Cutaneous Signs of Vascular Disorders: Atrophie Blanche

April 2, 2004

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD, Eric J. Lewis, MD, Humberto Gallego, MD

A 57-year-old man with a history of venous stasis leg ulcerationwondered about the “white spots” on his leg. Thecondition is atrophie blanche, which manifests as smooth,ivory-white macules and plaques of sclerosis stippled withtelangiectasia that often are surrounded by mild to moderatepigmentation.

A 57-year-old man with a history of venous stasis leg ulcerationwondered about the "white spots" on his leg. Thecondition is atrophie blanche, which manifests as smooth,ivory-white macules and plaques of sclerosis stippled withtelangiectasia that often are surrounded by mild to moderatepigmentation.Atrophie blanche is seen most commonly in associationwith the healing phase of livedo vasculopathy and hypertensivevasculopathy, but it is noted also as a nonspecificfinding in diabetes mellitus, dysproteinemic states, lupuserythematosus, and venous stasis.Treatment for atrophie blanche is directed at preventionby addressing the underlying medical condition.