Brown freckle like spots on lower legs

As we get older, it’s normal for our skin to thin, dry out, and lose elasticity. But it can be more concerning when you notice unusual changes in color and texture on your knees, legs, or ankles. If you notice a brown discoloration on the lower legs, it could point out a problem with your veins. For this reason alone, it’s important to understand why brown skin stains appear and what you can do to treat them.

Table of Contents Show

What Is Hemosiderin Staining?
What Causes Hemosiderin Staining?
Treating the Condition, NOT the Symptom
Brown Spots May Be Age Spots
Actinic Keratosis
Venous Insufficiency
Why am I getting brown spots on my legs?
What are these dark dots on my legs?

What Is Hemosiderin Staining?

Hemosiderin Staining occurs when red blood cells leak through the veins and Iron or other byproducts are released. The brown stain shows up on the skin as a result of this symptom, which can happen for several reasons.

What Causes Hemosiderin Staining?

Chronic Vein Disease

In addition to its unsightly appearance, Hemosiderin Staining indicates an underlying health condition. The reddish-brown discoloration on the lower legs is caused by chronic venous disease–the abnormal function of veins.

When your veins can’t pump blood back up to the heart properly, it pools in your lower legs. Symptoms start with slight skin irritations and itchiness, then manifest varicose veins. Other vein disease symptoms that can lead to brown staining are:

High Blood Pressure – Veins force blood through the veins and sometimes through the skin.
Vein Ulcers – Slow-healing or non-healing wounds.

As blood continues to pool in the veins, its cells break down and leak iron pigments into the skin. Over time, this shows up as brown patches or stains on the lower leg or ankle. When unaddressed, the stain will darken and eventually may turn black. At this point, these symptoms are unfortunately permanent even when vein disease is treated. BUT! If caught early enough, chronic venous disease can be controlled and Hemosiderin staining will fade.

Sclerotherapy Staining Side-Effect

Sclerotherapy is one of the treatment options for vein disease and varicose veins. It involves the injection of a substance known as a sclerosant into the affected veins. This makes the veins reduce in size.

In some cases, this treatment may leave the patient with brown skin discoloration as a result of hemosiderin (iron) deposits. This discoloration is usually transient and disappears in a couple of weeks; however, in some people, the stain ends up being permanent.

If you are considering sclerotherapy treatment, consider the following factors that are associated with the Hemosiderin Staining side effect:

Dark Skin Type
Sensitive Skin
Older Patients with Fragile Veins
Taking Certain Medication
Experience of the Vein Doctor

Treating the Condition, NOT the Symptom

Most patients will go to a dermatologist or primary care physician for the skin condition, not the underlying vein disease of hemosiderin staining. As a result, they may not get an accurate diagnosis.

If you have brown skin discoloration on the knees, lower legs, or ankles, make an appointment with a vein specialist as this could be early signs of vein disease…especially if accompanied by achy, heavy, and swollen legs.

Early treatment of your vein disease may help lighten the brown stains caused by Hemosiderin Staining, and even keep them from getting darker. Once diagnosed, the goal is to reroute the blood to healthier veins and fade unwanted veins, stains, and pains. The sooner you treat your vein condition, the better you’ll feel and the fewer complications you’ll experience.

At Delaware Advanced Vein Center, our medical staff has years of experience helping people with their spider and varicose veins. We would love to welcome you to our family of satisfied patients.

In some cases, those pigmentation marks may be nothing more than a freckle or age spot – often the result of sun exposure. However, there are other types of brown spots that could indicate a serious underlying condition, such as cancer or a venous disorder. It is a good idea to have new brown spots examined by a physician that can let you know why the brown spot developed and what you can do to eliminate it.

Brown Spots May Be Age Spots

Age spots are probably the most common reason for brown spots on your legs or other areas of the body. These spots typically occur as a result of sun exposure, but can also be due to hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy or some types of medication. Cosmetic treatments can eliminate age spots if you choose to pursue them. However, age spots are not usually a medical concern and can be left alone indefinitely if you prefer.

Actinic Keratosis

This type of lesion tends to be red rather than brown and has a raised, scaly appearance. Like age spots, these lesions tend to occur on areas of the skin that are frequently exposed to the sun. Actinic keratosis is considered precancerous and for this reason, removal is nearly always recommended.

Diabetes

People with diabetes can develop brown spots on their lower legs, known as diabetic dermopathy. This condition usually appears on the lower legs, especially around the shins. In some cases, the lesions may look like small scars. While these lesions may be a predecessor to a diabetes diagnosis, they are rarely cause for medical concern on their own.

Venous Insufficiency

One of the most common reasons for brown spots on the leg, particularly around the ankle, is an underlying vein disorder known as venous insufficiency. This condition occurs when valves inside the veins of the lower leg stop working properly, allowing blood to pool inside the vessel. The result is weakening of the vessel and visible varicosity in some cases.

Venous insufficiency can also lead to leakage of blood outside the vessel, which can lead to discoloration of skin and tissue by the iron in the blood. Over time, this discoloration can result in damage to the skin and tissue, which may become permanent. Other changes you might notice include thickening and tightening of the skin, often because of fluid retention in the underlying tissue.

When the skin changes become pronounced, the skin becomes more vulnerable to injury. Even a small nick can transform into a large open sore, known as a venous ulcer. These skin ulcerations are prone to infection and have a high recurrence rate, making them very difficult to treat. It is best to tackle the condition at the earliest signs of skin changes, rather than waiting until a venous ulcer develops.

When brown spots are due to venous insufficiency, the best way to treat the skin condition is to treat the underlying vein disorder. There are a number of minimally-invasive treatment options for venous insufficiency today, which typically involve elimination of the damaged vein so blood can naturally reroute to healthier veins nearby. When treatment is performed early, skin may return to normal over time.

Why am I getting brown spots on my legs?

Age spots are the most common cause of this discoloration on the legs. These spots develop from constant sun exposure, hormonal changes, pregnancy, or some types of medications. Age spots are typically not a medical concern and can be removed with laser treatments.

What are these dark dots on my legs?

The little, black dots covering your legs are actually clogged pores (just like blackheads). They appear when open comedones get blocked with sebum, dirt or bacteria.