Blotchy or Mottled Skin - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What Is Blotchy or Mottled Skin?

Blotchy or mottled skin is a condition where the skin has a patchy and irregular color. This condition is also called livedo reticularis. This condition differs from one person to another person in the aspect of appearance. The skin can have red or purple colored marks, streaks, or spots. There are also some cases where the skin has a marbled appearance with different colors.

What Are the Various Causes of Mottled Skin?

There are various causative factors responsible for mottled skin. Two of the most common causes are blood circulation problems and blood vessel spasms. Few causes include:

1. Shock:

Shock is a very serious and life-threatening condition. Negative experiences such as accidents, trauma, excessive blood loss, burns, poisons, and infections can induce shock in a person. When mottled skin is accompanied by other symptoms, it can be due to shock, and this requires immediate medical attention. The list of symptoms that might indicate shock are:

• Mottled, cold, or pale skin.

• Rapid pulse.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Rapid breathing.

• Weakness.

• Larger than normal pupils.

• Breathing difficulty.

• Dizziness.

• Fainting.

• Anxiety.

• Thirst or a dry mouth.

• Low urine output or dark urine.

As mentioned before, shock is a serious medical condition and should be brought to the doctor's attention immediately to avoid any serious complications.

2. Vascular Diseases:

If the person has any underlying vascular disease, the blood vessels in the body get affected and cause mottled skin. Some of the vascular diseases that might lead to formation of mottled skin include:

• Atherosclerosis.

• Blood clots.

• Aortic aneurysms.

The symptoms of vascular diseases might include pain, breathing problems, and fatigue along with mottled skin.

3. Reaction to Medications:

There are some cases where mottled skin is caused as a side effect or a reaction to certain medications. Mottled skin might be accompanied by other additional symptoms based on the medications, such as allergies, nausea, fatigue, etc. Drugs that are known to cause mottled skin are:

• Amantadine.

• Catecholamines.

• Minocycline.

• Gemcitabine.

4.Lupus:

Lupus is a condition that occurs when our body’s immune system attacks our own tissue and organs. And one of the symptoms of lupus is mottled skin. Also, lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease and is inflammatory in nature. Some of the other symptoms of lupus include:

• Dry eyes.

• Headaches.

• Breathing problems.

• Butterfly rash on the face.

• Fatigue.

• Pain, stiffness, or swelling.

• Fever.

• Sensitivity to sunlight.

• Fingers and toes turning blue to cold.

5. Antiphospholipid Syndrome:

This is also an autoimmune disease that affects the blood vessels. When the person has antiphospholipid syndrome, mottled skin can be found around the knees and wrists. Mottled skin is one of the symptoms of antiphospholipid syndrome, and some of the other symptoms include:

• Seizures.

• Dementia.

• Blood clots.

• Strokes.

• Headaches.

6. Pancreatitis:

Mottled skin is also caused by pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas. Some of the other symptoms of pancreatitis are:

• Pain in the upper abdomen.

• Vomiting.

• Nausea.

• Fever.

• Rapid pulse.

7. End of Life-Stage:

When a person is old and is nearing death, then mottled skin may appear at the end of life-stage. Other symptoms of end of life-stage include:

• Being unconscious.

• Decreased cardiac activity.

• Refusing water and food.

• Having trouble.

• Swallowing.

• Breathing difficulty.

• Extreme fatigue and weakness.

• Loss of memory.

8. Cold Environment:

When a person is exposed to a severely cold environment for a prolonged period of time, it can cause mottled skin. This is because exposure to a severely cold environment affects the flow of blood throughout our body and disrupts circulation. Other symptoms that indicate that the mottled skin is due to a cold environment include shivering, numbness, and cold.

9. Mottled Skin in Newborn Babies:

There are cases where a newborn baby has mottled skin. Usually, this condition is harmless and benign. Hence it does not require any medical attention, and it goes away on its own. The main reason behind mottled skin in babies is exposure to cold temperatures. So generally, the treatment will include keeping the baby warm and avoiding cold. It will go away on its own, and no medication is required for most of the cases.

What Are the Symptoms of Mottled Skin?

The most significant symptom of mottled skin is the blotchy appearance of the skin with red or purple spots. These discolored or irregular color spots can appear anywhere and on any part of your body. In many cases, we can find a lacy network of patches on the skin.

The symptoms which are accompanied by this blotchy appearance include:

• Painful nodules.

• Ulcers on the skin.

Generally, mottled skin does not require any treatment, and it often resolves on its own. But in some cases, if it does not go away, then a proper diagnosis and treatment are required.

How to Treat Mottled Disease?

There is no single treatment for all cases of mottled skin. Hence the treatment method is based on the cause and the other symptoms that appear along with mottled skin.

1. Shock: As the shock is very serious, it requires immediate medical attention. In the hospital, the patient will be given intravenous fluid and oxygen before performing other tests. These tests will help determine the cause of shock.

2. Vascular Disease: For vascular disease, lifestyle changes and medications that help in maintaining blood pressure and cholesterol are required. Drugs help in preventing the narrowing of arteries. Also, if the patient has an aneurysm, surgery is required in some cases.

3. Autoimmune Disease: For autoimmune diseases such as lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome, medications will be prescribed by the doctor to help reduce the immune response and control the inflammation.

4. Medications: If skin mottling is caused as a side effect of any medications, then you should talk to the doctor for available alternative options. Your doctor might suggest a different treatment instead of medications, or in some cases, he will change the dosage and frequency of the medicines.

5. Cold Environment: Mottled skin that appears due to a cold environment can be treated with home remedies. Layering warm clothes, using heated blankets, and producing body warmth by rubbing the affected area can reduce the blotch caused due to cold temperatures.

6. End of Life-Stage: For patients who experience mottling of skin in the last stage of life, treatment will focus on keeping the person comfortable.

Can Mottled Skin Be Prevented?

It is possible to prevent mottled skin in some cases. Some of the precautions that are to be followed to prevent skin mottling are avoiding cold temperatures, having a healthy diet plan to avoid vascular diseases, avoid smoking, physical exercises to keep your circulation proper and keeping your body warm.

Conclusion:

In many cases, mottled skin is benign and does not require any medical care. But if the skin mottling is accompanied by other symptoms, then consult your doctor to find if there are any causes for mottled skin and plan your treatment accordingly. Also, make sure to keep your body active and warm to avoid any vascular disease or cold-induced skin mottling.