Skin Changes
A common sign of superficial vein insufficiency, deep vein insufficiency, and arterial occlusive disease is changes to the skin of the leg.
Potential Skin Changes:
- Darkening of the skin to a reddish-brown, dark-brown, or rust color.
- Rashes that consist of small, itchy bumps around the lower calf or ankle.
- Cellulitis or similar conditions.
- Painful, hard, dark red, or brown plaques around the lower calf and/or ankle.
- Venous ulcers around the ankle.
- Thin, weak skin.
- Hair loss on legs and feet.
- Pain and tiredness in the legs that occur with these skin changes.
Skin rashes, redness, and itching are often caused by inflammatory changes that come from venous insufficiency. These skin conditions are typically known as venous eczema or venous stasis dermatitis. The lower legs are where these conditions thrive, and they are marked with bothersome red bumps that could and often do transform into larger rashes. The rash is easily misdiagnosed as cellulitis or an infection of the skin when in reality it is a symptom of venous insufficiency.
If you have a history of skin issues associated with chronic venous insufficiency, do not be alarmed if you start to see hyperpigmentation. This darkening of the skin is common in vein patients because the long-lasting inflammation they experience causes the capillaries, or small blood vessels, in their legs to be damaged. This damage leads to a small leak of red blood cells that carry hemoglobin, a pigmented substance, which leads to swelling and darkening of the skin in the surrounding area. The dark spots you see in the tissues of your legs are from the hemoglobin.
Although this explanation may sound simple and straightforward, many of these skin conditions and changes are misdiagnosed. Problems associated with venous insufficiency are often treated as dermatological issues, but this could not be further from the truth. The true cause lies deeper, in the veins, and Refine Vein Center can help you identify the true issue while putting you on track to the right solution. An early and correct diagnosis helps prevent worse conditions, like stasis ulcers or skin wounding, that occur after vein disease is left untreated for too long.
Contact our office at 615.716.VEIN to schedule an appointment today
