Leg Discoloration Q & A

What is leg discoloration?

Leg discoloration occurs any time your legs or feet turn a color that isn’t normal for you. Rather than being skin-colored, your legs might be bluish, purplish, reddish, or other colors. You might have coloration in only certain areas of your legs. Commonwealth Vein Center can help you find the cause of leg discoloration and treat it as needed.

What are the common causes of leg discoloration?

Leg discoloration could result because of one or more of the following conditions:

  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

  • Varicose veins

  • Spider veins

  • Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)

  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

  • Leg wounds

Some of these vascular disorders can be serious when left untreated, which is why it’s important to see a specialist at the first sign of changes in the color of your legs.

What are the risk factors for leg discoloration?

While leg dislocation and its underlying cause can happen to anyone, some factors increase your risk of it. Examples include:

  • Family history of vascular disease

  • Older age

  • Smoking

  • High blood pressure

  • High cholesterol

  • Heart disease

  • Diabetes

  • Lack of exercise

  • Poor dietary habits

  • Obesity

Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is an excellent way to reduce your risk of leg discoloration due to vascular disorders.

How does my doctor diagnose the cause of leg discoloration?

To find the root cause of leg discoloration, your Commonwealth Vein Center specialist discusses your medical history, reviews your symptoms with you, and completes a physical exam. They check your pulse, blood pressure, and other vital signs. Your vein specialist evaluates your legs to look for signs of vascular disease and other common causes of discoloration.

Your provider may also recommend you complete blood tests, heart function tests, vascular ultrasound, or other imaging procedures to determine the most appropriate treatment plan.

What are the treatments for leg discoloration?

Your treatment for leg discoloration depends on what’s causing it. Your Commonwealth Vein Center provider could recommend one or more of the following:

  • Watchful waiting

  • Healthy lifestyle changes

  • Compression stockings

  • Medications 

  • Sclerotherapy

  • ClariVein®

  • VenaSeal™

  • Venous ablation

  • Laser vein treatment

  • Vein surgery

They personalize each treatment based on your individualized needs to reduce leg discoloration and its underlying cause. Your provider follows up with you to ensure the best outcome after your treatment.

To find the cause of leg discoloration and treat it, call the Commonwealth Vein Center office nearest you or book an appointment online today.

Leg Discoloration FAQ’s

Leg swelling can be more than a minor inconvenience; it may indicate a serious heart or vascular condition. At Commonwealth Vein Center in Colonial Heights, Richmond, and McLean, Virginia, the team of vein and vascular specialists can identify the cause of your leg swelling and provide treatment to help reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening complications. Call the nearest office or schedule an appointment online today.