ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the case study of a 72-year-old retired hairdresser, who attends the leg-ulcer clinic because of a 4-week history of progressive worsening pruritus of her right lower leg. Prior to this she had a venous ulcer over the medial malleolus of her right leg, which has gradually healed over a 4-month period with the diligent application of three-layer compression bandaging by her local nursing team. Her treatment regime includes a wash with chlorhexidine containing emollient lotion, application of paraffin emollient to the entire lower leg, followed by betamethason–eneomycin ointment applied directly to areas of stasis eczema and easy-release gauze over the ulcerated area. Physical examination reveals a large but localized area of intense erythema and skin swelling confined to the anterior, posterior and medial aspect of her right lower leg. Skin swabs have been taken over the past couple of weeks because of the worsening skin rash.
