What is it?
A venous lake is a common bluish soft macule or papule due to vascular dilatation. It is most often seen on the lower lip.
It is most often diagnosed in middle-aged or older men and women of any race and the cause is unknown.
Clinical features
A venous lake is a soft blue or purple macule or papule, that is 0.2–1 cm in diameter. Although they may arise anywhere, most venous lakes are diagnosed on the lower lip (on the vermilion margin or mucosal surface), on an earlobe, or elsewhere on the face, neck, or upper trunk.
Diagnosis
A venous lake is usually easy to diagnose clinically by its appearance. The colour disappears on compression of the macule or papule due to the clearance of blood from the dilated venule.
This blue lump may occasionally be confused with:
- Blue naevus
- Cherry angioma
- Spider telangiectasis.
Treatment
It is harmless and does not require treatment. A lesion that is unsightly can be removed by destroying the lesion. This causes a temporary scab, and the procedure may result in a scar. Treatments to remove a venous lake include:
- Cryotherapy
- Electrocautery
- Sclerotherapy
- Intense pulsed light
- Vascular laser.
- Surgery