Skin Changes Specialist

What are skin changes?

Changes in the color, texture, or appearance of your skin can be a sign of vascular disease or other health problems. Common skin changes to look out for include:

• Dry or flaky skin
• Dark patches
• Itchiness
• Thickened skin
• Prominent veins
• Thinning skin
• Discolored veins

Problems like dry skin can be a result of aging. If the cause is vascular disease, you might also experience tiredness, heaviness, and aching in your lower legs, as well as skin changes.

As vascular diseases progress, skin changes tend to become more noticeable. Your skin might be more sensitive. It might crack and bleed. Painless swelling (edema) is likely to develop in your lower limbs.

Why should I be concerned about skin changes?

Skin changes that develop because of an underlying vascular condition are an early warning sign. Consulting with the board-certified vascular surgeons at Sarasota Vascular Specialists as soon as you see these skin changes can help prevent your condition from worsening.

Vascular diseases affect the blood flow in your legs and feet. The skin changes because reduced blood flow deprives the cells of the oxygen and nutrients they need, affecting the health of your skin and soft tissues. In addition to being increasingly painful and unsightly, skin changes can also lead to the formation of ulcers (open slow- or nonhealing sores) on your legs and feet.

Venous and arterial ulcers are painful wounds that can penetrate deep into the tissues — even to the bone in severe cases. They’re difficult to treat, last a long time, and are prone to infection. An infection can cause tissue death and lead to amputation.

How are skin changes treated?

The treatment your doctor at Sarasota Vascular Specialists prescribes for skin changes will depend on the cause. After examining your skin and reviewing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor might order tests to assess your vascular system. These tests can include a Doppler ultrasound to look at how well your blood is flowing.

Once they’ve determined the cause of your skin changes, your doctor will advise you on the best treatment. If you suffer from mild venous insufficiency (a cause of varicose veins), you could benefit from wearing compression stockings or socks and raising your legs as much as possible. Losing weight, getting more exercise, and stopping smoking all can help as well.

You might need to have treatments like endovenous laser therapy, radiofrequency ablation, or sclerotherapy for more severe vascular problems. Angioplasty might be necessary for peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

If you notice any skin changes, don’t wait for the underlying problem to get worse. Call Sarasota Vascular Specialists or book an appointment online today.