Dark spots on the skin of the feet: how to get rid of?

The color of skin, hair, and eyes is determined by the pigment melanin. It can be dark brown, yellow, or black. Melanin synthesis is associated with the activity of the endocrine gland; it is part of the body's immune system. The appearance of dark spots on the legs indicates that pigment production has increased for some reason. It is worth understanding what caused this phenomenon, as it may be an alarming signal about health problems.

Causes dark spots on my legs

The reasons for the appearance of dark spots on the legs can be different, from the most harmless to manifestations of serious pathologies. We do not consider spots that exist from birth.

• Often, skin pigmentation occurs, called chloasma. More intensely colored epidermis suddenly appears on a limited area of skin. Scientists do not yet know the exact nature of the appearance of such spots, but the most likely causes are excessive exposure of the skin to sunlight, endocrine and hormonal disorders (the appearance of pigmentation during menopause, in the post-menopausal period, and in pregnant women speaks in favor of this version), metabolic disorders, chronic liver diseases.
• They may also appear with a deficiency of vitamins C (ascorbic acid), A (retinol), PP (nicotinic acid and nicotinamide).
• Poor circulation caused by atherosclerosis can trigger this manifestation.
• Dark spots on the legs occur with varicose veins. This pathology leads to changes in the walls of the venous vessels, an increase in their permeability, and the first symptom is dark, blue, red spots. At the beginning of the disease, they do not bring any discomfort except aesthetic, but ignoring the problem leads to serious consequences (thrombophlebitis, thrombosis, etc.).
• Dark spots on the legs in diabetes indicate metabolic disorders caused by high blood sugar levels. With this pathology, blood circulation is disrupted in the lower extremities, which means that tissue nutrition suffers, decay products accumulate, and intoxication occurs. Diabetes is characterized by the occurrence of neuropathy - nerve damage, which is manifested by the appearance of spots, a crawling sensation, and a burning sensation.
• A blow can cause dark spots on the toenails. Initially, a red-blue hematoma forms at the site of injury as a result of the rupture of small blood vessels, pain syndrome occurs due to injury to soft tissues, swelling. Over time, the nail becomes purple-black and may peel off.
• Dark brown spots on the legs after a tanning bed occur due to increased production of melanin by cells under the influence of ultraviolet rays. In this case, the skin's reaction is similar to the effect of the sun. Spots can also appear due to uneven tanning. The reason for this is poor quality cosmetics or an uneven layer of it on the skin, applied before the procedure.

Risk factors

Risk factors for the formation of dark spots on the legs include excess weight, unhealthy diet, sunburn, hair removal procedures, heredity, old age, and various injuries.

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of dark spots on the skin is the increased production of brown pigment by the skin for one reason or another. It has been established that this mechanism is influenced by hormones produced by the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, sex and steroid hormones.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ]

Epidemiology

Statistics claim that damage to the vessels of the lower extremities, and therefore the presence of dark spots, occurs in 70% of patients with diabetes. Varicose veins are common in developed countries among 25-30% of women and 10-20% of men. Atherosclerosis of the lower extremities affects every fifth man in the world after 65 years.

[ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ], [ 12 ]

Symptoms

Symptoms of dark spots on the legs are a change in the natural color of skin fragments to a darker color. Dark spots of different configurations and sizes can appear on the nails and toes. Often this is a consequence of wearing tight shoes, and these areas, especially the big toe, are often subject to bruises. Improper nail care, a number of diseases, including kidney failure, heart disease, vitamin deficiency, can provoke a change in the color of the nail plate.

There are also dark red spots on the legs. This color can signal various problems, including allergies, fungus, vascular changes. The first sign of an allergy is itching, peeling skin, the appearance of blisters filled with liquid. Manifestations of fungal lesions are also very similar in their symptoms. Spots due to varicose veins are somewhat different, they occur as a result of the rupture of small capillaries and are a web-like mesh. Varicose veins can cause stasis dermatitis, in which extensive brown pigmentation, swelling, heaviness appear, covering the ankles and reaching the feet. Over time, dark spots acquire a compacted structure.

Dark spots on the soles of the feet most often accompany lipodermatosclerosis, which occurs against the background of varicose veins. This occurs due to the inability of the venous system to cope with its functions. Venous pressure presses on the base of the foot, the vessels burst, the blood flows out, leaving dark marks under the skin.

Dark spots on the shins of the legs may indicate atherosclerosis or diabetes, they are characterized by symmetrical locations. At first, the dark pigment is small in size (1-2 cm), then as the disease develops, it increases. This pathology is more common in men. Another disease with similar symptoms is lipoid necrobiosis. It leads to a violation of fat metabolism, changing the structure of the vessels, the appearance of brown plaques.

