Any change in your skin that differs from your natural skin tone is skin discoloration. Areas of discolored skin can range in color from red, purple, pink, tan, and brown to back and blue. While many causes of skin discoloration, like birthmarks, are harmless, some cases of skin discoloration El Paso may be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires diagnosis and treatment.

Varicose veins and spider veins are common causes of discolored skin. Besides skin discoloration, one may have swelling, muscle aches, and pain. Below are several other possible causes of skin discoloration.

Birthmarks

These discolored skin spots or patches develop at birth or shortly afterward. Birthmarks are typically harmless and don’t require treatment unless they cause pain or become bothersome. There are different types of birthmarks, but the most common ones include the following:

• Moles. Moles can appear on the skin at birth, ranging in color from brown, black, or tan to purple, red, and blue. Some moles may take the color of your skin. In most cases, moles are harmless and not a cause for concern, but you should get checked by a healthcare professional if the mole changes in shape and size.
• Salmon patches. Red or pink-colored patches can form on a baby’s face or neck, but they tend to fade away by ages one to three without treatment.
• Port-wine mark. These flat patches appear dark purple or violet-red on darker skin tones and pink or red on lighter skin tones. They occur due to swollen or enlarged blood vessels beneath the skin.
• Dermal melanocytosis. These blue spots or patches can appear on the backs of babies and young children, especially those of Asian descent. The spots are harmless and often fade away gradually.
• Strawberry nevus. This red birthmark often occurs in infants and young children but usually fades by age 10.

Rashes and allergies

Discolored skin patches in various body areas may result from allergic reactions to plants, foods, or irritants. These changes may appear as raised bumps or rashes that are itchy or burning and can occur with the following.

• Eczema. Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a chronic condition where an immune reaction attacks the skin, causing dry, scaly, and itchy patches on the skin. Moisturizing creams and ointments can help alleviate the signs and symptoms of eczema.
• Contact dermatitis. This is another type of allergic skin rash that develops when you come into contact with anything that irritates your skin – it might be metals, clothing, fragrances, or skin care products.

Medical conditions

Normally, the immune system works to keep the body healthy by fighting off harmful agents that can cause disease. But in people with autoimmune disease, the body’s defense system mistakes healthy cells for something foreign and attacks the cells. The result is inflammation throughout the body, resulting in symptoms like redness and swelling.

If your skin discoloration is due to a vascular disorder, visit your healthcare provider at Desert West Vein & Surgery Center for treatment to improve your quality of life.