Any process of inflammation or tissue damage can manifest as a sore on the leg. Redness can occur in multiple conditionshemosiderin staining, lipodermatosclerosis, venous dermatitis, chronic inflammation, cellulitis, and dependent rubor. Venous stasis refers to the medical condition resulting when leg veins lose their ability to carry blood back up the legs toward the heart. Some of the medication include quinine, aspirin, cortisone, atropine, naproxen, linezolid, penicillin, phenytoin, nitrofurantoin and chlorothiazide. Venous stasis causes pooling red blood cells to stain the skin of the ankles from the inside out, creating reddish or brown patches on the ankles, according to dr. I have dark spots on my lower leg that look like bruises. Please do not take any motrin, ibuprofen, advil, naproxen, aleve, or aspirin until you see your physician. When a bruise occurs below the skin, it may appear as a discolored area and then it may spread or change color prior to resolving. Medical conditions and medications that interfere with the bloods ability to clot weaken blood vessels and can contribute to leg bruising. The lindsay leg club foundation promoting and supporting community based treatment, health promotion, education and ongoing care for people who are experiencing legrelated problems including leg ulcers and other wound care issues contact details 01473 749565 lynn. Mar 11, 2020 most bruises form when small blood vessels capillaries near the skins surface are broken by the impact of a blow or injury often on the arms or legs. For example, being in the sun too long, aging, or a vitamin deficiency can weaken small blood vessels near the skins surface. Aug 06, 2017 senile purpura may also be known as batemans purpura or actinic purpura.
Most bruises are not a cause for concern and will go away on their own. In this article, we explain the difference between a normal bruise and a bruise as a. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. To determine if your blue ankles and ankle veins are caused by the treatable vein problem venous reflux, the first step is to schedule a blue ankles. Seek immediate medical attention if the bruises are severe and accompanied by swelling of the leg. In addition to itching and easy bruising, other symptoms associated with the condition are jaundice, skin pigmentation, indigestion, fatigue, and weight loss. Peripheral artery disease narrows arteries in your legs, limiting blood flow. It happens when blood vessels become weak due to repeated exposure to the sun. For the last few days ive been getting a very strange sensation in my right leg, between the back of my knee and the top of my calf.
This may help with any soreness and prevent the affected area from getting bigger. Bruises naturally change color over time from red, through purple, to yellow or brown. The discoloration might look like a brownish or purplish bruise or cloudy area just. Strange feeling of heat in my leg undiagnosed symptoms. Going for medication when you are having an illness is an important step but it can also have side effects on your skin. Sometimes only a slight bump results in a nasty bruise. Problems that can lead to blood spots or easy bruising include. Sheskier on unexplained bruising on legs and ankles. By robyn bjork, mpt, cws, wcc, cltlana the ability to understand or read lowerextremity redness in your patient is essential to determining its cause and providing effective treatment. Bruises happen when an injury causes damage to blood vessels below the skin. A bruise shows up when an injury makes small blood vessels under your skin bleed. Bruises will eventually disappear, often changing colors during the healing process. If you have itching that is accompanied by bruising on legs, your best course of action is to see your doctor proper diagnosis and treatment. If this is the case, youll probably find that it wont just be your legs that become bruised.
I do not recall any bump or injury to cause them and they are not painful. This is a common side effect seen with this very effective blood pressure medication. Other side effects of cytotoxic drugs include a sore throat, chills, fever, unusual. However, if people frequently notice bruises on their legs and do not remember when the injury had taken place, it could be due to an underlying ailment. Leg discoloration and venous insufficiency varicose veins. Bruising in leukaemia vs ordinary bruising leukaemia care. This condition is known as a vascular disorder and is more common in women. The spots can develope on various parts of the body, particularly on face, chest, back, arms and legs. On darker skin the patches may be a dark purple, brownish or black coloured. Purple spots on skin, patches, lines, tiny light, purpura. Dermopathy appears as scaly patches that are light brown or red, often on the front of the legs.
