What could this be on my leg (with pic)

[snowgirl1]

In the last couple of weeks red marks have developed on my lower legs - does anyone have any ideas on what it might be and if there's anything I can do to get rid of it? I'm going on holiday in 10 days.

I had dry flat circular patches on my legs before - just thought they were chicken pox scars. There seems like there's a lot more of these and they're red.

Do they itch at all? Are they raised?

No, not itchy and they're flat, but feel dry/scaly.

They look like when I had mild lichen plants. The info says specific areas but I had patches on my hands and some on legs. If you google it prepare for some yuck images but the marks do look similar to the ones I had!

Lol
Lichen planus!!! Not plants!

@motortroll thanks for the suggestion - I've googled lichen planus (but avoided images!). What treatment did you use and did it work??

Just a steroid cream.

Worked but slowly! Took weeks rather than days.

I've had lichen planus too and it's a funny bugger, steroids slowed the progress down for me but didn't get rid of it, in time it just stopped spreading but I've been left with marks unfortunately. It seemed to just run a course and burnt itself out. If the over the counter stuff like H45 doesn't work it's worth a trip to the GP as you can get stronger creams like Elocon or Protopic.

Mine seemed to spring up following two beach summer holidays in succession (yes spoilt) where I got a LOT of suntan/sunburn on the area, and my pet theory is that that's what triggered it so I'd make sure to use a good sunblock on it.

It looks a bit like guttate psoriasis but I don't think that would only be on one leg. Mine is usually worse on my torso. It's triggered by strep throat so if you had a sore throat s few weeks ago that's worth looking into.

Hmm, no sore throat - but it's not only on one leg, it's on both legs. And, I think, on both arms but just disguised by a bit of a tan. Not on my torso or anywhere else.

DH has got some Elocon so I'm going to be diligent in applying that and see if that helps.

Guttate Psoriasis

www.dermnetnz.org/topics/guttate-psoriasis-images/

I am a consultant dermatologist.

They are not typical for lichen planus or guttate psoriasis.

The likeliest cause is flat basal cell papillomas. They are usually seen on the lower leg and on the arms below the elbow. They are harmless but permanent. Sometimes they show up more after the use of fake tan/self tan products.

I suggest lots of moisturiser.

Usual caveat that full accuracy requires examination in person.

@DermatologyDoc thank you! Actually, I used fake tan (and don't usually) a couple of weeks ago so your comment is spot on. Lots of moisturizer it is then.