Burn like discoloration on had

[Norville]

Two weeks ago a discoloration appeared on the back of my left hand. It is located primarily on the backs of my fingers from just above the hand knuckles to just below the first knuckle of the fingers. It also appears on the thumb's webbing.
It began as a purplish, bruise-like color changing to a red and is now a dark brown color, like a dark tan. It does not itch. Occasionaly when I wash my hands there is a slight tingling but no real sensation difference at the site.
It is not a rash, no bumps, just the odd discoloration.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Dr_Aparna]

Hi,
This could be a condition called Lichen planus.Lichen planus is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and the oral mucosa, and presents itself in the form of lesions or rashes.
The typical rash of lichen planus is well-described by the "5 P's": well-defined pruritic(itches), planar, purple, polygonal papules. The commonly affected sites are near the wrist and the ankle. The rash tends to heal with prominent blue-black or brownish discoloration that persists for a long time.
The presence of cutaneous lesions is not constant and may wax and wane over time. A biopsy is useful in identifying histological features that help differentiate lichen planus from these conditions.
Medicines used to treat lichen planus include:Oral and topical steroids,Oral retinoids, immunosuppressant medications, hydroxychloroquine, tacrolimus, dapsone.
Clinical experience suggests that Lichen planus of the skin alone is easier to treat as compared to one which is associated with oral and genital lesions.
ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen_planus
It is better to get it physically examined and diagnosed accurately before treatment is initiated.

[Norville]

The thing is, the discoloration is not raised at all. There are neither bumps nor plaques. Also, it does not itch. It's just a splotchy patch on the back of my hand. It seems to be some sort of hyperpigmentation. My kids desribe it as "old skin" by this I think they are talking about age / liver spots. The patch is approximately 2 inches wide by 3/4 of on inch high with extensions running up the insides of each finger on the left hand and the thumb webbing.
Thank you for the assistance.