Red brown patches lower legs. (Angela Hampton Picture Library /.
Red brown patches lower legs They usually appear on your arms, legs, stomach, and buttocks. Shin spots. Guttate: Small teardrop-shaped red and scaly spots appear on the arms, legs, and trunk. They tend to be round and just millimeters in size. As iron and other by-products are released from the veins, they show a brown stain on the skin. They can be as small as 0. It’s caused by blood leaking out of the tiny vessels called capillaries. The medical name for shin spots is diabetic dermopathy. - Doucas-Kapetanakis eczematid-like purpura: This variant of capillaritis is characterized by small, itchy red patches that resemble eczema. Brownish discoloration or bruising on the lower legs can result from poor vein health or problems with the functioning of blood vessels called chronic venous insufficiency. Your legs may become swollen, especially at the end of the day or after long periods of standing. Diabetes-related dermopathy most often appears on the front of both of your lower legs (on your shins), but one leg may have more patches than the other. (Angela Hampton Picture Library / Jan 18, 2025 · Hemosiderin staining occurs when red blood cells leak through the veins. Seek advice from your local pharmacy, practice nurse or GP as this could be the early signs of venous hypertension or insufficiency in the leg veins. Mar 27, 2025 · A precancerous skin condition characterized by scaly, crusty spots on the hands, arms, or face. Recognizing the Symptoms of a Lower Leg Rash Skin Discoloration: From Brown to Purple. May 20, 2023 · Hemosiderin staining usually happens on the lower leg, near the ankles, or on your feet. Basal cell Dec 3, 2024 · Flexural or inverse: Patches with no scaling form in the folds of skin, such as armpits, genitals, and under breasts. On darker skin, they may be purple, brown, or darker than the surrounding skin. It can indicate venous insufficiency or diabetes, DVT, varicose veins, etc. These spots are typically brown, gray, or pink. The signs of a rash on your lower leg can vary widely depending on the cause. 1 Venous insufficiency happens when the valves in leg veins that help push blood back to the heart weaken and leak fluid. See full list on my. When your veins can’t pump blood back up to the heart properly, it pools in your lower legs. Stasis dermatitis is also sometimes called gravitational dermatitis, venous eczema or venous stasis dermatitis, because it happens when there is venous insufficiency in the lower legs. Here’s a list of 22 potential causes with pictures. They are especially common in people 40 years old and older. There are many ways to remove dark spots, including home remedies, OTC treatments, and laser treatments. Although most common on the lower legs, the Schamberg form of capillaritis can arise on any part of the body. On black or brown skin it tends to look dark brown, purple or grey and can sometimes be more difficult to see. 4. Sep 21, 2021 · Reddish-purple spots that look like bruises develop on the buttocks, legs and feet. Livedo reticularis appears as a net-like purplish discoloration from reduced blood flow, sometimes triggered by cold. Apr 1, 2024 · The most common vasculitis rash affects the lower legs and appears as palpable red, purple, or brown spots, depending on skin tone. Jun 17, 2024 · Diabetic dermopathy appears as pink-to-red or tan-to-dark brown patches (flat areas of skin that are larger than a thumbnail) on the lower legs. Conditions like eczema and psoriasis can lead to red, brown, or purple patches that may linger after inflammation. Some red spots, like cherry angiomas, are lifelong but harmless blemishes unless they’re surgically removed. The rash often appears on the face near the hairline, then spreads . There may be periods when these symptoms improve and periods when they are more severe. Areas of the body that are exposed to the sun, like the hands, face, arms, and legs, can develop aging spots. Melasma is much more common in women -- pregnancy or birth control pills are common triggers. Oct 24, 2024 · Meningitis: About 50% to 60% of people with meningitis develop petechiae. This skin condition is common in people who have diabetes. Regular or irregular crops of red-brown flat patches with cayenne pepper spots on their borders appear for no apparent reason. It can also appear on other parts of your body, such as your thighs and arms. It commonly affects the lower legs and can be triggered by warm weather or exercise. Nov 26, 2024 · Petechiae are tiny purple, red, or brown spots on the skin. clevelandclinic. Aug 9, 2018 · Hemosiderin staining appears as yellow or brown stains on your body when iron is stored under your skin. The patches are slightly scaly and are usually round or oval. Jan 12, 2025 · Petechiae are flat and look like pinpoint-sized red, brown, or purple dots. The reddish-brown discoloration on the lower legs