The blisters tend to form on the hands, feet, legs, or forearms and look like the blisters that appear after a serious burn. Skin Discoloration: Causes, Pictures, and Treatment - Healthline I want to know what it is. For example, hormonal changes during pregnancy that may lead to melasma are not preventable. If youve been diagnosed with diabetes, you may need better control of it. The light targets melanin and breaks up the dark spots. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Sometimes, a person also has a headache, sore throat, and fever. 2017;42(1):8-11. doi:10.1097/01.NPR.0000511012.21714.66. Skin Cancer Center of Oklahoma - North OKC, Skin Cancer Center of Oklahoma - South OKC, Virginia Beach, Virginia (First Colonial Rd), Virginia Beach, Virginia (Providence Rd. Cool it downhere's how. Seborrheic keratoses are usually brown, black or light tan. Petechiae are pinpoint, round spots that appear on the skin as a result of bleeding. These red or purple-colored spots may show up on your skin or inside your mouth in small or large patches. Unlike the blisters that develop after a burn, these blisters are not painful. Disparities in dermatology educational resources. The medical name for this skin condition is acanthosis nigricans. They may be a little itchy but often aren't felt at all. It usually forms on the shins. For example, atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a common skin disorder that causes red, itchy, scaly rashes usually in skin folds such as the elbows, neck, wrists, and behind the knees or ears. Possible concomitant complaints such as fatigue, fever or joint pain may, but do not have to be related to this. The arrows on this womans face point to actinic keratoses. The growths might be mistaken for a tumor, but they are not cancer. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. 2014;8(15):5260. If you have brown spots on your skin you likely are dealing with a form of hyperpigmentation. All Rights Reserved. This can happen if you take hot or long showers or use products that irritate your skin, which dry it out. In: Dermatology Secrets. You're also more likely to have them if you have a family history of the condition. Spots may not look the same on different skin tones. Image 4: J Am Acad Dermatol. Hives vs. Therapeutic plasma exchange in renal disorders. The brown spots on this mans face may look like age spots, but theyre actually actinic keratoses. 5 facts you should know about precancerous skin growths, How to spot a precancerous growth on your skin. Tell your doctor about the thickening skin. Certain risk factors appear to increase a persons chances including: It may not always be possible to prevent dark spots on the skin from developing. Sometimes, the thickening skin spreads to the face, shoulders, and chest. This skin condition often begins as small raised solid bumps that look like pimples. Some are not serious and will get better on their own without treatment. Johnston GA, Exton LS, Mohd Mustapa MF, et al. Areas of the body that receive the most sun exposure, such as the face, hands, or arms, are most likely to develop sun spots. Injectable skin lightening and skin bleaching products may be unsafe. . Symptoms of Brown Spot can also develop on stems and pods of plants . Accessed July 9, 2021. Red spots on the skin of kids and teens can be from a condition called pityriasis rosea. Purpura usually consists of smaller dots that cluster in a specific area but may appear as one larger patch. By Cristina Mutchler When theres an overproduction of melanin, it can cause differences in skin tone. If you have diabetes, you should check your feet every day for sores and open wounds. 2013 Sep; 6(9): 2735. Ringworm is highly contagious. They don't need treatment, but you may decide to have them removed if they become irritated by clothing or you don't like how they look. Does your child have a heat rash? In addition to dermatological procedures and prescription medications, people may find that some home remedies might fade dark spots on the skin, as the following sections discuss. Tell your doctor about the bumps because this skin condition appears when you have uncontrolled diabetes. The color of dark spots may depend on the tone of a persons skin. Some images used with permission of Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. This skin condition causes spots (and sometimes lines) that create a barely noticeable depression in the skin. 2003;48:109-11. While the exact tests may vary with each potential cause of discolored skin, the options may include: Treatment for discolored skin patches depends on the underlying cause. Sometimes, a skin biopsy is used. Lichen planus is not contagious. A drug rash can affect the whole body or just one part. Conditions associated with diabetes include acanthosis nigricans, which causes darkened, velvety skin, and shin spots or diabetic dermopathy, which people may confuse with age spots. When the thickening skin develops on a finger, toe, or other area with joints, physical therapy can help you keep your ability to bend and straighten the joint. Some people with eczema notice redness and itchiness after they take a shower. 