Dark spots on the joints of the legs are associated with their defeat. At first, a network of dilated vessels appears - "port wine" stains, then they thicken and become rough, acquire a dark color. Nodular erythema is also characterized by the formation of dense inflammatory nodules on the extensor surfaces of the shins, thighs, often leaving pigment spots at the site of their localization after recovery.

Dark spots on the arms and legs are most likely pigmented. They appear most often after 40-50 years, they are called age-related, most often they have an irregular shape and different sizes. They do not pose a threat to human health, causing discomfort mainly to women with their unaesthetic appearance. Their occurrence is associated with the inability of cells to interrupt pigment synthesis. This process is enhanced by exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Dark spots on the legs and between the legs of women can appear from the use of wax and epilators to remove hair. It has become fashionable to have smooth legs without a single hair. But at the same time, the integrity of the melanocyte cells that produce melanin is often damaged. In this case, the fight against pigment spots will join the fight against hair on the lower extremities.

Dark spots on a child's legs are most often caused by allergies. As a rule, the rashes itch and scratch, and children make the situation worse by scratching these areas. To get rid of such troubles, it is necessary to identify the allergen and remove it from everyday life or menu. This can be food, hair care products, skin care products, washing powders, synthetic clothing.

Forms

Spots on the legs come in various types, shades and configurations:

• vascular - cause swelling and dark spots on the leg, localized on the inner side of the thighs, ankles and shins. With extensive lesions, they become blue, resembling bruises. One of their varieties is diabetic - dark brown spots on the legs, itchy. Itching and burning of dark spots is also characteristic of atherosclerosis;
• allergic - they itch, flake, and most often have a red tint;
• pigmented - dry, dark, do not cause discomfort, can be rough to the touch if caused by decreased thyroid function.

[ 13 ]

Diagnostics dark spots on my legs

Diagnosis of the appearance of dark spots on the legs is based on examination of the patient, the history of their appearance, laboratory tests, instrumental and differential diagnostics.

Tests are needed if diabetes is suspected. To determine the concentration of glucose in the blood and to establish its increase, the test is done several times on different days in the morning on an empty stomach. There is a glucose tolerance test, which is more sensitive to glucose metabolism disorders. Urine analysis is examined for the presence of glucose and acetone, which may be present due to metabolic complications. Biochemical blood analysis, coprogram, and dysbacteriosis analysis will give a picture of the body's condition and identify problems.

Instrumental diagnostics for confirming varicose veins of the lower extremities consists of using the duplex sonography method, which gives a complete picture of the condition of the superficial and deep veins. For clarification, computed tomographic phlebography using a contrast agent, magnetic resonance venography, and segmental Dopplerography can be performed.

Complicated diabetes requires retinopathy examination - fundus examination, electrocardiogram, excretory urography.

When diagnosing atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, they resort to ultrasound Dopplerography and X-ray contrast aortoarteriography.

[ 14 ], [ 15 ], [ 16 ], [ 17 ]

Differential diagnosis

Differentiation of dark spots on the legs occurs between pigmentation, neurofibromatosis, versicolor lichen, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis of the extremities, melanoma.

[ 18 ], [ 19 ], [ 20 ]

Treatment dark spots on my legs

If the appearance of dark spots on the legs does not indicate a dangerous disease, then you can try to eliminate them with special cosmetics, folk methods or procedures in beauty salons, for example, laser resurfacing, meso-, photo-, cryotherapy, chemical peeling. Correction of metabolic and hormonal disorders is also carried out. In other cases, treatment is aimed at the underlying disease and only after that skin defects are eliminated. So, with varicose veins, special ointments, gels, diet therapy, wearing elastic medical stockings, electrical stimulation, etc. are used. Diabetes mellitus requires normalization of sugar levels, diet, selection of daily caloric intake. In case of atherosclerosis, drugs that improve blood circulation are used. In case of bruises and hematoma formation under the nail, the nail plate is punctured, the blood clot is removed and disinfected.

Drug treatment

To dissolve blue marks from bruises and to heal diabetic ulcers, heparin ointment is used.

Heparin ointment - reduces pain, prevents blood clots, relieves inflammation. The ointment is applied in a thin layer to dark spots 2-3 times a day, lightly rubbing into the skin surface. Contraindicated for people with low platelet count in the blood, skin ulcers, low blood clotting.

For varicose veins, ointments and gels are used that improve the structure of the vessel walls, normalize blood microcirculation, and have anti-edematous, anticonvulsant, and analgesic effects. One of these is Venoruton.

