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No Ads. Claudia Gambrah-Lyles, MD. Resident at Children Hospital of Philadelphia. Jeffrey M. Last updated November 24, Heart Icon. Speech Bubble Icon. Share Icon. Share Facebook Icon. LinkedIn Icon. Pinterest Icon. Pocket Icon. Share Link Icon. Copied to clipboard.
Table of Contents. Lower leg rash questionnaire Use our free symptom checker to find out what's causing your rash. Rashes on the lower legs explained Rashes are dermatologic conditions that can affect the color, texture, and even sensation of the skin.
Common characteristics of rash on one lower leg are The following characteristics will likely be present if you are experiencing this symptom.
Along with scratching, symptoms may include: Fever Joint pain Weight loss Fatigue Bruising Rashes on the lower legs can be a signal of conditions that range from benign to life-threatening. What causes a rash on the calves, shins, or ankles? Dermatologic The majority of rashes on the legs are dermatologic in nature. Inflammatory Most causes of rash are inflammatory in nature.
Infectious: The skin is home to a bacterium known as Staphylococcus aureus. Although it is a normal component of the skin flora, it is the leading cause of human bacterial infection and can result in redness and irritation superficially on the body. This type of skin infection is called cellulitis. Staphylococcus aureus can enter the skin via small lesions or cuts and result in painful, red, swollen areas on the skin.
Other types of bacteria, fungi, and viruses can also cause such infections; however, Staphylococcus aureus is the most common.
Autoimmune: Many inflammatory diseases that result in the body attacking itself can result in chronic inflammation that commonly manifests as a rash on different parts of the body, including the lower extremities. Systemic Rashes in the lower legs may be a sign of an underlying, systemic condition.
There are many illnesses that can also cause itching and they can be grouped into the following categories: Metabolic: Conditions such as diabetes and thyroid disease that affect the metabolic homeostasis of the body can result in rashes of the lower leg as well as other parts of the body. Hematologic: Blood conditions such as anemia and leukemia can cause specific rashes on the lower legs and be associated with symptoms such as fatigue and weight loss.
Neurologic: Conditions that affect the nervous system such as shingles and diabetes can also result in rashes or itching of the lower extremities and other parts of the body. Environmental There are many environmental causes for rashes on the lower extremities and other body parts. Allergens: The skin works primarily as a protective barrier and is very sensitive to environmental factors that cause irritation or allergic reactions. Allergens can include drugs, topical treatments such as soaps or lotions, certain fabrics or metals, plants, foods and a variety of other substances.
Itching acts as a warning or deterrent from using these irritants. Drug reactions: Many drugs can cause serious skin reactions that manifest as a rash on the lower legs. There are some drugs where rashes are a known side effect, but it is not always possible to predict how your body will react. If you believe you are having a rash from a medication, seek medical attention. Some drug reactions are potentially life-threatening. This list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have.
Non-specific dermatitis skin inflammation Nonspecific dermatitis, or contact dermatitis, simply means inflammation of the skin from many different causes. Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: red rash, itchy rash, painful rash Symptoms that always occur with non-specific dermatitis skin inflammation : red rash Urgency: Self-treatment.
Eczema atopic dermatitis Eczema atopic dermatitis is a non-contagious chronic skin condition that produces an itchy rash. Non-specific skin rash Common causes of rash are contact dermatitis, sun damage, or allergic reaction. Nonspecific rashes have widely varied symptoms: May be flat and smooth; slightly raised or with swollen welts; clean and dry; or blistered and oozing.
May spread widely over the body, or be confined to one site. May appear after eating certain foods; or after exposure to certain plants or to insect stings or bites. Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: rash Symptoms that always occur with non-specific skin rash: rash Urgency: Wait and watch Seborrheic dermatitis Seborrheic dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes flaky, white to yellowish scales to form on oily areas such as the scalp, face or inside the ear.
Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: itchy rash, red or pink, rough patch of skin, rash with well-defined border, scalp skin changes, cheek skin changes Symptoms that never occur with seborrheic dermatitis: fever Urgency: Phone call or in-person visit Pityriasis rosea Pityriasis rosea is a common skin rash and is thought to be due to a type of herpes virus.
