have trouble doing your normal daily activities, such as work or chores. Pain and limited movement may make you feel anxious or sad. Sores can become infected. Infection can enter your blood, which could be life-threatening. You may be at risk for skin cancer if your sores do not heal. Talk to your caregiver if you have any questions or concerns about your condition, treatment, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

Vital signs:

Caregivers will check your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature. They will also ask about your pain. These vital signs give caregivers information about your current health.

Medicines:

You may need any of the following medicines:

• Anti-itching medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to help keep your skin from itching. This medicine may be given in an IV, as a shot, by mouth, or as a skin lotion. Sometimes this medicine can make you sleepy.
  
  
• Steroids: Steroid medicine may decrease redness, pain, and swelling. Steroid medicine for stasis dermatitis is normally given as a cream you put on your skin.
  
  
• Medicines for pain or swelling: These medicines are safe for most people to use. However, they can cause serious problems when used by people with certain medical conditions. Tell caregivers if you have liver or kidney disease, a history of bleeding in your stomach, or any other medical problems.
  
  
• Diuretics: This medicine is given to decrease edema (excess fluid) that collects in a part of your body, such as your legs. Diuretics can also remove excess fluid from around your heart or lungs and decrease your blood pressure. It is often called water pills. You may urinate more often when you take this medicine.
  
  
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics may help treat or prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria. You may need antibiotics if you have leg sores.

Tests:

You may need any of the following tests:

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken to give caregivers information about how your body is working. The blood may be taken from your hand, arm, or IV.
  
  
• Doppler ultrasound and venous duplex imaging: These tests check the blood flow in your veins. Caregivers look for clots in the veins near the area of your pain and redness.
  
  
• Magnetic resonance imaging: This test is called an MRI. During the MRI, pictures are taken of your legs. An MRI may be used to look at your blood vessels. You will need to lie still during an MRI. Never enter the MRI room with any metal objects. This can cause serious injury. Tell your caregiver if you have any metal implants in your body.
  
  
• Computed tomography scan: This is also called a CT scan. An x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your legs to look at the blood vessels and to check for problems and abnormal changes. You may be given dye before the pictures are taken. The dye is usually given in an IV. The dye may help your caregivers see the pictures better. People who are allergic to iodine or shellfish (crab, lobster, or shrimp) may be allergic to some dyes. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to shellfish or have other allergies or medical conditions.
  
  
• Skin tissue biopsy: Caregivers may collect a sample of your skin. The tissue will be sent to the lab for tests. Ask your caregiver for more information about skin tissue biopsy.

Treatment options:

Ask your caregiver for more information about these and other treatments you may need:

• Pressure stockings: These tight elastic stockings help keep blood from collecting in the legs and causing clots.
  
  
• Pneumatic boots: Inflatable boots are put on your legs. The boots are connected to an air pump. The pump tightens and loosens different areas of the boots. This helps improve blood flow to prevent clots.
  
  
• Dressings: If you have open leg sores, your caregiver may have you apply wet dressings to them. Dressings are bandages that help your leg sores heal.
  
  
• Debridement: If you have open sores with dead tissue, your caregiver may want to remove the tissue.
  
  
• Surgery: You may need surgery to open your veins and help your blood move better.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Stasis Dermatitis (Inpatient Care)