Large dark skin patches which keep growing

Hi I wonder if anyone can help me, I have been experiencing for some years now (nearly 10) big dark brownish / redish patches of skin on my legs appear and get larger with time. Some have completely disappeared from their original position and others are forming in new areas, these range from my thighs to my feet, I have some under my knee caps currently and 2 starting to join up which will cover most of the top of my foot and ankle. They do not generally hurt or get aggrevated. I thought it maybe Cancer but they dont seem to look and feel like the description of skin cancer (and I never get my legs out in the sun !!)   :-)   never the less its really worrying me - I'm currently waiting to get through probabtion at work so that if I need treatment I can get paid for having time off sick - just wondered if anyone had any advise or experienced / seen similar occurances ??
Thanks

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be purpura, hives or vascular abnormalities. Purpura is the appearance of red or purple discolorations on the skin that do not blanch on applying pressure. The other possibility is of hives or dermatitis. Hives (medically known as urticaria) are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes. They have a tendency to change size rapidly and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in other places, often in a matter of hours.
I suggest you to get an examination done from a dermatologist and get the diagnosis confirmed as treatment is diagnosis specific.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.