With CVI, the veins become swollen and blood cells begin to leak out of the veins and into the skin of the legs. At this point, some of the signs and symptoms of CVI appear. An early sign is the brown or reddish-brown discoloration of the skin in the calf area. Swelling in the legs is common, and the skin on the legs may feel tough or leathery. If significant swelling is present in the legs, the skin can become red and fluid may begin to drip from the skin. Patients may describe this skin as "weepy". When CVI is present, oxygen and nutrients can have trouble reaching the skin. As a result of CVI, venous leg ulcers can form.
Venous leg ulcers tend to be shallow in depth, but can vary in surface area from small to large. The skin around the ulcer has brown staining. Venous leg ulcers generally produce moderate to heavy amounts of fluid.