is caused by chronic venous disease–the abnormal function of veins. Clumps of petechiae on your skin look like a rash. They vary from light brown to black. Most Common Causes of Brown Skin Discoloration on Lower Legs. There are no symptoms. The affected area may itch or burn. Mar 28, 2022 · The patches are harmless and don’t itch, ooze liquid or cause pain. Mar 18, 2024 · be white, pink, red, tan, or brown; look like a stain or a bruise on the skin; Treatment. Long-standing patches may become slightly indented (atrophic). Flea bites of the lower leg causing red bumps and scabbing. appearance. When this condition begins, you usually see round or oval spots, which often develop on the shins. But unlike many rashes, when you press on the spots they don't turn Mar 4, 2025 · These brown or gray-brown patches on the face come from sun exposure, hormone changes, or both. dry, itchy patches of skin; wounds on the lower legs, which may leak fluid; varicose veins; May 25, 2024 · For the purpose of this blog, we will be focusing on brown skin discoloration on the lower legs. On lighter skin, they appear as red or pink patches. Swollen, sore joints (arthritis). It presents as brownish-red patches on the lower legs and may be associated with a burning sensation or itching. Who does diabetes-related dermopathy affect? Apr 11, 2023 · 1. It is usually irregularly distributed on both sides with few or many patches. Jan 17, 2024 · How long do red spots on legs last? Depending on the causes, red spots on the legs can last a few hours or a few days or be a recurrent or chronic problem. Other vasculitis skin findings include lumps, open sores, blisters, and blotchy, lacelike discoloration. Solar lentigines: These are macules with clear borders. In medical documents the patch is referred to as ‘hemosiderin deposition’. Jul 24, 2024 · Possible causes of lower leg redness with the presence of red spots on legs include: Allergic reactions: Allergic reactions can cause redness and red spots on the legs. 5 cm to quite large, covering most of the shin. Red spots on legs treatments will vary depending Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, seen after eczema, psoriasis, or infections, leaves darker patches on the skin. Apr 25, 2023 · Dark spots on your legs, or hyperpigmentation, can be caused by many factors. Treatment may include antihistamines, topical corticosteroids, and/or avoidance of the allergen. org Dec 8, 2022 · In addition to its unsightly appearance, hemosiderin staining indicates an underlying health condition. Venous Insufficiency. Jan 11, 2021 · People with diabetes tend to develop brown spots on the lower legs, especially around the shins. It is a symptom that may indicate venous insufficiency in the lower limb. They appear in various brown shades. You might also find them inside your mouth or on your eyelids. The rash can also appear on the arms, face and trunk and may be worse in areas of pressure, such as the sock line and waistline. Other symptoms include fever, a stiff Mar 21, 2025 · They are more common in people with fair skin and/or red hair. How to stop red spots on legs. Mar 7, 2025 · What it looks like: Purplish lesions on the inner arms, legs, Measles causes flat, red spots that cover huge swaths of skin. Jun 9, 2024 · Do you have heavy aching legs after a long day’s work or notice swelling that is increasing or skin changes which may include darker brown or reddish staining and dry itchy skin patches. 1 This allows water and blood cells to pool in the lower legs, which can cause them to May 19, 2023 · Diabetic dermopathy is a condition that causes small lesions to appear on the skin, typically on the shins. While its cause is unknown, research shows it may be due to poor circulation that Aug 8, 2023 · Age spots on the legs are incredibly common and normal. Brown spots on the legs can be an early sign of vein disorder, known as chronic venous insufficiency. They are most often called sun spots, liver spots, age spots, or actinic lentigines. You may also hear people refer to this condition as spotted leg syndrome. Oct 30, 2023 · A reddish-brown patch or even a large area of brown discoloration over the ankle on the shin is a common phenomenon. The spots may be brown or reddish brown in On white skin it looks red or brown. Mar 27, 2024 · There are many different causes of rashes. Brown skin discoloration on the lower legs can be a sign of various underlying medical conditions. These brown spots rarely cause medical concerns on their own. Meningitis is an often serious infection that affects your brain and spinal cord. Stains most often appear on the lower leg, sometimes covering the space Feb 11, 2025 · One such complication of diabetes is called diabetic dermopathy, commonly called shin spots, which manifests as light brown or red, scaly patches on the lower legs. vglyredphjfjoshmwhzexwoyqwddvcitimlssqvarbdfdblwpcwpazgxqpmlrwmhqlrxzrhnsmkox