Leg Discoloration

What is leg discoloration?

Leg discoloration is a symptom of vascular disease that makes your skin look dark or blotchy. Puffy flesh or leg swelling is also common when you have leg discoloration.

The most likely cause of leg discoloration is chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a disease affecting the veins in your legs. CVI develops when you have weak or damaged valves in your leg veins, so some blood travels back down your leg instead of to your heart.

CVI causes varicose veins — thick, unsightly, red or purple veins that stand out from your skin. They're a result of the buildup of blood in parts of the vein. Over time, diseased veins start to release a pigment called hemosiderin, which comes from your red blood cells.

Does leg discoloration need treatment?

If you have leg discoloration, you should visit Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, for diagnosis and treatment without delay. Left untreated, the processes that lead to skin discoloration can develop into more serious conditions, such as:

Lipodermatosclerosis

Lipodermatosclerosis occurs when fat under your skin swells. This causes thickening of the skin and can encourage the development of venous ulcers.

Venous ulcers

Venous ulcers are open wounds that form when the tissues of your feet and legs break down. These wounds can be deep, painful, and resistant to healing. Infection in the ulcers can develop into gangrene, which may result in amputation.

The Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, team can prevent the formation of ulcers if you get treatment when you first notice leg discoloration. They're an expert in treating existing ulcers and limb salvage — saving your leg from amputation.

How is leg discoloration treated?

Leg discoloration treatment aims to address the underlying cause, which in most cases is chronic venous insufficiency. There are several techniques the team can use to tackle problem veins, including:

• Sclerotherapy
• Endovenous laser therapy
• Radiofrequency ablation

These are all minimally invasive methods of closing off the problem veins, which then shrivel up and gradually disappear. The blood that would have gone through the treated veins reroutes along the many other blood vessels, restoring healthy circulation.

These treatments should resolve your leg discoloration symptoms and prevent serious problems like leg ulcers.

Find out more about treatments for leg discoloration by calling Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, today or booking an appointment online.