The human body is significantly good at throwing warning flags when there is an issue. Discoloration in your legs is one such uncommon sign, particularly in the absence of an injury. This is why you should consider it a red flag and take it seriously. And as with most things, addressing Ankle Discoloration earlier will help avoid larger problems later on. This condition often accompanies symptoms like swelling and an easily marking flesh.
If you have ankle discoloration Tinley Park, it is essential to get checked by an experienced vascular specialist to know the underlying cause and treatment. Read on for the possible causes of your ankle skin discoloration and the available treatments.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
The most common cause of ankle discoloration is venous insufficiency when your veins fail to effectively return blood to your heart, causing blood to pool in your legs. Your veins have valves that prevent the backflow of blood and allow the blood to flow toward your heart. If the valves become weak or faulty, blood starts to pool, and it becomes harder for your veins to pump blood from your lower extremities back to the heart. This causes poor circulation leading to problems like ankle discoloration and varicose veins.
Risk Factors Of CVI
Chronic venous insufficiency mostly affects older people, with most patients being over 40 years. The condition is also more common in women than men and can affect pregnant women of any age. Other risk factors of venous insufficiency include previous traumatic injuries, vein or leg surgery, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Venous Stasis Dermatitis
Chronic venous insufficiency worsens as more blood accumulates in the legs and ankles. Coloration due to the accumulated red blood cells stains the skin, appearing as a reddish-brown discoloration. This condition is referred to as Venous Stasis Dermatitis. The condition not only causes skin discoloration. The skin starts to tighten, and sores might develop, which are slow to heal, a condition called venous stasis ulceration. Secondary infections can cause leg ulcer complications needing treatment with antibiotics. Other symptoms of venous stasis dermatitis include pain and open sores. Hair loss, thickening skin, flaky, itchy skin, etc.
Ankle Discoloration Treatment
The best treatment will depend on the severity of your ankle discoloration and the accompanying symptoms. The common ways to manage and treat the condition include lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, losing excess weight, avoiding sitting for too long, avoiding consuming excess salt, and avoiding tight shoes, socks, and clothes. Your doctor might also recommend compression stockings to enhance blood circulation in your legs. The specialist can identify and treat the damaged valves with minimally-invasive therapies such as endovenous ablation and sclerotherapy. The treatment eliminates the faulty veins redirecting the blood to other healthy veins.
Contact A Vascular Specialist Today
Ankle discoloration is often caused by chronic venous disease. This condition is progressive; the longer it is left untreated, the greater your probability of worsening symptoms. If you have noticed ankle discoloration, contact a vascular specialist for an accurate diagnosis and prescription of the effective treatment.
