Spots on shins

[Susan615]

Hello!
  I am new to this forum but not new to medhelp.  I have used this site for other health questions and found it very useful.  Now I have a question and I am wondering if it is a dermatology question and I thought maybe some of you could help.
Last August I noticed a dime size bruise like mark on the front of my shin.  I thought I just  hit it on something but then it never went away.  To make a long story short that spot is now larger than a quarter and I have several more around it.  They are all kind of a bruised color on a regular basis but when I get out of the shower they are all very bright pink looking.  I have a very large spot appearing on the back of my calf now.  It is faint during the day but again is bright pink when I get out of the shower.  It is maybe tennis ball size.  My shins feel slightly achy a lot and sometimes I have very bad restless leg syndrome feelings.  Like I want to strectch out my legs.
I cannot seem to relate this to any allergic reaction and they do not look like any other marks I have on my legs like varicose veins or spider veins.  They are flat...they do not itch.
I do have a thyroid problem (have almost all my life) and have been recently diagnosised with insulin resistance.  Those are really my only health problems.  I am somewhat overweight but have been for a while so ti is not like a sudden thing.  I am active and other wise healthy.  I have had mono in the recent past and actually had a staff infection on my sinuses but really I am pretty healthy.  I have had severe fatigue but I have very low vit. D levels.
Anyone had this kind of thing?  Should I ask my doctor?  I was kind of thinking it was nothing but now it is becoming noticable to others and they keep saying what happened to my leg.  It just looks like I have several bruises.
Any ideas would be great and thinks for reading my post!!
Susan

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
For such spots, it can be due to nummular dermatitis or psoriasis or due to lichen planus. Lichen planus is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and the oral mucosa, and presents itself in the form of papules(flat spots) or rashes. It is an itchy papular eruption characterized by its violaceous color
Treatment is available only on prescription and consists mainly of steroids, retinoids, hydroquinone and phototherapy.
I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[Susan615]

Forgot to add they are most prominent when I am standing or have been standing for a long time but you can see them all the time.