Are venous stasis and stasis dermatitis the same thing?

Yes: It is due blood leaking into the skin on the lower legs. It is difficult to lighten the color.

Venous stasis: Stasis dermatitis is the dermatological diagnosis of what the skin looks like after the affects of longstanding venous hypertension. Technically speaking, venous stasis is the condition that causes stasis dermatitis; although the terms are often intertwined.

Venous insufficiency: Actually venous stasis and stasis dermatitis are misnomers. Venous stasis means that venous blood isn't moving and we now know that really doesn't happen. As dr. Bolhack said, the cause of the problem is venous hypertension which occurs because of venous insufficiency or reflux (blood flowing backwards), not stasis. Chronic venous insufficiency causes inflammation which causes dermatitis.

Stasis dermatitis : Is skin damage caused by the underlying venous stasis.

Stasis: These are pretty synonymous as both may be caused by venous reflux

Venous stasis.: Venous stasis and venous dermatitis are different. Venous stasis is a result of stagnation of venous blood due to the refluxing (malfunctioning) valves of the superficial or deep system of veins leading to venous hypertension. This in turn leads to leakage of the venous blood pigment into the skin usually around the ankle which causes the discoloration or stasis dermatitis.