Rarity: Rare Top Symptoms: rash, itchy rash, curved rash, rough patch with red spots around it Symptoms that always occur with pityriasis rosea: rash Symptoms that never occur with pityriasis rosea: blue-colored skin changes, black-colored skin changes, brown-colored skin changes Urgency: Self-treatment Lower leg weakness Any leg weakness is a sign of nerve damage, which is very worrisome and requires you to go see a doctor immediately!
Rarity: Uncommon Top Symptoms: lower leg weakness, foot weakness, arm weakness, loss of vision, severe pelvis pain Urgency: Hospital emergency room Chronic hepatitis c Chronic hepatitis C is a liver inflammation caused by Hepacivirus C. Diagnosis is made through blood tests. Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: fatigue, nausea, muscle aches, loss of appetite, joint pain Symptoms that never occur with chronic hepatitis c: pain in the lower right abdomen, pain in the lower left abdomen, pain in the upper left abdomen, pain around the belly button Urgency: Primary care doctor Irritant contact dermatitis Irritant contact dermatitis means a skin reaction that is caused by directly touching an irritating substance, and not by an infectious agent such as a bacteria or virus.
Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: rash with well-defined border, itchy rash, red or pink, rough patch of skin, painful rash, red rash Symptoms that always occur with irritant contact dermatitis: rash with well-defined border Symptoms that never occur with irritant contact dermatitis: fever, black-colored skin changes, brown-colored skin changes, blue-colored skin changes Urgency: Self-treatment Hives Hives, or urticaria, are flat red welts that can appear anywhere on the skin and usually itch.
Allergic contact dermatitis of the lower leg Allergic contact dermatitis is a condition in which the skin becomes irritated and inflamed following physical contact with an allergen. Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: lower leg redness, lower leg itch, scabbed area of the lower leg Symptoms that always occur with allergic contact dermatitis of the lower leg: lower leg redness Urgency: Self-treatment.
How to relieve a rash on the lower legs At-home treatment Many causes of rash on the lower leg and its associated symptoms can be stopped or prevented with simple lifestyle changes: Keep the skin adequately moisturized: Using unscented, dermatologically tested lotions and moisturizing cream on the lower leg can prevent skin dryness that can cause a rash. Avoid allergens: Take note of symptoms that occur after using or ingesting certain substances and try to avoid them.
It may be helpful to get formal allergy testing in order to be prepared and knowledgeable about your allergic triggers. On this page. A single patch or a number of patches may be present.
The edges of each patch are irregular, but distinct from the surrounding skin. Each patch grows very slowly. Only rarely are the patches sore or irritated. Age — the condition is more common in people over 40 years. Elderly women are particularly prone. Arsenic — people who are exposed to arsenic are at increased risk. Systemic immunosuppression — this is required by organ transplant recipients to prevent organ rejection.
Diagnosis of Bowen's disease Bowen's disease produces persistent red scaly patches on the skin that are not sore or itchy. Diagnosis methods include: physical examination medical history biopsy of the lesion, including laboratory examination of the tissue sample.
Treatment for Bowen's disease Treatment options include: Cryosurgery — the lesion is destroyed with intense cold. This type of treatment has a success rate of around 90 per cent when conducted by specialists. Curettage — the lesion is scraped off the skin with a curette and the base of the wound is treated with cauterisation, where the skin is lightly burnt with an electric current. It has a success rate of around 90 per cent when performed by dermatologists. Photodynamic therapy PDT — a special type of light is used to destroy the lesion.
Success rates are in the order of per cent with a specialist. Topical creams — these are applied to the lesion to kill its cells. They include 5-fluorouracil cream and Imiquimod cream.
Use sunscreen on all exposed skin, and use lip balm with sunscreen on your lips. Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside and reapply it every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.
Sunscreen is not recommended for babies under 6 months. Rather, keep them out of the sun if possible, or protect them with shade, hats, and clothing that covers the arms and legs. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Actinic keratosis Open pop-up dialog box Close. Actinic keratosis Actinic keratoses are scaly spots or patches on the top layer of skin. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Kang S, et al. Epithelial precancerous lesions.
In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology.
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