(866) 552-4866 Janice* grew up watching her mother struggle with circulation problems in her legs and feet. Bulging varicose veins, tired, heavy legs—her mom dealt with all of it. Naturally, Janice figured she could spot similar issues if the day ever came when she had them, too. Sadly, poor circulation does not always present itself in the same way. So, when she started to notice blotchy, discolored, with blue, purple, and red spots on her legs, she brushed it off as a run-of-the-mill skin condition. Maybe her foot and leg discoloration was due to sun damage or even age spots, she convinced herself. That is, of course, until her legs began to feel worse.
It is not uncommon for people who notice foot and leg discoloration on themselves or a loved one to think it's nothing more than sun damage, an allergic reaction, bug bite, or something else that, at worst, necessitates a trip to the dermatologist. While this could be the case, red spots on legs can just as easily be an overlooked sign of vein disease—especially if your skin changes are painful and accompanied by other health issues.
Red spots on legs should not be taken lightly. Waiting too long to seek help and receive a proper diagnosis could lead to more serious complications.
Do Your Feet and Legs Look and Feel Like This?
- Skin that looks brown, red, yellow, or purple
- Reddish or brown staining on lower legs
- Skin appears shiny in the affected areas
- Dry, scaly, flaky, itchy, or leathery skin
- Skin that is warm to the touch
- Leg hair loss on shins and ankles
- Pain or swelling in the legs and ankles
- Presence of large, bulging varicose veins
- Open sores and ulcers that won't heal
Are you starting to notice red spots on your legs? You may have vein disease. Schedule a consultation with a StrideCare vascular specialist today to learn how advanced treatments can help.
Circulation Problems: Foot and Leg Discoloration Is More of a Telltale Symptom Than You Might Think
Foot and leg discoloration are common symptoms of venous insufficiency. That is doctor-speak for your veins are no longer working correctly. You see, your veins and arteries are responsible for pumping blood throughout your body and directly to the heart. This back-and-forth process typically occurs so seamlessly and efficiently that we often do not even notice it as we live our lives. The problem occurs when this process is slowed down in any way by the inability of your veins to push blood up.
The next thing you know, circulation slows to a crawl and pressure builds inside your veins. Over time, this mounting pressure causes damage to the blood vessels in the skin, leading to foot and leg discoloration.
While there are many factors at play in these scenarios, red spots on legs are primarily caused by the pooling of blood in the legs due to damaged venous valves. This reverse flow of blood results in swelling, discomfort, and visible discoloration.
How Common is Foot and Leg Discoloration and Red Spots on Legs Due to Circulation Problems
An average of one in every three adults over 45 develops some form of vein disease without realizing it. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are more than 200,000 cases of foot and leg discoloration, also known as venous stasis dermatitis, in the U.S. each year. Furthermore, it is often a precursor to more severe conditions, such as venous ulcers, swelling, and other complications. The good news is that not everyone will deal with circulation problems during their lifetime. That said, you may be at higher risk of foot and leg discoloration if you have any of the following health conditions:
Long periods of immobility
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main culprits for red spots on legs. After all, your veins are already working against gravity to push blood up to the heart. If you are constantly sitting or lying down, this is not enough to promote blood flow to the lower extremities.
Overweight
Excess weight creates added strain on leg veins. When your veins can no longer hold the extra blood and fluid, surrounding tissues suffer, leading to leg and foot discoloration.
Over the age of 50
The reality is that our veins can become diseased as we age. Additionally, our skin becomes less resilient compared to when we were younger, and inflammatory responses to any medical condition also increase.
You do not have to let red spots on legs affect your life. Schedule a consultation with a StrideCare vascular specialist today. Our collaborative approach ensures that you receive the care you need.
Untreated varicose veins
Varicose veins affect roughly 25 million men and women in the United States. If left unchecked, they can lead to serious medical issues, including foot and leg discoloration.
Other venous diseases
Chronic Venous Insufficiency causes blood pressure to build up in the lower legs. Deep Vein Thrombosis is a potentially life-threatening condition where blood clots block blood flow. Peripheral Arterial Disease is characterized by a plaque buildup on the walls of the major blood vessels or arteries, causing them to narrow.
6. Existing heart condition
Heart disease is a silent killer, but there are warning signs that can appear on your skin. This includes swelling in your feet and lower legs, red spots on legs, as well as blue or purple discoloration on your skin.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are more than 200,000 cases of foot and leg discoloration, also known as venous stasis dermatitis, in the U.S. each year.
What Vein Disease Treatments Are Available for Leg and Foot Discoloration?
Never assume that red spots on legs are benign and nothing to worry about. A quick diagnostic test can help your vascular doctor understand how severe your condition is and suggest a treatment plan that fits your needs.
For foot and leg discoloration, your expert specialist will do a thorough evaluation of your legs, including diagnostic tests, before suggesting one of the following treatments:
- Compression Therapy
- Laser Ablation
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
- Sclerotherapy
- Stenting
- Varithena™ Microfoam Ablation
- Venaseal™
- Venous Angioplasty
- Venous Thrombectomy
Featured in this video is StrideCare's expert Interventional Radiologist, Dr. Osama Abdul-Rahim, M.D., discussing the minimally invasive treatment Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA). RFA is a minimally invasive treatment for patients who are suffering from chronic venous insufficiencies (CVI) with or without varicose veins.
StrideCare Can Help With Foot and Leg Discoloration
Foot and leg discoloration should not be passed off as potential run-of-the-mill skin condition, age spots, or sun damage. Could it be these things? Yes. But often, leg and foot discoloration, such as red spots on legs, is a symptom of vein disease and poor circulation in your extremities, especially if other painful or uncomfortable health issues accompany it. If the symptoms above sound all too familiar, it is important that you speak with one of our StrideCare vascular specialists.
StrideCare's mission is to surround ourselves with the best in this field so that our patients are never short of options for reclaiming their lives. Our doctors stay on the cutting edge of medicine, helping patients avoid traditionally long, invasive surgeries used in the past to treat vascular disease. They diagnose and treat using innovative, minimally invasive procedures with little to no pain, short recovery times and high success rates. The experts at StrideCare will recommend a personalized plan to help you achieve the best results.
StrideCare continues to be a leader in performing leading-edge procedures to treat these and other conditions—all the while providing compassionate patient care. Please contact us at 866-552-4866 or complete the appointment form to schedule a consultation.
StrideCare Vascular serves North Texas and South Texas communities, including Midland, North Dallas, Odessa, Paris, Pecos, Plano, Prosper, Rockwall, Round Rock, Rowlett, Royce City, San Antonio, Sherman, South Dallas, Southlake, Stone Oak, Sugar Land, Sulphur Springs, The Woodlands, Waxahachie, Webster, Addison, Allen, Anna, Arlington, Austin, Carrollton, Celina, Clear Lake, Craig Ranch, Dallas, Euless, Flower Mound, Forney, Fort Worth, Frisco, Garland, Houston, Irving, Katy, Kaufman, Mansfield, McKinney, Mesquite, and more.
This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Before starting any new treatment or questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider.
*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.