For example, if you banged your shin, keep your leg propped up. Keep the affected leg elevated as much as possible within the first 24 hours after the bruise appears. Doctors give trusted, helpful answers on causes, diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and more. Some tips that might be helpful for you to combat your unexplained leg bruises are detailed below.
Easily bruising and bleeding is the 4th most common leukaemia symptom, but. Bruising on the leg means that the blood vessels at the affected area has ruptured and leaked blood into the tissue spaces. This can result in bruising easily on your legs or other areas of your body. Random or unexplained bruising on legs can happen for a number of reasons. Applying warm compress using a warm compress is helpful in case of an. Webmd symptom checker helps you find the most common medical conditions indicated by the symptoms bruising or discoloration leg, bruising or discoloration calf, color change and enlarged dilated veins including bruise or contusion, hematoma, and raynaud phenomenon. Leg bruising may accompany other symptoms that vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Possible causes of lower leg swelling and discoloration 1. However, this may be due to hyperpigmentation increased skin pigment deposition rather than due to bruising. Hemosiderin is a brownish pigment caused by the breakdown of blood hemoglobin, the iron content in red blood cells. Bruises can be associated with tenderness of the involved discolored area. You cant avoid all bruises, but you can lower your chances of getting hurt. The blood from the capillaries leaks into the soft tissue under your skin, causing the.
Lower leg swelling and discoloration is a common symptom, but you may also notice other issues such as itching and tingling, cramping in legs, pain that becomes worse when standing and improves when legs are elevated, varicose veins, ulcers on the ankles or legs, and wound on the ankles or legs that heal slowly. Nov 16, 2019 purple spots on skin can range in size and shape. The blood vessels can break for no reason without any apparent injury or exercise. Bruising bruises are the dark patches appearing on skin when the impact of a blow or injury breaks the capillaries just below the skin surface. If you have itching that is accompanied by bruising on legs, your best course of action is to see your doctor proper.
The bodys t cells mistakenly attack healthy skin cells rather than infection. If the bruising occurs below the skin or near bones, typically, the pain is worse. Bruises are patches that appear on the skin when tiny blood vessels called capillaries break or burst underneath. I noticed some unexplained bruises on my right hand and lower limbs. Symptoms include swelling in the foot, ankle, or leg usually on one side. Exposure to cytotoxic medications, which are typically used as a treatment for arthritis, can have the side effect of pinheadsized red spots on the lower legs. There are many natural remedies for healing your bruises. Bruising on legs causes, vein blood clot, leukemia, itching. It can be concerning if your bruises take an especially long time to heal after they appear. May 10, 2017 apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel or a cold compress to the bruise to force the blood vessels to shrink.
There are many potential causes of unsightly, and sometimes unhealthful, broken capillaries in the legs, including injury and circulatory disorders. Do you have reddish brown staining on your lower legs. Learn more from webmd about bruises, including ways you can treat them at home and tips for. Bruises on the legs do not require any specialized medical treatment as they typically heal on their own within two to four weeks. Like bruising, it is most common on legs and arms, and it often results. Are you one of the 8 million americans affected by pad. In this article, we explain the difference between a normal bruise and a bruise as a result of leukaemia. Sometimes, bruising without an injury could be a sign of a. You are probably right in assumption that your leg swelling is due to the norvasc. The time required to heal a bruise varies from a few days to months depending on the severity of the bruise.
