How to manage my mother's dark and itchy spots on the legs?

Question

Hi doctor,

For a while, we have been noticing dark, itchy red or brown spots on my mom's leg. It is on the lower part of both of her legs and is hard to get rid of with any random moisturizer or cream. My concerns are

What could it be?
What to do now?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your query and understand your concern.

Thank you for reaching out regarding your mother's condition. Based on the picture (attachment removed due to patient identity protection) and symptoms you described, the dark brown patches on her legs are most likely due to chronic venous insufficiency, also known as stasis dermatitis.

This occurs when the veins in the legs do not circulate blood efficiently, leading to leakage of blood pigment under the skin.

It commonly causes:

Reddish-brown discoloration on the lower legs and ankles.
Swelling.
Itching.
Skin dryness or thickening.

Other conditions that can sometimes appear similar and may need to be ruled out include pigmented purpuric dermatoses, diabetic dermopathy, and fungal infections.

I recommend the following investigations for proper evaluation:

Venous Doppler ultrasound of the legs.
Fasting blood sugar.
Skin scraping test (if fungal infection is suspected).

Also, check whether she has high blood pressure, varicose veins, or leg swelling, as these can worsen the condition.

Please follow these steps to take care at home:

Avoid scratching the area, as it increases irritation and pigmentation.
Apply fragrance-free emollients like petroleum jelly or ceramide creams twice daily.
Avoid medicated or steroid creams unless prescribed.
Use compression stockings if she has swelling or varicose veins; they help improve circulation.

Kindly share the investigation results so I can guide you further.

Thank you.