My doctor says that my varicose veins have caused eczema. Is he right?

Yes, it sounds as though you have venous eczema, also called
varicose, stasis or gravitational eczema. It is linked to poor blood
flow in the veins in the lower legs, sometimes after clots in the deep
veins. The eczema is chronic, and the legs can become stained a
browny colour from blood pigments getting into the skin. You will
have to be very careful not to scratch the skin as it will be very
fragile and prone to ulceration. If this does happen, you will need
dressings and bandages; these can sometimes, however, lead toextra problems of allergic contact eczema, so be careful and look
after your skin.
I have suffered from eczema since I was a child. In my
adult years it has changed, and my GP has told me it was
something called ‘pomphlics’. What is this?
‘Pompholyx’ is a word used to describe a pattern of eczema
affecting the hands and feet that typically shows blistering and is
very itchy. There are recurring outbreaks of tense, thick-walled
vesicles or larger blisters on the palms, along the fingers and
sometimes on the soles of the feet. Each outbreak can last a few
weeks and recur at irregular intervals. It is more common in hot
weather and can occur in three types:
• in association with atopic eczema;
• linked to allergic contact eczema – people allergic to nickel
may also develop it in response to low levels of nickel in
food;
• in isolation (the cause here being unknown).