ankle discoloration

Hello Dr.,

First I would like to thank you for answering questions in this forum, it is very helpful for people like me.
I am a 26 year old female and I don't have health insurance right now.  I am not taking any medications.  I have seen one doctor but I was hoping you could give me some more information. At the end of March I noticed an oddly shaped, bright red mark on my outer right ankle, about two inches by two inches.  It did not hurt or itch and the skin was not broken.  At first I thought it came from my space heater that I use, because I tend to keep my feet very close to it and the mark appeared at the spot where the hot air hits my ankle.  Over the next several weeks the mark faded to a strange gray brown pink color.   It looked something like a combination of a bruise and a scar at the same time, but it didn't hurt, and the skin looked mottled.  I continued to use my space heater and when I did the mark became very red but it still didn't hurt.  I also noticed the spidery veins on that side of my calf became more pronounced (my mother also had veins like that). I finally went to a clinic and saw a doctor (not a dermatologist) who looked at the mark but he wasn't sure what it was.  He told me there was no infection or abcess (abscess) and the veins were normal.  He told me to stop using my heater.  I forgot to ask him if he thought it could be skin cancer, but he didn't mention it either.  Since I have seen him the mark has faded quite a bit, but it's still there.    It is now more like two separate red marks that look like scars.  I still use the heater occasionally, but I'm not sure if the heater was really the cause of the mark.  I am concerned that this could be something more serious and also if I shouldn't use my heater in the cold months. Should I try to see a dermatologist?    I would greatly appreciate your help.  

Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

This sounds like erythema ab igne (Latin for "redness from fire"), a skin change brought about by exposure to heat from heaters, fireplaces, even laptops.  The skin becomes brownish-gray and discolored in a network-like pattern.  For a picture, go to:

http://www.dermnetnz.org/vascular/erythema-ab-igne.html

It isn't serious, though it may take a long time to go away, and may not disappear completely.  But I would stay farther away from the heater...

Best.

Dr. Rockoff