Is there anyway to get rid of the brown discoloration on my ankles and lower leg due to venous stasis?

Question

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Venous stasis may lead to skin discoloration. We use a combination regimen including Melarase AM and Melarase PM to lighten the discoloration. Best, DR. Karamanoukian

Rodolfo Farhy, MD · Answer

I would like to see the extent of the discoloration to better inform you, however the first thing would be to eliminate the venous stasis. You need an evaluation with a Board Certified Vein Specialist. After the stasis is resolved you need to wait. In general venous stasis discoloration DOES NOT resolve. It might clear slightly but not resolve completely.

Michael H. Gold, MD · Answer

Thanks for your
question – which is one of the more difficult skin concerns that dermatologist
see on a regular basis. The pigmentation that remains from having venous stasis
is not easy to treat, and many of us would start with a mid potency steroid
preparation to treat any of the underlying inflammation that may still exist. The
use of compression stockings and leg elevation will also help some. Bleaching
medicines may help a little, but it has been my experience that in the majority
of cases, they do not. And lasers are problematic in many cases here – but you
can try IPL in very skilled hands – it is not going to be a cure – but a fix,
and if the stasis is not under control, then recurrence is pretty common.

John Landi, MD · Answer

The brownish discoloration that occurs around the ankles and lower leg secondary to venous stasis is a result of long standing venous insufficiency and there is no short term fix. There are several lightening agents available such as hydroquinolone, bag balm (contains hydroquinolone) and some vein specific lightening agents.  There is no guarantee that any of these will resolve the discoloration and all of these take a very long time to work.  If you have venous insufficiency, you should have a full venous evaluation with a reflux ultrasound examination.  Treating the underlying venous insufficiency will help to improve the quality of the ankle and lower leg skin and may decrease the discoloration over time.

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

There are some cremes that we use routinely in our practice for patients who have hyperpigmentation in the gaiter areas of the legs. This is classified as CEAP C4 disease according to the classification of venous disease. CEAP C4b is a more advanced form in that there is hardening of the skin and leatheriness along with the pigmentary changes. I recommend both Sclerovase and Scleroquin plus cremes to be used daily along with an oral product called Scler-X which also lightens pigmentary deposits in the skin - on the face, on the chest and also in the legs. See the link below for more information on these products. Realize that it will take at least 2 cycles of skin growth, sometimes more (3 or more) for you to see the elimination of these pigmentary deposits in the skin. Each cycle of skin growth from base to the top layer is 180 days !  There is no quick fix.

Is there anyway to get rid of the brown discoloration on my ankles and lower leg due to venous stasis?

Answers (5)

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Answers (5)

More Sclerotherapy Questions

In time, do the same veins return after sclerotherapy, or do the treated veins remain permanently destroyed?

Have you ever heard of leg damage because of sclerotherapy?

Why do patients get burned / blistered / scarred from facial vein treatments?

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