2016;352:i1285. Your provider can explain the options for removing the growths, like lasers or liquid nitrogen. Hyperpigmentation goes by many names depending on the underlying causes. For example: American Academy of Dermatology. 2011;84(1):53-60, Le Cleach L, Chosidow O. Lichen planus. Heat rash can be treated by lowering the temperature of the skin using home remedies like cooling baths, cold compresses, and wearing loose-fitting clothing. Another study concluded that people who have granuloma annulare that comes and goes should be tested for diabetes. It often shows up after an infection. Its caused by a fungus on your skin that grows out of control. Most species are completely harmless but every now and then there can be more serious diseases behind it. They're harmless, but they can look like precancer growths. Pharmacogn Rev. The triggers are primarily hormonal changes for example during pregnancy, when hormonal contraceptives are inserted or discontinued or when hormone replacement products are used. The immune system normally works to keep the body healthy by fighting off harmful agents that can cause infection and disease. There are, however, a few things people can do to decrease the chances of dark spots and prevent them from getting darker: In most cases, dark spots on the skin are not harmful. Epithelial precancerous lesions. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, et al. Procedures are more expensive than creams and are more likely to cause side effects, though they tend to work faster. Drug-induced hyperpigmentation: Review and case series. A doctor or dermatologist can often work out the cause of dark spots on the skin by examining them and taking a medical history. People who live in hot climates, sweat a lot, or are on prolonged bed rest are more likely to get heat rash. They form as a result of overproduction of melanin, which is. Take action Tell your doctor about these spots. Validity and Reliability of the Dutch Adaptation of the Actinic Keratosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (AKQoL). Dermatology. The medical name for this skin condition is eruptive xanthomatosis. Eczema can also be found on the feet, toes, and fingers. A dermatologist may recommend one of the following treatments for dark spots on the skin: Different types of lasers are available. Other causes may be more severe and require ongoing treatment. Is there a way to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation? If you choose to seek treatment for cosmetic reasons, a dermatologist may recommend over-the-counter or prescription topical treatments to reduce signs of skin discoloration. Many possible causes: Brown spot could be freckles , lentigines, nevi or many other possible causes . They're very common in people older Hyperpigmentation occurs when darker patches appear on the skin. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Basal cell carcinoma. Commonly affected areas include your face, including the cheeks, upper lip and forehead, as well as the forearms. The pimples form when pores become blocked by oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. for acne. Diabetes can affect many parts of your body, including your skin. These areas of discolored skin can range in color and may be: While there are many harmless causes of skin discoloration, such as birthmarks, some cases of discolored skin may develop from an underlying medical condition that requires diagnosis and treatment. Mosby Elsevier, Spain, 2008:1645-58. How to Get Rid of Age Spots (and Avoid Them) - Cleveland Clinic Seborrheic keratoses often appear on a person's chest, arms, back, or other areas. Over-the-counter skin creams to lighten skin are not as strong as prescription medications, but they may also work. 2018;97(1):38-44. AKs more commonly look like age spots in people who have skin of color. You may see a large blister, a group of blisters, or both. Diabetes: 12 warning signs that appear on your skin. Dark spots on the skin, or hyperpigmentation, can have a range of causes. Ringworm is a common fungal skin infection that causes red, blotchy, circular rash with raised edges. Purpura is small, flat spots on your skin. Petechiae: Causes & Treatment - WebMD Hot, swollen skin that is painful These bumps appear suddenly and clear promptly when diabetes is well-controlled. An actinic keratosis (AK) develops when skin has been badly damaged by ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or indoor tanning.