What causes discoloration of skin on lower legs?

Venous stasis dermatitis, commonly referred to as leg discoloration, occurs due to problems with your veins located in your feet or lower legs. Leg discoloration can occur in individuals with circulation issues.

Why do I have a darker patch of skin on my leg?

If you have dark spots on your legs, you’re not alone. This generally happens when that patch of skin produces or contains more melanin than the surrounding skin. Melanin is what gives your skin its color. The more melanin you have, the darker your skin.

What causes brown patches on lower legs?

The reddish-brown discoloration on the lower legs is caused by chronic venous disease–the abnormal function of veins. When your veins can’t pump blood back up to the heart properly, it pools in your lower legs. Symptoms start with slight skin irritations and itchiness, then manifest varicose veins.

How do I get rid of discoloration on my ankles?

How to treat venous stasis dermatitis

1. Compression stockings to reduce swelling, keep blood flowing, and prevent clots.
2. Elevating legs above the heart to aid blood flow when at rest or sleeping.
3. Adopting a low-salt diet (decreases fluid retention)
4. Adding a vitamin C supplement to keep blood vessels flexible and healthy.

What does discoloration around the ankles mean?

Discolored ankles is a sign of venous insufficiency Sometimes deposits of hemosiderin can accumulate under your skin when your blood flow is too insufficient to return the excess iron to your immune system to be cleared away, leaving dark pigmentation in your ankles known as “stasis dermatitis.”

What causes discoloration around ankles?

The most common cause of ankle discoloration is a vein condition called venous reflux. Venous reflux is where the valves in your leg veins have stopped working properly. Another name for this condition is venous insufficiency. When the valves in your leg veins aren’t working properly back-pressure can build.

What causes discoloration around the ankles?

Why do I have brown spots around my ankles?

Hemosiderin is a brownish pigment caused by the breakdown of blood hemoglobin, the iron content in red blood cells. Foot and Ankle discoloration, when caused by hemosiderin, is called Stasis Dermatitis and is a sign of Venous Insufficiency, also called venous reflux disease and venous hypertension among other names.

Why is there discoloration around my ankle?

What causes dark pigmentation around ankles?

Areas of darker skin color in the lower leg, ankle or foot are called Hemosiderin deposits. Hemosiderin is a brownish pigment caused by the breakdown of blood hemoglobin, the iron content in red blood cells. Foot and Ankle Discoloration is called Stasis Dermatitis and is usually a symptom of Venous Insufficiency.

Is hemosiderin staining serious?

In many cases, hemosiderin staining can be permanent. The staining alone isn’t life-threatening, but it can be an indication of a more serious condition.

What causes brown discoloration on legs close to ankles?

Hemosiderin staining usually happens on the lower leg, near the ankles, or on your feet. It’s caused by blood leaking out of the tiny vessels called capillaries. The blood pools under the skin and leave a residue of hemoglobin that settles in the tissue there.

What are the spots around my ankle?

Small brown spots develop as red blood cells within the blood, release iron into the tissues. This may present as a small brown spot but eventually the entire ankle or lower leg becomes brown. This is known as hyperpigmentation. If the area then turns red, the condition is called dermatitis.

What does hemosiderin staining look like?

Staining occurs as hemosiderin accumulates in our tissues, then deposits iron, which creates a reddish-brown or bruise-like appearance.

What does ankle discoloration look like?

Ankle discoloration can be patchy or widespread. Patchy ankle discoloration sometimes looks like freckles or “sun-spots.” Widespread ankle discoloration will often look like a brown colored skin stain. Sometimes this skin discoloration will become dark brown. On occasion, the skin discoloration can have a dark-red or dark-purple hue.

What causes discoloration of the feet and ankles?

Foot and Ankle discoloration, when caused by hemosiderin, is called Stasis Dermatitis and is a sign of Venous Insufficiency, also called venous reflux disease and venous hypertension among other names. Although the easiest association is with dark pigment, venous insufficiency may also as persistent redness of the lower legs and feet.

What are sores around the ankle?

Sores or wounds that develop around the ankle in the setting of vein problems are known as venous ulcers. Venous ulcers commonly occur on the inner ankle but can occur anywhere in the lower leg, from the heel to the mid-calf. If you have ankle discoloration or stasis dermatitis you’ll likely have some great treatment options.

What is skin breakdown of the ankle?

The medical word for skin breakdown is “ulcer.” Sores or wounds that develop around the ankle in the setting of vein problems are known as venous ulcers. Venous ulcers commonly occur on the inner ankle but can occur anywhere in the lower leg, from the heel to the mid-calf.