Ankle discoloration can be unsightly to look at and can lower your confidence. Besides, it can be an indication of a possible severe vein condition. Therefore, it should be examined as soon as possible by an experienced specialist. A team of experienced vascular physicians at Vascular Specialists offers the most advanced treatments for ankle discoloration in Tinley Park and can help diagnose your condition.
Why You Have Ankle Discoloration
Many reasons can make your skin around the ankle look dark or blotchy due to hemosiderin pigment deposits. However, venous insufficiency is the most likely cause of ankle discoloration and is more likely to occur as you get older. Most affected people are over the age of 40. It is a circulatory disorder where the valves fail to work efficiently due to damage or weakening.
Traumatic injuries, previous leg or vein surgeries, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can also increase your chances of ankle discolorations due to venous insufficiency. Other risk factors for venous insufficiency include obesity, hormone changes, smoking, genetics, and lack of exercise.
Possible Complications Due to Ankle Discoloration
Without proper treatment, ankle discoloration can cause severe complications, including:
Venous Ulcers
These are open sores mainly on the ankle, lower leg, and feet. They can be challenging to heal and can be painful. Please seek advice from the Vascular Specialists team as soon as possible.
Lipodermatosclerosis
This condition involves swelling of the fat under your skin, which thickens the skin and can result in the formation of venous ulcers.
You may also experience the following conditions concerning skin discoloration:
- Varicose veins
- Pain
- Open sores
- Hair loss
- Itchy, flaky skin
- Thickening skin
You can reach out to the expert team to get an accurate diagnosis and discuss the treatment options available to find a more effective and suitable treatment for you.
How Ankle Discolorations Can be Treated
After an evaluation and diagnostic imaging, the discolorations in your ankle can be addressed through treatments for the underlying causes. The Vascular Specialists team can tailor a treatment plan to manage and reduce your ankle discolorations. Compression therapy, combined with several lifestyle changes, can be applied depending on your condition’s grounds. If more treatment is needed, the following minimally invasive procedures can be used.
Endovenous ablation, which entails the abnormal veins in your legs being cauterized and removed by laser or radiofrequency energy.
Sclerotherapy where ultrasound-guided foam is injected into your varicose veins to push blood out, making the vein to close.
All these procedures are aimed to ensure that the blood in your legs is rerouted to healthier veins. This improves the blood flow in the leg, preventing the blood from pooling again. As this happens, any hemosiderin deposits are cleared by your immune system.
There are several things you can do to keep the discoloration on the ankle under control. They include:
- Taking breaks from jobs that keep you standing or sitting for long periods.
- Exercises to make blood flow better
- Wearing the right type of clothes, such as loose-fitting clothes that do not affect circulation
- Taking care of your skin as it can be easily irritated
To wrap up, ankle discoloration is a condition that is no joke. Symptoms such as swelling, open sores, and discomfort need expert attention. To find more about this condition and for any questions you might have, the Vascular Specialists team is available at your service.