Ankle Discoloration Specialist
-
- Tweet
Endovascular and Interventional Associates
Mobolaji Odelowo, MD
Vascular & Interventional Radiology & Vein Center located in Conroe, TX
If ankle discoloration appears and doesn’t get better, it’s a red flag that you may have a vascular disease that needs immediate treatment. At Endovascular and Interventional Associates in Conroe, Texas, Mobolaji Odelowo, MD, offers comprehensive vascular care in the comfort of his office. Dr. Odelowo runs diagnostic tests to verify the cause of your ankle discoloration, then recommends an advanced treatment that targets the source of the problem and prevents severe complications. To schedule an appointment, call the office or use the online booking feature today.
Ankle Discoloration Q&A
What is ankle discoloration?
Ankle discoloration refers to changes in the appearance of the skin in your lower leg and around your ankle. The discoloration, which can range from red to a dark reddish-brown, arises from problems in your veins and arteries.
What causes ankle discoloration?
Ankle discoloration is most often a sign that you have chronic venous insufficiency or peripheral vascular disease.
Chronic venous insufficiency
The veins in your legs contain one-way valves that let blood go up the leg and stop it from going back down. Chronic venous insufficiency develops when a damaged valve allows blood reflux down the vein.
The backward-flowing blood accumulates in that part of the vein, leading to two potential problems: varicose veins and high pressure in your lower leg. The excessive pressure forces fluids out of the vein in your lower leg and around the ankle.
As the fluids damage the surrounding tissues, your skin may turn red or take on a dark reddish-brown color as iron pigments escape from the blood vessels.
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
PVD occurs when cholesterol plaque builds up in an artery in your leg. Without treatment, the plaque enlarges, hardens, and interferes with the blood flowing through the artery.
When the blockage becomes advanced, the tissues don’t get enough oxygen-rich blood. Then the skin around your ankles or lower leg may take on a dark red or blue discoloration. In severe cases with a nearly complete arterial blockage, your skin may turn purple, black, or dark red.
What complications occur with ankle discoloration?
Skin that’s discolored due to a venous or arterial disease may also become thick and leathery. You may also develop a red, scaly, eczema-like inflammatory skin condition. As the skin suffers progressive damage, ulcers develop near your ankle.
Venous and arterial ulcers don’t heal on their own. Without intensive wound care from Dr. Odelowo, they get larger and put you at risk for bone and skin infections and gangrene.
How is ankle discoloration treated?
Your treatment may begin with compression stockings to improve blood flow and specialized skin and wound care, depending on the severity of your skin condition. However, the only way to eliminate the problem is to treat the underlying vascular condition with a minimally invasive procedure.
Dr. Odelowo performs several endovascular treatments in the office, including:
- Radiofrequency ablation or endovenous ablation
- VenaSeal™
- Balloon angioplasty
- Atherectomy
- Stenting
Don’t wait to get help for ankle discoloration because it’s often a sign that you have advanced vascular disease. Call Endovascular and Interventional Associates, or use the online booking feature today.
