Brown-stained legs magnified to show blood leaking out of veins just under the skinPractice you accept whatever concerns near your legs turning a carmine-brownish color? This could be an indication that the veins in question are suffering from hemosiderin staining and potential problems with their health.

As we get older, information technology's normal for our skin to sparse, dry out, and lose elasticity. Merely it can be more concerning when y'all find unusual changes in color and texture on your knees, legs, or ankles. If you notice a chocolate-brown discoloration on the lower legs, it could signal out a problem with your veins. For this reason lone, it's important to sympathise why brownish skin stains appear and what you lot can practice to treat them.

What Is Hemosiderin Staining?

Hemosiderin Staining occurs when red claret cells leak through the veins and Atomic number 26 or other byproducts are released. The brown stain shows upwardly on the skin as a result of this symptom, which can happen for several reasons.

What Causes Hemosiderin Staining?

Chronic Vein Disease

In addition to its unsightly appearance, Hemosiderin Staining indicates an underlying health status. The reddish-brownish discoloration on the lower legs is acquired past chronic venous disease–the abnormal function of veins.

When your veins can't pump blood support to the heart properly, it pools in your lower legs. Symptoms start with slight skin irritations and itchiness, then manifest varicose veins. Other vein illness symptoms that tin lead to dark-brown staining are:

  • High Blood Pressure – Veins force blood through the veins and sometimes through the skin.
  • Vein Ulcers – Slow-healing or non-healing wounds.

As blood continues to puddle in the veins, its cells break down and leak atomic number 26 pigments into the pare. Over time, this shows up as chocolate-brown patches or stains on the lower leg or talocrural joint. When unaddressed, the stain volition darken and eventually may plough blackness. At this betoken, these symptoms are unfortunately permanent even when vein affliction is treated. Only! If caught early enough, chronic venous illness can be controlled and Hemosiderin staining will fade.

orange personified as a person with brown-red stains on her legs, shows how it is caused by sclerotherapy needle

Sclerotherapy Staining Side-Effect

Sclerotherapy is ane of the treatment options for vein affliction and varicose veins. Information technology involves the injection of a substance known as a sclerosant into the affected veins. This makes the veins reduce in size.

In some cases, this treatment may leave the patient with brown skin discoloration as a upshot of hemosiderin (fe) deposits. This discoloration is usually transient and disappears in a couple of weeks; however, in some people, the stain ends up beingness permanent.

If yous are because sclerotherapy treatment, consider the following factors that are associated with the Hemosiderin Staining side consequence:

  • Dark Skin Type
  • Sensitive Skin
  • Older Patients with Fragile Veins
  • Taking Certain Medication
  • Feel of the Vein Medico

Treating the Status, NOT the Symptom

Nearly patients volition go to a dermatologist or primary care physician for the skin condition, non the underlying vein disease of hemosiderin staining. Every bit a result, they may not get an authentic diagnosis.

If yous have brown skin discoloration on the knees, lower legs, or ankles, brand an appointment with a vein specialist every bit this could be early signs of vein illness…especially if accompanied by achy, heavy, and swollen legs.

Early treatment of your vein disease may help lighten the brown stains acquired by Hemosiderin Staining, and even keep them from getting darker. Once diagnosed, the goal is to reroute the blood to healthier veins and fade unwanted veins, stains, and pains. The sooner you treat your vein condition, the ameliorate y'all'll feel and the fewer complications you lot'll experience.

At Delaware Advanced Vein Center, our medical staff has years of experience helping people with their spider and varicose veins. We would dearest to welcome y'all to our family of satisfied patients.

Contact us  today to schedule a free virtual consultation  and vein evaluation.

Filed under: Varicose Veins, Vein Treatment Tagged with: symptoms, varicose veins, vein treatment