Vascular disease occurs when the blood vessels — either your arteries or your veins — that carry oxygen and nutrients through your body become damaged, blocked, or restricted.
There are many types of vascular disease, including venous disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD), carotid artery disease, and blood clots. And they’re very common: PAD, for instance, affects 45 million Americans, and varicose veins affect another 25 million Americans.
While each type of vascular disease has its own set of symptoms, they can also affect your skin. These skin symptoms are often warning signs of underlying vascular issues, such as poor circulation or blood vessel damage.
Recognizing which skin changes could be related to vascular disease gives you the knowledge to speak up if you have concerns about your vascular health. Here, our providers at Vascular Specialists share the top five skin changes that could indicate vascular disease and explain what we can do to help.
When blood flow is restricted, areas of your skin, especially in the legs or feet, may develop a purple or blue tint. This occurs because oxygen-rich blood isn’t reaching your skin effectively.
If you notice skin discoloration, especially if it’s accompanied by pain or swelling, it may be a sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD) or venous insufficiency.
Blue and purple aren’t the only concerning shades. Red skin — particularly red, hot, and swollen skin — can also indicate trouble. In this case, discoloration could be related to a blood clot.
Some people may notice reddish-brown patches of discoloration.
It’s normal to get a cut or scratch on your skin now and then. Minor scratches usually heal quickly with at-home care unless you have vascular issues.
Without good circulation, though, your wounds can’t get the healing nutrients and oxygen they need from your blood. This leads to slow healing wounds, or ulcers. Ulcers are tricky to treat and can increase your risk of infection, gangrene, or even amputation.
Tight, shiny skin is another sign of vascular disease. This is caused by fluid buildup under your skin, often a result of venous insufficiency. Your skin may appear stretched and have a glossy sheen due to poor blood flow and swelling. Unfortunately, this can also make your skin more prone to injury and infection.
In addition to shiny, tight skin, you might also notice swollen legs, ankles and feet.
If your skin constantly feels cool or cold to the touch, even in warm conditions, it could be a sign that blood isn’t circulating properly.
Vascular disease reduces the amount of oxygenated blood reaching your skin, which then causes areas of skin to feel unusually cold. This is most true for your extremities — your hands and feet.
Persistent dry, flaky, or cracked skin could be a subtle indicator of vascular issues. Without proper blood flow, your skin may become deprived of essential nutrients. It then loses moisture and becomes dry.
Having dry skin doesn’t mean that you have a vascular issue. Weather, changing seasons, humidity levels in your house, and dehydration can also contribute to dry skin. Vascular disease may be the culprit if your dry skin is chronic or if it’s accompanied by other symptoms like swelling, pain, or cold limbs.
If you develop any of these skin changes, especially in combination with other symptoms like pain, numbness, or weakness, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Vascular Specialists team. Your provider may order a vascular diagnostic ultrasound to get to the bottom of your symptoms.
If your exam and diagnostic ultrasound reveal that you have peripheral artery disease, for example, your care team may recommend lifestyle changes as well as minimally invasive procedures such as balloon angioplasty and stenting.
On the other hand, if your symptoms are related to varicose veins, you might benefit from compression stockings or venous ablation.
Whatever you need for vascular disease is here under one roof. Don’t wait until your symptoms get worse. If you spot skin changes that could point to a problem, give us a call at 815-824-4406. You can also schedule an appointment online.
