Flat brown patch on hand

[oceanstwo]

Anyone have any idea? It's about 1.5cm across, an oval shape and is very light brown (am white skinned - it's lighter than all my freckles/moles but darker than my skin). It doesn't itch or bleed and is totally flat against the skin. Not scaly: you wouldn't notice it but for the pigmentation. It's just below my middle knuckle. I think I've got a much smaller patch of the same type of thing on the side of another knuckle.

Am only 30 so don't think it could be a liver spot...?

Do you take the contraceptive pill or other hormone? These skin pigment changes are noted in the side effects, I have a couple too.

No but I recently had a miscarriage followed by getting pregnant again. Could it be from that?

Hmm not sure but possible I guess. Just mention it to the midwife next time you go if it's still growing or worrying you. Mine has stayed at the sane size as you and is less noticeable when I have a suntan (ie it doesn't also get darker in the sun but the rest of my skin colour catches up)

Yep that sounds similar. Will ask: it's just really ugly...

Have just googled melasma/chloasma and it seems to occur on the face. My face is fine: it's just my hands. Is it possible to get this on your hands?

Also it doesn't look like a 'mole' or a 'freckle' - it looks like part of my skin has got slightly more tanned than the skin next to it - like a small area of suntan hasn't faded.

Sounds exactly like mine and mine is on the inside of my forearm.

30 isn't too young for a first 'liver spot'

Fantastic - thanks both. Really helpful (and depressing about the liver spots!!).

Pregnancy can cause weirdy melanin changes anywhere...I have a patch below one of my boobs actually (like you needed to know that) which came up when I was pg 5 years ago and has never gone away.

It sounds the same - just slightly darker skin than the rest. I also got that butterfly mask thing you get in pregnancy last time, a bit, but that always fades thankfully.

Hi I've had these on my neck, the doctor said that it's like a fungal infection (eww I know!) gave me some tablets and it cleared up, I'll let you know what it's called when I've found the box

Crikey. That sounds like something else though...surely a fungal infection would itch? And wouldnt last for several years without altering at all?

Well I'm going to see a dermatologist tomorrow so will hopefully get some answers then.

No it doesn't itch, I just thought it was a change in skin pigment until one of my friends had it and pointed it out for me then I went to the doctor it's called tinea versicolor/pityriasis versicolor

Well it turns out I have warts. Lovely.

The patch is apparently ever so slightly raised, and my dermatologist found other smaller patches all over my hand. Nothing to worry about (apart from looking very ugly!) and no treatment: should clear up of its own accord.

Glad to have an answer but now feel a bit like a witch ;)