If you are experiencing redness or increased pigmentation of the lower leg along with a hardening of the skin, you may be experiencing symptoms of lipodermatosclerosis. This condition refers to an inflammation of the adipose or fatty tissues under the surface of the skin. The experts at DHR Health Vein Institute have put together the following information to educate you about the condition and inform you of the available treatment options.
What Causes Lipodermatosclerosis?
Though it is not entirely apparent what causes this condition, it is known to be a type of venous disease that occurs due to a deficiency or defect in the veins of a person's lower legs. Being overweight or obese can be a factor, as can any disorder which causes an increase of blood pressure in the veins of the afflicted person's legs. This condition usually occurs in people who are middle-aged.
It may also be caused by venous incompetence, where the valves in a person's venous (or vein) structure leak, causing the kind of changes associated with the condition. It generally has two phases—the acute phase can occur rapidly and without warning, while the chronic phase usually occurs a few months after the initial acute occurrence.
What Are The Symptoms of Lipodermatosclerosis?
In addition to the darkening and hardening of the leg that we mentioned above, people afflicted with this condition can experience severe inflammation of the inner region of the calf above the ankle. The lower leg can take on the appearance of an inverted bowling pin or champagne bottle, with the upper part of the calf near the knee being quite swollen and round.
It may affect both legs, or only one, and the acute, initial stage of the condition usually happens without any injury to the leg or any prior illness. The inflammation of the lower leg below the knee can be quite tender, with the skin taking on a red and/or scaly appearance.
While the acute phase of the condition may appear rapidly and with little warning, the slower, chronic form of the ailment occurs over time. People afflicted with lipodermatosclerosis can expect to experience the increased pigmentation or a darkening of the skin of the lower leg and the swelling (also called edema) that we mention above, as well as the appearance of varicose veins (which are swollen and red, purple, or blue), and ulcerating sores on the leg, often just above the ankle.
How Is Lipodermatosclerosis Treated?
This condition must first be diagnosed by a qualified physician. Diagnosis may involve a biopsy, where samples of the affected area are examined under a microscope to determine what kind of changes may have occurred in the examined tissues. The stage of the condition can be determined depending on the kind of changes a doctor or technician may observe in the sample as compared to what healthy tissue would look like.
During earlier phases of the condition, there may be necrotized or dead tissue in the affected area, while later stages of lipodermatosclerosis may reveal lesions or other changes in the dermal, or middle, layers of the skin.
After it is diagnosed, the main therapy for this condition involves the use of compression socks or stockings, or tight bandaging of the affected area. Your doctor may also suggest weight loss, certain medications aimed at reducing inflammation, or in some cases surgery on the veins of the affected area.
For More Information
If you suspect you may be suffering from this condition, contact the professionals at DHR Health Vein Institute in South Texas with any questions you may have or to schedule your initial consultation. Proper treatment requires prompt attention—so don't wait. Call today!
