History: A 71-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 betamethasone–neomycin ointment applied directly to areas of stasis eczema and easy-release gauze over the ulcerated area. The three-layer bandages are changed twice weekly.
Skin swabs have been taken over the past couple of weeks because of the worsening skin rash. She is otherwise well. Her only oral medication is bendroflumethiazide 2.5 mg daily for…
