What causes brown blotchy skin?

Author: Miss Alia Bashirian III  |  Last update: Thursday, December 11, 2025

Changes in skin pigmentation can occur for many reasons, such as birthmarks, pigmentation disorders, rashes, and infections. An increase in melanin, for example, can cause darker patches to appear. Skin contains melanin, which is the pigment that gives the skin its color.

What is the disease with brown patches on skin?

Melasma is a skin condition characterized by brown or blue-gray patches or freckle-like spots. It's often called the “mask of pregnancy.” Melasma happens because of overproduction of the cells that make the color of your skin. It is common, harmless and some treatments may help.

What deficiency causes brown spots on skin?

Melasma, a common skin condition causing brown or gray patches, can be influenced by deficiencies in vitamin B12 and iron. Addressing these deficiencies through diet or supplements, along with protective measures against sun exposure, can help manage melasma.

What autoimmune disease causes brown spots on skin?

Chronic Cutaneous Lupus

Lesions most often appear on the face, ears, scalp, neck, and hands. They are usually not itchy or painful, but they may cause dark spots or scars that remain on the skin after they heal.

How do you get rid of brown blotchy skin?

Treatment
  1. Medications. Applying prescription bleaching creams (hydroquinone) alone or with retinoids (tretinoin) and a mild steroid might gradually fade the spots over several months. ...
  2. Laser and intense pulsed light. ...
  3. Freezing (cryotherapy). ...
  4. Dermabrasion. ...
  5. Microdermabrasion. ...
  6. Chemical peel.

Darkened Skin Spots: 3 Causes of Dark Spots on Skin – Dr.Berg

What do brown blotches on skin mean?

Melasma: This is a common skin condition that usually affects facial skin and causes brown patches. It affects females more often than males. Triggers of melasma can include sun exposure and hormonal changes.

What does your skin look like with Addison's disease?

Symptoms of Addison's disease include: Steadily worsening fatigue (most common symptom). Patches of dark skin (hyperpigmentation), especially around scars and skin creases and on your gums.

Why am I getting brown spots all of a sudden?

These spots can develop due to a variety of factors, including sun exposure, hormonal changes, inflammation, or underlying medical conditions.

What does skin lupus look like?

A tell-tale sign of lupus is a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and bridge of the nose. Other common skin problems include sensitivity to the sun with flaky, red spots or a scaly, purple rash on various parts of the body, including the face, neck, and arms.

Can liver disease cause brown spots skin?

Liver spots are flat, brown or black spots that can appear on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun. They have nothing to do with the liver or liver function. Lentigos, sometimes called age spots or freckles, are a result of cumulative damage to the skin by sunlight.

Can lack of B12 cause brown spots?

The deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause specific skin manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair and nail changes [1].

Can stress cause brown spots on skin?

Stress can trigger an increase in melanin production, leading to dark spots and uneven skin tone. To manage stress and reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation, it's important to practice self-care and stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, exercise and getting adequate sleep.

What does a B12 rash look like?

The allergy can be triggered by taking vitamin B12 supplements because B12 contains cobalt atoms. Cobalt allergies most often develop in people exposed to it in eye makeup, tattoos, or industrial products, causing an itchy, red, scaly rash.

How do you get rid of brown patch disease?

Apply a broad-spectrum control and prevention product like Scotts® DiseaseEX™ Lawn Fungicide. This is a quick, effective fix that lasts up to 4 weeks and also helps prevent the spread of the disease to the rest of your lawn. Be sure to follow label directions.

What is the brown skin syndrome?

Acanthosis nigricans is a condition that causes areas of dark, thick velvety skin in body folds and creases. It typically affects the armpits, groin and neck. Acanthosis nigricans (ak-an-THOE-sis NIE-grih-kuns) tends to affect people with obesity.

Does apple cider vinegar really get rid of age spots?

There's also evidence that it may help manage dry skin, acne, and age spots, among other conditions. ACV is generally safe to use, but it does come with a risk of irritation or worsening skin symptoms, especially for people with sensitive skin or skin conditions.

What does a kidney rash look like?

Rash symptoms

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), people with chronic kidney disease may have: small, dome-shaped, very itchy bumps. small bumps that have joined to form raised, rough patches. blisters on the hands, face, and feet that may crust over.

What does an autoimmune rash look like?

These rashes can appear as raised bumps, scaly patches, or blisters. Sensitivity to touch. Touching the affected area may elicit tenderness or discomfort. Spreading or changing shape.

What are brown blotches on the skin?

Age spots are caused by overactive pigment cells. Ultraviolet (UV) light speeds up the production of melanin, a natural pigment that gives skin its color. On skin that has had years of sun exposure, age spots appear when melanin becomes clumped or is produced in high concentrations.

What vitamin are you lacking if you have brown spots?

Vitamin B12 and skin

If you have a very low level of B12, you may be subject to hyperpigmentation (dark spots) on your skin, as well as to vitiligo (light patches on your skin), mouth ulcers, eczema, and acne.

What does acanthosis look like?

Acanthosis nigricans appears gradually with dark, velvety patches of skin in body creases and folds, usually in the neck, armpits, or groin. It can be found on other parts of the body, including the face, chest, elbows, knees, and knuckles. It can cause mild itching, but this is uncommon.

What disease causes bronze skin?

Hemochromatosis is a multisystemic disease with bronze discoloration of skin (due to melanin deposition) and diabetes mellitus. This disease is also referred to as bronze diabetes.

What is Cushing's disease?

(KUSH-ing dih-ZEEZ) A condition in which there is too much cortisol (a hormone made by the outer layer of the adrenal gland) in the body. In Cushing disease, this happens when an adenoma (benign tumor) in the pituitary gland makes too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

What are weird symptoms of adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal insufficiency
  • fatigue (tiredness)
  • body aches.
  • unexplained weight loss.
  • low blood pressure.
  • light headedness.
  • loss of body hair.
  • skin discolouration.

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