However, serious health conditions can also cause blotchy skin. This article outlines some of the many potential causes of blotchy skin. They include skin conditions like eczema and rosacea, infections like scarlet fever and shingles, temperature exposure, stress, pregnancy, and more.
The main cause is dermatitis, which is when your skin reacts to allergens or irritants. Bacteria, viruses, allergens and conditions including eczema, hives, and psoriasis can be the source of skin rashes. A variety of treatments can relieve your symptoms and get rid of the rash.
See your health care provider if: The discolored, mottled skin doesn't go away with warming. You have discolored, mottled skin along with other symptoms that concern you. Painful lumps develop in the affected skin.
Skin lesions associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes. Cutaneous lesions that do not respond to conventional therapy can be an indication of vitamin B12 deficiency. Malabsorption is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitiligo (vit-ih-LIE-go) is a disease that causes loss of skin color in patches. The discolored areas usually get bigger with time. The condition can affect the skin on any part of the body. It can also affect hair and the inside of the mouth.
Autoimmune and connective tissue disorders that can lead to mottled skin include: Dermatomyositis. Fibromyalgia. Lupus.
Blotchiness and uneven skin tone can be due to many factors including sun exposure and heredity. You may see red, white or dark patches on your skin. These blotchy patches of skin may become more visible when dead surface skin is not regularly exfoliated.
Anemia rashes appear as itchy skin or tiny red dots under your skin called petechiae. The rashes are symptoms of iron deficiency anemia and aplastic anemia. Both types of anemia can be serious, but they are very treatable.
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.
Severe mottling of the skin can indicate poor circulation as well as other causes. One possible disease is Livedo reticularis. This affects not just the extremities, but also the trunk. The constriction of the vessels is reduced when one moves from cold air or cold water into warm spaces.
Various illnesses, such as mononucleosis, chickenpox, sixth disease, and measles, can cause viral rashes. A viral rash may appear as small bumps, blisters, or patches in various parts of the body. The rash typically goes away once the illness has run its course.
Treating blotchy skin involves identifying the underlying cause, whether it's environmental, related to skin conditions, or exacerbated by lifestyle factors. Implementing a gentle skincare routine, protecting the skin from sun damage, and consulting a healthcare provider for persistent issues are effective strategies.
People may have a reddish purple rash of tiny dots or larger splotches, caused by bleeding from small blood vessels in the skin. If the liver function has been impaired for a long time, people may itch all over.
Leukemia rashes appear as tiny red spots or purple areas that do not fade when pressed; these are caused by low platelet levels and the rupture of very small blood vessels in the skin. These spots are also known as petechiae or purpura, depending on their size.
Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes a rash with itchy, scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp. Psoriasis is a common, long-term (chronic) disease with no cure. It can be painful, interfere with sleep and make it hard to concentrate.
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.
Some research has shown that a vitamin D deficiency may be connected with several skin conditions, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, the latter an allergic reaction that comes with an itchy, scaly rash, usually on your face, elbows, and knees.
If vitamin B12 deficiency is left untreated, it can cause lasting side effects that affect the nervous system and brain. More severe side effects of vitamin B12 deficiency include: Peripheral neuropathy. Degeneration of the spinal cord.
Symptoms of iron deficiency include skin changes such as rashes, pigmentation, bruising, and nail discoloration. In addition, many people are diagnosed with type IV diabetes because of an iron deficiency. Anemia can also cause headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.
Rash (purpura).
Reddish-purple spots that look like bruises develop on the buttocks, legs and feet. The rash can also appear on the arms, face and trunk and may be worse in areas of pressure, such as the sock line and waistline.
Body temperature: If you have a high body temperature at night, you could have itchy skin. Dry skin: Your body loses moisture at night, which can make your skin itchy. Hormonal changes: At night, your body doesn't produce as many hormones as it does during the day and certain hormones reduce inflammation (swelling).
A new, widespread rash can be a sign of a more severe issue. If the rash spreads quickly, it could be an allergic reaction. But rashes that spread slowly should also be examined. Some viral infections and other conditions may involve a full-body rash.
Autoimmune diseases associated with rashes include psoriasis, lupus, Sjögren's disease, vasculitis, dermatomyositis, and bullous pemphigoid. In many cases, rashes are an outward sign of internal inflammation and are often the first sign of an autoimmune disease.
Takeaway. If you notice patches of blotchy, discolored skin that concern you, discuss it with your health care provider or a Banner Health specialist who can pinpoint the cause and guide you on the best ways to manage it. Mottled skin can be alarming to see but is usually harmless and temporary.