If you have brown skin discoloration around your feet and ankles, you're not alone. These skin stains are ugly and people who have them want to know what causes them and if will they go away. While a final diagnosis is difficult without actually seeing them, the cause could be a number of things.
Darker skin around the lower leg, ankle, or foot is caused by the breakdown of hemoglobin in the blood. Red blood cells contain iron, and when the blood breaks down, the iron content causes discoloration in the surface cells of the skin.
Possible Causes of Brown Splotches on Your Legs and Ankles
There are several potential causes of brown splotches and skin discoloration around the lower extremities:
Hemosiderin Deposits:
Darker skin color in the affected areas can be attributed to hemosiderin deposits. These deposits form when hemoglobin breaks down, resulting in a brownish pigment. Blood leakage from minuscule vessels can lead to hemosiderin buildup.
Sunspots or Age Spots:
Brown spots may simply be sunspots or age spots on the surface of the skin. These spots are typically harmless and are often associated with sun exposure and aging.
Schamburg's Disease:
Schamburg's Disease is a condition characterized by brown splotches present all over the calves and feet. The cause of this condition remains unknown, making it crucial to consult with a dermatologist for accurate diagnosis and treatment guidance.
Vein Conditions:
Vein-related issues often contribute to skin staining and discoloration. This staining typically follows a predictable pattern, appearing around the inner ankle. Vein-related staining can manifest as reddish-brown discoloration, accompanied by hardened and thickened skin caused by inflammation resulting from blood pooling in the lower legs, feet, and ankles.
Additionally, other symptoms that may occur alongside skin staining due to vein conditions include leg swelling, pain, fatigue, restless legs, leg cramps, and itching or burning/stinging feet. These symptoms usually worsen throughout the day and improve after resting with elevated legs. Many healthcare providers are unaware that brown splotches around the inner ankle are related to a vein condition, but this is something we can diagnose.
Characteristics of Skin Stains Related to a Vein Condition
Skin splotches, when related to a vein condition, are predictable in the pattern of where and how they occur.
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Check the location of the skin stain.
- If it's around the ankle and lower calf on the inside of the leg, it's likely that it is the result of a vein condition. These skin stains start as brown or reddish discoloration. Often the skin beneath the stain is thickened and hard due to inflammation from the blood that is pooling in the lower legs, feet, and ankles.
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Are there any additional symptoms?
- Typically, skin staining occurs along with leg swelling, leg pain, fatigue, restless jumpy legs, leg cramps, and itching burning or stinging feet. These symptoms progress throughout the day and worsen at night. They feel better in the morning because their legs were elevated during sleep.
Will the Brown Splotches on My Legs and Ankles Go Away?
With skin discoloration, staining occurs after blood pools in the lower legs. The body tries to break it down to remove it. Hemoglobin is left behind, and hemoglobin has a reddish-brown tint. In a process similar to getting a tattoo, the cells absorb the remaining hemoglobin, which gives the skin its color.
With skin staining from a vein condition, vein treatments can lighten it, but typically don't make it go away completely.
Don't get discouraged. I've seen patients whose brown splotches were markedly reduced after treatment, and they were thrilled with how their legs looked. Understand though, without treatment, the skin staining will worsen over time. Vein treatment stops the progression of the staining. That's why seeking treatment sooner rather than later is always advised.