Leg sores may affect primarily the skin or can extend into the subcutaneous tissues, muscles, bone, and deeper structures of the leg. Bruises probably arent something you typically give much thought. They might appear as lines, small or tiny dots, or large patches. Treatment for unexplained bruising on legs medication limiting the use of medications like aspirin which increases the risk. The lindsay leg club foundation promoting and supporting community based treatment, health promotion, education and ongoing care for people who are experiencing leg related problems including leg ulcers and other wound care issues. The pain in my leg runs from just below the knee all of the way to the top of my foot. Blue ankles and ankle veins are often caused by treatable. Blue ankles and small, visible veins at the ankle and instep are a common medical issue caused by the vein problem venous reflux. Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel or a cold compress to the bruise to force the blood vessels to shrink. Once a bruise has formed, theres not a lot you can do to treat it. Aging bruises known as actinic purpura are found at the back of the arms and hands in older people. Jan 30, 2019 unexplained bruising on legs can be alarming. Eventually your body reabsorbs the blood, and the mark disappears.
Bruising without obvious trauma to the legs may be due to an underlying medical disorder or a medication you are taking. Learn more about pad causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. The patches do not hurt, blister, or itch, and treatment. Aug 23, 2018 learn about numbness in your lower leg. When it first appears, a bruise will be reddish looking, reflecting the color of the blood in the skin. When this happens, blood leaks out of the vessels and initially appears as a blackandblue mark. While it may be normal if you bruise easily, it can also be a symptom of an underlying health condition. Connect the dots between the symptoms of leukaemia and spot leukaemia sooner.
Rash of small red spots on a childs ankle and lower leg. It can also result from inflammation of soft tissue. The bumps and patches last about two weeks before fading like a bruise. A fibula fracture is a broken bone on the outside of the lower leg. How can i prevent them and how do i get rid of them. Oct 03, 2015 symptoms of venous insufficiency may include areas of darkening or discoloration of the lower leg, ankle or foot called hemosiderin deposits. If you think a bruise is traumarelated, use an ice pack to decrease swelling in the first 24 hours, strey said. What causes unexplained bruises to appear on your legs. Unexplained leg bruises could be a sign that an underlying problem might exist.
Bruises change in appearance over time, and it may be possible to tell by looking at a bruise how old it is. Bruises for no reason that are red and on the thighs and. Bruises and blood spots under the skin my health alberta. Bruising or discoloration, bruising or discoloration. It could simply be a foot or leg thats fallen asleep, or it might be a sign of something much more serious. A bruise on a leg usually will take longer to heal than a bruise on the face or arms. Bruises happen when an injury causes blood to leak into the skin. Feb 03, 2009 i have unexplained bruising on lower leg and also ankle, i get a numbness in foot when running. Jul 03, 2017 bruises on the legs do not require any specialized medical treatment as they typically heal on their own within two to four weeks. The lindsay leg club foundation promoting and supporting community based treatment, health promotion, education and ongoing care for people who are experiencing leg related problems including leg ulcers and other wound care issues contact details 01473 749565 lynn. Bruising or discoloration, bruising or discoloration, color. Do this for 10 minutes, wait for 20, and then apply again.
A bruise develops when blood vessels under the skin are damaged. Diabetes can affect the small blood vessels of the body that supply the skin with blood. Several medications may contribute to elderly bruising. Erythema nodosum usually affects the lower legs, but can spread to other parts of the. These spots, called purpura, are common in older adults but may be a sign of. Sep 07, 2018 sometimes dark patches may form on the leg in conditions where there is poor circulation.
Oct 14, 2017 unexplained bruising on the legs bruising ones legs while playing or due to an injury are quite common and is not considered to be a severe or lifethreatening situation. Jan 04, 2020 bruises happen when an injury causes blood to leak into the skin. When bruising appears on a limb such as the leg, then restricting the blood flow can help the swelling go down more quickly. Whats causing your patients lowerextremity redness. In fact, unexplained bruising on legs is often explained by a lowiron diet and will materialize in the form of anemia. Damage is a broad term, but anything that causes the body to begin an inflammatory process or anything that causes the body to send extra blood cells to an area can cause lower leg redness. Webmd symptom checker helps you find the most common medical conditions indicated by the symptoms bruising or discoloration and yellow skin including bruise or contusion, muscle strain, and hematoma. Learn about the possible medical conditions and medications that can cause. Why do i have swollen legs and a red rash above my ankles.
