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Original poster

red circular patches that won't go away on legs

31 replies

WoodlandFairy · 14/06/2010 12:58

They are not itchy, they are the size of a 5p maximum size, they are flakey red patches with distinct edges. Look like the red that is left after a scab has fallen off. I had a couple, then over the last week they have increased. On both lower legs now. Probably about 10 of them?

Any ideas?

OP posts:
belgo · 14/06/2010 12:59

ring worm? which is a fungal infection I believe, rather then a worm.

rubyrubyruby · 14/06/2010 13:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
WoodlandFairy · 14/06/2010 13:01

belgo I had thought ring worm when i saw one of them. But I have had that before a long time ago, and it the distinct edges are not more defined than the rest, if that makes sense, also not growing in size. and there are more of them, thought ringworm only came up once? I am pretty certain it is not ringworm anyway, but won't rule it out.

OP posts:
jooseyfruit · 14/06/2010 13:02

sounds like ringworm

Original poster
WoodlandFairy · 14/06/2010 13:03

see, ringworm has that almost yellowness, and while this does have a definite edge, i mean it is not blending into the skin, it does not have that 'ring' around them. But it is flaking a bit like that...

OP posts:
Original poster
WoodlandFairy · 14/06/2010 13:03

so, a trip to the gp then?

how come i have lots of them then?

OP posts:
Original poster
WoodlandFairy · 14/06/2010 13:06

ooooh. DS had a fungal infection under his chin...could it be the same thing? NHS direct says fungal infections are contagious. Does that mean I could use his fungal cream?

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 14/06/2010 13:08

Discoid eczema ?

DUSTIN · 14/06/2010 13:09

You should really go and have it diagnosed by a GP. If you have a fungal infection like ringworm then you can use antifungal creams such as Canestan.

Original poster
WoodlandFairy · 14/06/2010 13:10

dustin have canestan (or generic form of it) for DS (baby) will try it.

I am pretty certain it is not ring worm though. Just not 100%

OP posts:
belgo · 14/06/2010 13:11

you should go to the doctor.

iwillmakeit · 14/06/2010 13:11

R they a bit like old chiken pox scars? If so i have loads, arms and legs. They r worse inn the sun, a good moisturiser helps. Never been to gp as mum is the same & been diagnosed with something long & complicated, to do with new zealand (in the title) sorry i cant remember the name, will check old emails and see if i can paste it to you.

If not ignore me!

PacificDogwood · 14/06/2010 13:15

Guttate ('droplike') psoriasis?

Agree discoid eczema and fungal thing also a possibility.

Let GP have a look at it.

belgo · 14/06/2010 13:16

does the flakiness stay stuck to the skin, or do they flake off?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/06/2010 13:18

It could also be pityriasis rosea. That is not a fungal infection at all; its viral in nature.

Legs are a site for these; also these can appear on your stomach and back. There is no cure for pityriasis; it will go of its own accord.

silverfrog · 14/06/2010 13:18

hmm, intriguing.

dh gets read circular-ish patches on his legs too.

he has been going ot various doctors about it for years and no oneis any the wiser.

Not fungal, apparently.

He seems to get them after taking somehting like paracetomol or similar - he doesnt take tablets very often, so quite an easy link ot make.

It is really bizarre.

Original poster
WoodlandFairy · 14/06/2010 13:22

pacificdogwood - i was just looking at guttate psoriasis before reading your post! It is the closest in how it looks, the least severe of it, and not as many, they re further spread. And it does not itch, or not very much at least. (hard to tell, need to shave my legs )

belgo it flakes off, if i pick/rub it.

Each one is not getting worse, there are just becoming greater in number.

And the odd one or two have a tiny weeny little crater, I have just noticed (but maybe I have been scratching without knowing?)

I dislike going to gp, it feels like such a stupid reason. Flaky skin.

OP posts:
Original poster
WoodlandFairy · 14/06/2010 13:25

atilla yes, that looks like it, again not as severe as some of the google photos, but the marks look the same.

like but they are a bit smaller in size and my legs are not that horrible looking

OP posts:
belgo · 14/06/2010 13:27

Yes I had the feeling that you don't like going to the GP!

It's not a stupid reason though, unusual marks on the skin do need to be checked out and properly diagnosed.

Tidey · 14/06/2010 13:29

My DP gets that too, he was just given moisturiser (Doublebase?) stuff when he went to the GP and it still hasn't cleared up. Will be interested to see if anyone has the answer.

louii · 14/06/2010 13:36

I have had pityriasis roscea and it is itchy as hell.
Would usually have one patch for a week before any others appear.

louii · 14/06/2010 13:38

Meant to say go into chemist and show pharmacist, most are pretty good with minor ailments rashes etc

Original poster
WoodlandFairy · 14/06/2010 13:45

lou i have had the first few patches for a few weeks, just thought it was an old scab tbh, am an outdoorsy kinda fairy so get bumps and scrapes a lot, but these are the same and forming a pattern, probably about 1 month since first one or two appeared, but more in the last week.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/06/2010 14:35

Woodlandfairy,

You need medical advice first and foremost and be prepared to ask for a referral to a dermatologist. This is what happened to myself, the people at the surgery did not have a clue what it was!. Was diagnosed by a derm as having pityriasis rosea but it was not typical (did not have the usual Christmas tree type pattern on back but I did have a herald patch).

My case of pityriasis appeared over the course of a few weeks as well.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/06/2010 14:36

WF

The photo you highlighted in blue in one of your posts looked just like my PR did. Am not suggesting it is actually this but it could be possible. It still needs a GP looking at it though.