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Suggest Treatment For Itchy Warm Rashes On Calves
Question: I have rashes on both calves, itcht, warm to touch, and I am starting to get patch's on my thighs as well. I have no known allergies. I am on atacand for blood pressure, and doxycycline to prevent infection. Also, I have vascular problems in the past, and was given a steroid cream. This was a few years ago when I had red patches, way less severe than what they are now. In addition, it was strongly suggested that I wear compression stockings daily. I did for awhile, but they were very hot in 80 degree weather. However, I started wearing them last week. I am hoping that you can give me some idea of what may be causing these bilateral rashes. I asked a doctor last week, but neglected to mention vascular insufficency. Thank-you in advance and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely, XXXXXXX Marsch
Sincerely, XXXXXXX Marsch
Brief Answer:
Kindly send details and good resolution pictures of the condition.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the rashes on both calves. In view to help you best I request you to kindly elaborate certain points:
- Since how long you have these rashes on both calves.
- Had it started on one calf first then on other or simultaneously on both calves.
- What is the severity of itching or pain or burning sensation - mild /moderate or severe.
In view to help you best I request you to kindly send good resolution picture of the affected area. For that you have a feature on the right side of the page. or else you can send your pictures at
YYYY@YYYY
With subject as "attention - Dr. Sanjay XXXXXXX Kanodia "
Hope to hear soon from your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY
Kindly send details and good resolution pictures of the condition.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the rashes on both calves. In view to help you best I request you to kindly elaborate certain points:
- Since how long you have these rashes on both calves.
- Had it started on one calf first then on other or simultaneously on both calves.
- What is the severity of itching or pain or burning sensation - mild /moderate or severe.
In view to help you best I request you to kindly send good resolution picture of the affected area. For that you have a feature on the right side of the page. or else you can send your pictures at
YYYY@YYYY
With subject as "attention - Dr. Sanjay XXXXXXX Kanodia "
Hope to hear soon from your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
Hi, I have provided some attachments. Please review them.
Brief Answer:
Venous stasis dermatitis in close relation to chronic venous insufficiency.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mam,
Welcome back and thanks a lot for your swift response.
After analyzing the pictures and the details and the pictures the skin condition appears to be related to Venous stasis dermatitis which is in close relation to chronic venous insufficiency.
To tell you simply about the condition: after a certain age our vein below the knee area are not able to pump blood back to heart to its best capacity. This causes stasis of blood and then later on this stagnated blood causes various skin changes.
In yourself I can make out bit swollen legs with red rash below knee area. There can be pitting oedema as a result of venous incompetence is worst at the end of the day and usually disappears at night. Patients may complain of a tight feeling in the oedematous leg and night cramps. Do let me know if you feel such symptoms.
There is formation of pressure Erythema (redness). This is one of the first signs of evolving venous insufficiency.
I suggest you to meet a dermatologist personally to get it analyzed. A long term follow up is required to treat the condition. In my patients I treat this condition with topical steroids and antihistamine tablets. I also suggest my patients to keep the leg raised. It is better if you can keep a pillow over your feet end.
Do not stand for long time as it cause more aggravation of problem.
I hope these information will help you. If you have any further queries I will be glad to help.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY
Venous stasis dermatitis in close relation to chronic venous insufficiency.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mam,
Welcome back and thanks a lot for your swift response.
After analyzing the pictures and the details and the pictures the skin condition appears to be related to Venous stasis dermatitis which is in close relation to chronic venous insufficiency.
To tell you simply about the condition: after a certain age our vein below the knee area are not able to pump blood back to heart to its best capacity. This causes stasis of blood and then later on this stagnated blood causes various skin changes.
In yourself I can make out bit swollen legs with red rash below knee area. There can be pitting oedema as a result of venous incompetence is worst at the end of the day and usually disappears at night. Patients may complain of a tight feeling in the oedematous leg and night cramps. Do let me know if you feel such symptoms.
There is formation of pressure Erythema (redness). This is one of the first signs of evolving venous insufficiency.
I suggest you to meet a dermatologist personally to get it analyzed. A long term follow up is required to treat the condition. In my patients I treat this condition with topical steroids and antihistamine tablets. I also suggest my patients to keep the leg raised. It is better if you can keep a pillow over your feet end.
Do not stand for long time as it cause more aggravation of problem.
I hope these information will help you. If you have any further queries I will be glad to help.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
I believe this started on both legs at the same time. It seems to clear up when I'm on vacation. Can stress play a role? The itching is moderate, but when I scratch, which I try to be careful, I sometimes cause bleeding. Apparantly, according to doctors, I have thin skin. I have used the topical creams, triamcinalone cream .1% and fluoroucil cream 5%, which do not work. I have been sitting in the sun for half an hour daily in the hopes this helps. I started wearing compression stockings daily again, which seems to help. Should I continue wearing them?
Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you. XXXXXXX Marsch
Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you. XXXXXXX Marsch
Brief Answer:
Venous stasis dermatitis: further suggestions and guidance
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mam,
Welcome back and thanks a lot for your further follow up.
Regarding your further queries:
Stress can play a vital role in increasing the condition. On one side it can cause more aggravation as well as increase in the tendency to itch over the affected area. So reduction of stress plays an important role in improving the condition.
If you have been diagnosed with thin skin then it would be better to apply the steroids on least of amount. In my patients I suggest them to apply the steroid based cream exactly over the red areas. A rule of thumb is to take a pea size amount of cream for palm size area of skin. If the present creams are not working then a higher potency creams can be used under dermatological supervision. A short course of oral steroids can help in improving the condition at the earliest.
You should continue to wear the stockings as these helps a lot in reducing the tendency of extravasation of blood as well as edema of feet.
There are further of the suggestions which you can follow:
- Keep your self away from hot and humid climate.
- Take daily bath.
- Wear cotton clothes and cotton undergarments to be changed two times a day. Do not wear any synthetic garments.
- Do cold compression or warm water compresses according to the weather condition.
- Do not stand continuously for long hours. This is the most important factor in reducing the further tendency.
In your kind of itching situation I generally prefer to give either Des-loratadine (available as Claritin ) or levocetrizine. It can be taken up to 3 to 4 times in 24 hours.
I hope these information will help you. If you have any further queries I will be glad to help.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY
Venous stasis dermatitis: further suggestions and guidance
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mam,
Welcome back and thanks a lot for your further follow up.
Regarding your further queries:
Stress can play a vital role in increasing the condition. On one side it can cause more aggravation as well as increase in the tendency to itch over the affected area. So reduction of stress plays an important role in improving the condition.
If you have been diagnosed with thin skin then it would be better to apply the steroids on least of amount. In my patients I suggest them to apply the steroid based cream exactly over the red areas. A rule of thumb is to take a pea size amount of cream for palm size area of skin. If the present creams are not working then a higher potency creams can be used under dermatological supervision. A short course of oral steroids can help in improving the condition at the earliest.
You should continue to wear the stockings as these helps a lot in reducing the tendency of extravasation of blood as well as edema of feet.
There are further of the suggestions which you can follow:
- Keep your self away from hot and humid climate.
- Take daily bath.
- Wear cotton clothes and cotton undergarments to be changed two times a day. Do not wear any synthetic garments.
- Do cold compression or warm water compresses according to the weather condition.
- Do not stand continuously for long hours. This is the most important factor in reducing the further tendency.
In your kind of itching situation I generally prefer to give either Des-loratadine (available as Claritin ) or levocetrizine. It can be taken up to 3 to 4 times in 24 hours.
I hope these information will help you. If you have any further queries I will be glad to help.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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