Question:
Brown patches on back of one leg

Hello everyone. About 2 months ago, I noticed brown patches on the back of one of my calves. My PCP checked it out and said he had no clue what it was, but it wasn't either of the thrombosis's. They don't hurt, they aren't bruises, they are just there. I didn't start to worry until they started appearing on the back of my thigh on the same leg last month. Showed my PCP again and he still had no clue but said I needed to see a dermatologist. Well, I lost medicaid as of August 31, and Mediciad doesn't pay for a dermatologist anyway. My nutritionist has no clue what they are either. I don't see my surgeon until the 26th, so I was wondering if anyone had ANY clue what these brown patches are? Thanks in advance everyone.    — crystalsno (posted on September 4, 2007)

September 4, 2007
Have you checked any of the medical sites online? I can't help you but thought you might want to look elsewhere on the web if no one posts an answer here.
   — cherub13

September 4, 2007
Yes, I did google brown patches on leg...no it isn't cancer and no it isn't diabete's...these are not brown "moles" either. It is like a square patch of brown/tannish patch about 1/2 inch to 1 inch in size.
   — crystalsno

September 5, 2007
I don't know if this is the same thing or not, but I had little skin colored to brown colored patches that started showing up on my legs about a year ago. They are slightly raised to the touch and can actually be peeled off if you want to get really detailed about it. But they always grow back. I went to a dermatologist and he tells me it is a type of mole/wart that isn't dangerous, just annoying. They can be burned off if you want to go to all that trouble. Good luck and hope you find out what it is soon. Lynn W.
   — Lynn W.

September 7, 2007
Are the brown patches raised or otherwise different from normal skin? Do you have any itching, flaking, dryness or other symptoms that go along with the dark skin? If the brown skin is "normal" then I would guess this is a result of too much melanin... hyperpigmentation, melasma, or acanthosis (google will give you some good pages to read). If the skin is abnormal or you are having other symptoms, I would tend to think of something like a fungus. Are you out in the sun a lot? If so, try long pants or frequent application of a broad spectrum 20 - 30 spf sunscreen that is reapplied frequently. There are treatments both for fungus (usually a topical cream) as well as hyperpigmentation/melasma/acanthosis (topical bleaching creams, laser treatments, etc.) Hope this is helpful.
   — mrsidknee

September 7, 2007
No, the brown patches aren't raised, nor are they itchy or hurting etc...they are even with my skin, not flaky, nor patches etc. No other symptoms. I did google brown patches and came up with the same thing you did Sid, hyperpigmentation. My question is why does it happen? No one else in my family has this. No I am not out in the sun a lot that is why I think it's weird. But thanx about the topical bleaching creams out there. If they start to bother me, I will check those out. For now I just want to make sure I'm not lacking anything even though my blood tests have come back completely within normal range.
   — crystalsno