How to Get Rid of Brown Marks After Sclerotherapy?

Dr.Abhishek Bansal, 3 mins read

It is usual to develop brown marks after sclerotherapy treatment. This is also called post-sclerotherapy hyperpigmentation or hemosiderin staining. Though these stains go away in a few weeks or months, sometimes they remain over a year in less than 5% of patients. In such a scenario, a medical-grade laser is the most effective and safe treatment for brown marks after sclerotherapy. 

Why Do Brown Stains Develop After Sclerotherapy?

During sclerotherapy treatment, a solution is injected into varicose or spider veins. This solution irritates the interior wall of veins, causing them to collapse. Over time, these collapsed veins harden. 

Then, our immune system activates the white blood cells, which absorb the dead veins and blood trapped inside them. Gradually, these veins disappear, and new, healthy veins take their place.

Sometimes, a small amount of the blood remains inside the faulty veins. As the body breaks down and absorbs those veins, some amount of haemoglobin of that trapped blood is released into the skin. This haemoglobin is further broken down into hemosiderin. 

Hemosiderin is the iron residue from red blood cells. This hemosiderin deposits on the skin and causes brown staining on the leg’s skin. These brown stains initially look purple and then gradually become brown. The more the hemosiderin deposits, the more darker the stain will be. 

How Do These Marks Look?

Mostly, the pattern of these brown marks is along the line of the treated vein. This is called linear staining. However, sometimes coin-shaped or circular discoloration also appears, which is called nummular staining. 

Do These Marks Go Away Naturally?

Most of the time, hemosiderin stain is a usual part of the healing process. It doesn’t always imply failure of treatment. Usually, these marks go away within 6 to 12 months without any intervention. 

However, in less than 5% of cases, the brown marks don’t go away even after a year. In such a case, the discoloration may not be usual and can be caused by various factors.

How Are Prolonged Brown Marks Treated?

Usually, these marks don’t require treatment. Application of routine moisturiser or coconut oil is all that is needed. However, in certain circumstances, a medical-grade laser technique may be used. In this procedure, a laser beam of a much shorter pulse is targeted on the discoloured area to treat the post-sclerotherapy hyperpigmentation. 

Who Is at Increased Risk of Brown Staining?

• Skin tone: People with dark skin tones are at higher risk, as hemosiderin stimulates the natural skin pigment cells to release more pigment. 
• High iron level: As hemosiderin is the iron residue of blood, a higher level of iron in the body can increase the risk of prolonged brown staining.
• Skin type: Some skin types, especially those with heightened histamine, are at risk. 
• Deep vein reflux: Higher pressure in deep veins can pull blood back to the superficial veins (Veins near the skin), causing a higher risk of red blood cell leakage.
• Weak blood vessels: Older patients have weaker or fragile veins that can leak blood more readily. 
• Vein pattern or area: A thicker concentration of varicose or spider veins can leave dark stains after sclerotherapy. Also, staining is more common in lower leg areas like the shin bone or ankle instead of upper leg areas like the thigh. 
• Certain medications: Patients taking medicines like the antibiotic Minocycline are more prone. 
• Techniques and experience of doctors: Both these factors play an important role. The excessive injection pressure and concentration of the sclerosing solution can put you at risk of developing brown marks. The choice of sclerosing agent is also critical. Thus, it is critical to choose the right doctor. 

At Aakash Healthcare, we have a team of world-renowned interventional radiologists with years of experience in sclerotherapy treatment for both varicose and spider veins. We use the latest equipment and offer personalised treatment to minimize complications and provide you the optimum results. We are also experienced in treating post-sclerotherapy complications like hyperpigmentation.