What causes darkening of the skin on the lower legs?
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 called chronic venous insufficiency.
Why are my legs changing color?
Venous stasis dermatitis, commonly referred to as leg discoloration, occurs due to problems with your veins located in your feet or lower legs. Leg discoloration can occur in individuals with circulation issues.
Does liver cause dark skin?
It happens when proteins called porphyrins build up in your liver, then move into your bloodstream and make their way to your skin. It also causes: Darkening or lightening of your skin.
Does stasis dermatitis go away?
If stasis dermatitis goes untreated, swelling can move beyond the ankle to the calf and skin can become shiny. Open sores, called venous ulcers, can form on the lower legs and tops of feet. These ulcers can bleed, ooze and leave scars once they’ve healed.
Why does my skin suddenly look old?
Genetics, smoking, and sun can make you look older, but doctors say there are ways to fight back. How well your face reflects your age depends on a combination of genetics and lifestyle. “It seems as though some people are genetically programmed to age slower with regard to skin texture, tone, and laxity,” says Mary C.
What does it mean when your skin turns gray?
The symptom could also be a result of something that doesn’t constitute an emergency. In other instances, a grayish tint is a characteristic of a chronic or late-stage disease, such as cancer. The appropriate course of treatment and the outlook depends on the situation and what is causing skin discoloration.
What causes skin discoloration in the legs?
Pooling blood and leaking fluids are ultimately the cause of skin discoloration in the legs: Venous insufficiency causes discoloration in the legs when blood collects in the veins instead of flowing back to the heart. As the blood pools, the pressure inside the veins builds, causing the veins to leak.
What does it mean when your legs turn paleness?
Causes of Leg Paleness. Pallor (paleness of the skin) is either due to too little blood flowing to an area or low oxygen levels of the blood flowing in the vessels. It may occur with: Fatty plaques in the blood vessel walls causing a narrowing (atherosclerosis) – peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
What does it mean when your legs turn purple?
As the iron breaks down, these deposits can appear as purple or brown bruises on the lower legs, ankles and feet. Varicose Veins: These bulging, twisted ropes develop when blood collects inside veins. The veins may look like purple and enlarged worms under the skin.