People experience many kinds of skin changes over time. You may notice that the skin on your lower legs becomes discolored or appears bruised as you age. The technical term for this is hemosiderin staining. It’s caused by a problem with the blood vessels in your legs. (1)
Hemosiderin staining usually occurs as a result of venous reflux disease and venous hypertension. The stains usually appear on the bottom part of the lower leg, sometimes covering the area between the ankle and the knee. It can also darken over time causing complications. (2)
These dark stains can also happen after a surgical procedure. Most times they will go away on their own in a few weeks, but they can linger for awhile and can even become permanent.
Common treatments to remove the top brown discoloration:
- IPL Laser treatment to break down the iron
- Hydroquinone melanin inhibitors to lighten skin discolorations.
If your staining is reoccurring because of vascular issues, you must see a doctor regarding vein treatment. This is not something to just take care of at home and treat the surface discoloration.
References:
1. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/what-is-hemosiderin-staining
2. https://www.drmareksepiolo.com/vascular-conditions/hemosiderin-staining-brown-skin-discoloration/
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