Why are my legs pale and blotchy?
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Why are my legs pale and blotchy?
Livedo reticularis is thought to be due to spasms of the blood vessels or an abnormality of the circulation near the skin surface. It makes the skin, usually on the legs, look mottled and purplish, in sort of a netlike pattern with distinct borders. Sometimes livedo reticularis is simply the result of being chilled.
Why are my legs and feet blotchy purple?
Some possible causes of foot discoloration include injuries, Raynaud’s disease, peripheral arterial disease, and frostbite. Skin can become blue or purple due to bruising, but this color change can also indicate that not enough oxygen-rich blood is reaching the area.
What does mottled in the legs look like?
What is mottled skin? Mottled skin, also called livedo reticularis, is skin that has patchy and irregular colors. The skin may have red and purple marks, streaks, or spots. It may also have a marbled appearance with different colors.
Does poor circulation cause blotchy skin?
Mottled skin can result from poor blood circulation in the body and can be solved with just a short bath in warm water. However, mottling of the skin can also occur before death.
Why are my lower legs discolored?
You may notice that the skin on your lower legs becomes discolored or appears bruised as you age. The technical term for this is hemosiderin staining. It’s caused by a problem with the blood vessels in your legs called chronic venous insufficiency. You may need to make lifestyle changes to help fix the condition.
What deficiency causes mottled skin?
Researchers believe that mottled skin develops when there is a lack of blood flow to the skin. This may mean there is more deoxygenated blood under the skin’s surface, which is what causes the vivid web- or lace-like pattern. The medical name for this symptom is livedo reticularis.
Does mottled skin always mean death?
Does mottled skin always occur before death? Not necessarily. While mottled skin is very common, every patient is different. It is possible that mottling may not happen before death at all.
How long does a person live after mottling starts?
Skin of the knees, feet, and hands may become purplish, pale, grey, and blotchy or mottled. These changes usually signal that death will occur within days to hours.
