Venous Ulcer Pictures
Venous leg ulcer location shape, color, & size explained
Venous leg ulcers come in many different shapes, colors, and sizes on patient’s legs, ankles, and feet. The visual features of venous ulcers can vary quite significantly depending on severity of disease, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors. In this brief review, our venous ulcer specialists share an extensive gallery of venous ulcer pictures, and explain the many visual features of venous ulcers. While we advise patients against self-diagnosis, having a better understanding of what venous ulcers can look like may help you identify the care you need.
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Venous Ulcer Pictures
Visual Features of Venous Ulcers
Venous Ulcer Specialist
Dr. Michael Lalezarian
Dr. Michael Lalezarian is a double-board certified Vascular Interventional Radiologist specializing in venous ulcer care and minimally invasive vein treatments. He is a committed partner in the battle against the devastating consequences of venous insufficiency.
John L, March 2022
Venous Ulcer Pictures
The specialists at ProVascularMD have compiled an extensive gallery of venous ulcer pictures to help you better understand what’s going on with your legs ankles, and feet. We provide more explanation on the different visual features of venous insufficiency in more detail below the gallery. You can also check out our gallery of venous insufficiency pictures to learn more about the stages of disease that happen before ulcers form.
Venous Ulcer Visual Features
Venous Ulceration
Venous Ulcer Location
A venous ulcer’s location can form anywhere between the knee and the ankle. However, as the gallery above shows, venous ulcers are most common in the “gaiter” region of the leg, which spans from the mid-calf to the ankle bones. Venous ulceration in this region is usually indicative of severe vein disease.
Skin Discoloration
As the venous ulcer picture gallery shows, there are many different patterns of skin discoloration that can occur with venous leg ulcers, and they occur for many different reasons. For example, when blood cells leak out of damaged veins, they release a chemical called hemosiderin, which has a red-brown color. Melanoctyes are also activated, producing brown melanin pigment. On the other end of the discoloration spectrum, healed ulcers often leave behind white scarring called atrophie blanche.
Lipodermatosclerosis
Edema
Eczema
Venous Leg Ulcer Treatment
Stages of Venous Insufficiency
Vascular Specialist in Los Angeles
Learn more about Los Angeles Vascular Specialist Dr. Michael Lalezarian.
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[2] Vasquez MA, Rabe E, Mclafferty RB, et al. Revision of the venous clinical severity score: venous outcomes consensus statement: special communication of the American Venous Forum Ad Hoc Outcomes Working Group. J Vasc Surg. 2010;52(5):1387-96.
[3] Agale SV. Chronic Leg Ulcers: Epidemiology, Aetiopathogenesis, and Management. Ulcers. 2013;2013:1-9.
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[5] Salcrido, R. C. Arterial vs Venous Ulcers: Diagnosis and Treatment: Advances in Skin & Wound Care. 2001;14(3):146-147.
[6] Grey JE, Harding KG, Enoch S. Venous and arterial leg ulcers. BMJ. 2006;332(7537):347-350.
[7] Dean SM. Cutaneous Manifestations of Chronic Vascular Disease. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. 2018;60(6):567-579.
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