[Note on the mixed nature, hematic and melanic, of pigmentations in phlebology]

Venous pigmentations are not only tissue deposits of extravasated haemosiderin. Histology reveals that these deposits are often accompanied by excessive melanocyte activity. This combination of various sorts of pigmentation, haematic and melanic, is also found in other non-phlebological ferric hyperchromias. The excess of iron appears to be responsible for the hypermelanosis, but the mechanism is not understood.