What Causes Purple-colored Veins Under The Armpit?

Posted on Tue, 20 Mar 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 Answered on

Thu, 4 Apr 2019 Last reviewed on

Question : I'm a quadriplegic and I am having a major vein issue under my armpit. I keep getting purple veins with redness around them. Been to 2 doctors and they just say it will go away but it just gets worse.

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:

Seems to be stretch marks, require laser treatment

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

I have reviewed the attached photograph and it seems to be striae atophicans that is stretch marks.

Purple veins are visible because of the thinning of skin and redness over the area.

Usually, stretch marks take some months to reduce but if you want to get rid of them completely you need to go for laser treatment.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Asmeet Kaur Sawhney, Dermatologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (15 minutes later)

why do they only show up on my veins?

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:

Atrophy & thinning of skin is the main pathology & not visibility of veins

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Basically they are not showing up on veins.

Veins are present almost everywhere under the skin and due to the thinning of the skin veins are more visible to you.

The main pathology is thinning and atrophy of the skin and not the visibility of veins.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Asmeet Kaur Sawhney, Dermatologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (54 minutes later)

would coconut oil help?

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:

Yes, to some extent

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Yes, it may help, to some extent. You can apply it twice daily.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Asmeet Kaur Sawhney, Dermatologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (27 minutes later)

and do i need to worry about them becoming a open sore?

List of questions numbered

1. Will they rip open?
2. If it is stretch marks, why does the right one get bigger but follows the vein and doesn't go in a different direction?
3. Could it be superficial phlebitis?
4. How do I know if they if they are infected?

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:

They won’t become an open sore

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

They usually don’t become an open sore. They won’t rip open.
It is by chance that the bigger one is coinciding with the vein. It is not always the case. It is not superficial phlebitis.

In case of infection, you will have pain, swelling and tenderness on the affected sites.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Asmeet Kaur Sawhney, Dermatologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D