Bruises and blood spots under the skin healthlink bc. Tiny red spots can appear on your skin after using certain strong medications. By one to two days, the reddish iron from the blood. It hurts just to the inside of the ankle bone but not on the bone itself. These spots signal bleeding under the skin and should be reported to your health care provider. I have unexplained bruising on lower leg and also ankle, i.
Senile purpura may also be known as batemans purpura or actinic purpura. The bruises will heal in two to four weeks, but bruises on the legs usually take longer to heal. Bruising or discoloration leg, bruising or discoloration calf, color change and enlarged dilated veins. Often, what are thought to be unexplained bruises on the shin or the thigh, for example, actually. Blood gets trapped below the skins surface, which causes a bruise. Bruising on legs causes, vein blood clot, leukemia. The term ecchymosis describes a flat, blue or purple patch measuring. Leg sores can arise from trauma, infection, tumors, or chronic medical conditions. There are 22 conditions associated with bruising or discoloration and yellow skin. People with leukemia are more likely to bruise because their bodies dont make enough platelets to plug bleeding blood vessels. Unexplained bruising on the arms or lower legs usually isnt. Swelling in the legs is caused by a buildup of fluid called edema.
They first appear as flat red blotches and change color to purple, become deeper before they gradually fade away. The initial signs of senile purpura are purple or red bruises that have an irregular shape. Easily bruising and bleeding is the 4th most common leukaemia symptom, but how does leukaemia bruising. Unmanaged, vasculitis can lead to tissue and organ death in the area surrounding the. On fair skin the patches are usually bluish or purple coloured. Modern vein treatments can now easily cure and clear these unsightly and often painful ankle veins. Red spots on skin, patches, small, tiny, pinpoint, not. Try to reduce swelling by elevating the affected leg above the level of. In this article, bruises on the legs will be discussed in details. Unexplained bruising usually appears on the arms and lower legs.
A variety of conditions can cause red blotches to develop on the legs. People with illnesses that affect the immune system, such as hiv, may develop eczema as a secondary condition. Please see a medical doctor as soon as possible to check your platelets, clotting factors, etc. If you are experiencing bruising consistently without an obvious cause, consult a physician. Feb, 2014 i have dark spots on my lower leg that look like bruises. I have unexplained bruising on lower leg and also ankle, i get a numbness in foot when running. Definition, causes, and treatment medical news today. Most bruises form when small blood vessels capillaries near the skins surface are broken by the impact of a blow or injury often on the arms or legs. Applying cold compress the size and tenderness of the bruise can be limited by applying.
Leg bruises red, purple, blue patches on legs causes. May 20, 2020 pain often accompanies bruising, and in some cases swelling may be apparent. Its a feeling of heat which lasts for a few seconds. Changes to the blood vessels because of diabetes can cause a skin condition called diabetic dermopathy. Lower leg swelling and discoloration is a common symptom, but you may also notice other issues such as itching and tingling, cramping in legs, pain that becomes worse when standing and improves when legs are elevated, varicose veins, ulcers on the ankles or. It could simply be a foot or leg thats fallen asleep, or it might be a sign of something much more serious that may require treatment by your doctor.
I have had a bruiselike pain in my lower leg and foot for a week now. Most bruises are not a cause for concern and will go away on. Lower leg redness is usually caused by inflammation, specifically dilation of blood vessels in the lower leg after some sort of damage to the leg. Symptoms include swelling in the foot, ankle, or leg usually on one side, cramping. Bruises on legs after running no external shock, etc. Bruises and blood spots under the skin cardiosmart. These spots do not go away and they seem to be increasing slowly.
1428 152 1122 467 609 1349 1456 1081 529 1407 1312 1165 1399 897 1353 152 536 1035 996 710 405 1362 996 1243 376 1182 654 401 1062 146 98 668 1020