Dry, itchy legs typically aren’t anything to worry about when symptoms are occasional — in fact, often all it takes to relieve them is regular application of moisturizer. But when those symptoms stick around and become chronic, it could signal more than a minor skin issue.
What many people don’t know is that circulation problems can cause these symptoms, too. What’s more, itchy, discolored skin can show up long before those twisted, purplish varicose veins make their appearance.
At Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center, Inam Haq, MD, FACS, and Sushilkumar Samant, MD, FACS, understand the importance of proactive vein treatment to avoid more serious complications. Here, our team explains how varicose veins affect your skin and how varicose vein treatment can help you feel better and improve your overall vascular health.
Like every other organ, your skin depends on a steady supply of blood to deliver oxygen and nutrients and carry away waste. It’s not surprising, then, that when circulation is compromised, you can wind up with a host of skin-related symptoms. Varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency are common vein disorders that impair circulation — and both can affect your skin.
When leg veins don’t circulate blood well, pressure builds inside the vessels, weakening vein walls. Eventually, fluids leak out into the surrounding tissues, causing irritation, inflammation, and itching that no amount of moisturizing seems to help.
Those fluids can also cause discoloration, typically caused by hemosiderin, a pigment derived from red blood cells. You might notice reddish or brownish patches in light skin or grayish patches in darker skin, especially around your ankles.
The longer poor circulation persists, the more pronounced these skin changes tend to become. Many people develop thickened, scaly, leathery skin over time, a serious complication called lipodermatosclerosis. Others develop itchy, eczema-like patches.
Eventually, thickened, scaly, leathery skin can develop, and you may develop eczema-like patches. Scratching or rubbing these areas can lead to skin breakdown, deep sores or ulcers, and serious infections — which is why early treatment is so critical.
Itchy, discolored skin may seem like a minor annoyance, but it can be one of the earliest warning signs of vein disease. Fortunately, prompt treatment helps reverse the course of skin problems and prevent more serious complications. The key is scheduling a vein evaluation early, when treatment is more straightforward and less complex.
If you’re noticing persistent itching, darkening skin, or swelling around your lower legs, it’s time to schedule an appointment with the team at Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center. To find out how we can help restore your circulatory health and improve skin health, contact us in Staten Island’s Midland Beach or Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York, today.
