Pigmentation Following Sclerotherapy

asked 1 year ago by Anonymous781 in Maple Ridge, BC
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 398 times
Tags: 1 year post-op, causes, hemosiderin staining, hyperpigmentation, melanin, options

I had sclerotherapy done a year ago to remove a blue vein. This caused hyperpigmentation. The doctor used tromboject. How do I know whether my pigmentation is due to hemosiderin or melanin?

When I pinch the skin above the pigmented area, the pigmentation disappears. When I let go, it shows up again. Almost as if something underneath the skin is causing it to look brown. What can I do to get rid of the pigmentation faster and is there a different solution I should use next time?

6 answers to Pigmentation Following Sclerotherapy

Pigmentation after sclerotherapy

It is forst important for patients to ONLY receive FDA-approved solutions. Thromboject is NOT FDA approved. The FDA approved solutions to treat leg veins are Sotradecol and Asclera. Pigmenation can occur from any sclerosing solution and in my practice goes away in 99% of patients within a fewe months. The way to prevent or minimize pigmentation is to treat the feeding reticular blue veins BEFORE treating the smaller veins. In addition, I recommend that ALL patients wear medical... more

Mitchel Goldman, MD
San Diego Dermatologic Surgeon

Sclerotherapy darkening after leg vein injections

If you're pinching the skin and the pigment disappears then either there is something in the subcutaneous tissues that is causing the color, or blood flow/vessels as both hemosiderin and melanin would be located in the superficial dermis (and epidermis for melanin) and not disappear with pinching. You need an in-person consultation for an examination. You might need more treatment for reticular veins that are deeper.

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Pigmentation does not disappear with pinching the skin.

Sounds like you still have blood vessels there. Only blood vessels will disappear with pinching the skin. Pigmentation will not disappear. More blood vessel treatment is probably needed, be it with sclerotherapy or lasers or both. Revisit your doctor to discuss your options.

Harlow Hollis, MD
Victoria Plastic Surgeon

Pigmentation from Sclerotherapy

Pigmentation in the skin will not disappear with pinching. Your "pinch test" is most likely squeezing the blood from a collection of new, functioning blood vessels in the previously treated area. You should return to your treating physician to discuss further options such as repeating sclerotherapy treatments which usually works to fix this problem. If the vessels are too small to inject, lasers are the next best choice.

Mitchell Schwartz, MD
South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

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