Venoruton - a gel is used for external use, capsules and tablets are used for oral administration. For varicose dermatitis, ulcers, and removal of varicose veins, treatment with oral agents is prescribed. Doses are individual depending on the patient's condition. Therapy begins with 300 mg three times a day or 500 mg 2 times. The initial dose can be 1000 mg once a day. The drug is taken during meals, the course of treatment is until the symptoms disappear completely. If new ones appear, repeat according to the same scheme. Side effects are possible - nausea, vomiting, headache. Basically, it is well tolerated by patients. Contraindicated in case of individual intolerance and in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Skin defects called chloasma can be eliminated with the help of whitening creams, one of which is Melanative.

Melanativ is a water-based cream that moisturizes the skin well, the whitening effect is provided by its active components alpha-arbutin, glycolic acid, etc. It is applied to cleansed skin with light massage movements. Its use can cause itching, a feeling of tightness of the skin. In this case, you should stop using it. Contraindicated in case of allergy to the components of the drug.

In the complex treatment of atherosclerosis of the legs, anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous, analgesic, blood flow-improving ointments, gels, and creams are prescribed.

Gepatrombin G - the course of treatment with the drug is no more than two weeks due to the possibility of its component prednisolone causing side effects. Contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity, tuberculosis, in the early stages of pregnancy, short-term use is allowed during breastfeeding.

The use of folic and ascorbic acid, vitamins B and PP helps to normalize melanin synthesis.

Physiotherapy treatment

Physiotherapy treatment is prescribed depending on the diagnosis that led to the appearance of dark spots on the legs. Thus, in case of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, electrotherapy methods are used to improve blood microcirculation in the affected vessels and capillaries: electrophoresis, pulsed currents, as well as UHF, microwave, etc.

Diabetic skin lesions on the legs are treated with ozone, nitrogen, magnetic and laser therapy, ultraviolet radiation, mud therapy and balneological procedures.

Folk remedies

Dark spots on the legs, which do not indicate a serious illness, can be lightened and made less noticeable by using folk remedies. Here are some recipes:

• lemon has a good bleaching effect (stains can be treated with juice or a decoction of its peel);
• 30% hydrogen peroxide is mixed with flour, a flat cake is kneaded and applied to the problem area;
• ground coffee, which can be used to make a drink, mixed with lemon juice and used to exfoliate your feet after a bath;
• grate a fresh cucumber, wrap it in gauze and secure it to your leg with a bandage;
• Combine badyagu with hydrogen peroxide, apply to stains for 10-15 minutes, rinse with water.

To reduce the effects of bruises, cold, including ice, is used.

[ 21 ]

Herbal treatment

Herbal treatment aims to relieve inflammation, swelling, pain, whiten without using chemicals or help them cope with this task. You can use herbs such as chamomile, celandine, parsley, bearberry, licorice, etc.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy believes that any skin problems should be treated from the inside, not the outside, that the skin acts as a drain, reducing the load on the liver, kidneys and other vital organs. And yet, the skin must be cared for with the help of special cosmetics and, best of all, homeopathic ones.

• Antimonium crudum is antimony, prepared by grinding the unrefined substance into powder and combining it with milk sugar. It is used in various dilutions and doses, determined by a homeopathic physician.
• Arsenicum album is anhydrous arsenic acid. Effective for skin rashes accompanied by itching and flaking.
• Argentum nitricum - silver nitrate, sepia - a remedy made from cuttlefish and squid ink, give good results in the treatment of dark spots on the legs.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment may be necessary for skin lesions due to diabetes, varicose veins. Melanoma - a malignant neoplasm on the skin is mainly removed surgically. Complete removal of simple pigment spots is carried out with a laser in 3-4 sessions. The procedure is carried out both with and without anesthesia, does not leave scars.

Complications and consequences

The spots themselves do not cause consequences or complications, but the problems that cause them are often very serious and require long-term, and sometimes lifelong, therapy.

[ 22 ], [ 23 ], [ 24 ], [ 25 ]

Prevention

Preventive measures include protecting your legs from direct sunlight. This can be long clothing, trousers, sunscreen. You need to drink as much liquid as possible, include vegetables, fruits, and greens in your diet. If you have pigmentation caused by the above-mentioned diseases, consult a doctor immediately.

Forecast

The prognosis for the presence of dark spots on the legs is favorable, unless it is associated with the consequences of diabetes, atherosclerosis, varicose veins. These complications are dangerous to health, so the prognosis depends on the neglect of the condition.