The human body is great at showing warning signs of an underlying issue. Therefore, if you or somebody you know has ankle discoloration, you should find out what is causing it. Ankle discoloration or regions of darker skin on your lower leg or foot often results from hemosiderin deposits. Hemosiderin is the brownish pigment caused by the disintegration of blood hemoglobin, the iron content of the red blood cells. Foot and ankle discoloration Tinley Park, if caused by hemosiderin, is known as Stasis Dermatitis, and is primarily a sign of venous insufficiency. Continue reading to learn more.
What Is Stasis Dermatitis?
Also referred to as venous hypertension and reflux disease, stasis dermatitis is a prevalent inflammatory skin condition that develops in the lower extremities. This condition often indicates chronic venous insufficiency and can lead to further complications like vascular leg ulceration if not treated. While the dark pigmentation on the ankles is the most prominent symptom, chronic venous insufficiency also manifests in persistent redness in the feet.
What Are The Common Causes Of Stasis Dermatitis?
Stasis dermatitis happens because of venous insufficiency once the leg veins fail to support blood flow back to the heart. It stems from the disrupted one-way vascular system in the leg veins that causes backward blood flow and pooling.
This condition often affects individuals throughout their middle to later ages due to the age-related decline in functionality of the valves in one’s veins. It hardly develops at a tender age. Nonetheless, individuals undergoing surgery with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or trauma can sometimes acquire venous insufficiency.
How To Diagnose and Treat Stasis Dermatitis?
Assessment of your condition is the initial step toward precise diagnosis and care. Your vein doctor will examine your symptoms to establish the root cause and seriousness of your venous insufficiency before suggesting any solution.
Diagnosis often entails ultrasounds that spot where the veins are damaged, how severe, and what symptoms you have. The ultrasound exam also examines blood flow through the veins in your legs. Here are some of the common procedures your vein specialist may suggest for your stasis dermatitis:
1. Endovenous Ablation
This procedure harnesses technological advancements to eliminate damaged veins by conducting minor surgery from inside the vein. The outcomes are aesthetically better than traditional vein stripping. Besides, such a minor surgery allows you to continue your everyday activities, as you do not require any downtime.
2. Compression Therapy
Compression therapy is a non-invasive treatment for venous insufficiency. The most common type of compression therapy is medical-grade stockings that come in thigh-high and knee-high denominations. Pantyhose is also accessible but is just as effective as knee-high stockings.
3. Lifestyle Adjustments
Even if your vein doctor treats the damaged vein, you should consider proper lifestyle adjustments to avoid such issues from occurring in the future. For instance, you can elevate your legs when at rest, and avoid prolonged standing and sitting. If your occupation demands that you stand or sit for long hours, ankle exercises like running and walking around can be helpful.
Most individuals take brown or reddish discoloration on their ankles to be caused by some dermatological issue, but it is often more than that. Ankle, feet, or leg discoloration could be signs of venous illness, chronic venous insufficiency, or venous hypertension that could lead to serious complications without timely care. Therefore, it is important to see a vein specialist if you notice sudden ankle discoloration without any obvious cause. Depending on the root cause of your condition, your doctor may suggest non-invasive procedures or minimally-invasive vein restoration treatments.
