Skin Discoloration
Brown staining and hardening around the ankles is usually venous, and it is treatable once the cause is found.
Brown, reddish, or rust colored staining low on the leg, usually just above the ankle, is often caused by blood leaking out of overloaded veins and leaving iron behind in the skin. Over time the skin in that area can also thicken and feel tight or leathery.
Ultrasound shows whether the veins in that leg are refluxing and exactly where. Discoloration is a late sign of vein disease, so finding the source matters far more than treating the surface.
Closing the failing vein takes the pressure off the skin. Compression supports healing and good skin care helps, but neither one addresses why the pressure is there in the first place.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
The things patients ask us most about skin discoloration, answered plainly.
The staining fades slowly, and sometimes only partly, because the iron sits in the skin itself. Treating the vein stops it from spreading and lowers the risk of an ulcer forming.
It is a warning sign. Skin at this stage is closer to breaking down into a venous ulcer, which is much harder to treat than the vein disease behind it.
Skin changes from vein disease are treated as a medical indication by most plans, so treatment is usually covered. We verify your benefits before scheduling.
Topical treatment works on the skin, not on the vein pressure causing the staining. Until the reflux underneath is addressed, the skin stays under load.
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