Skin that loses sensation and turn red/purple when cold

[skydogda]

Ok, this is under birthmarks since I have had it since birth, but not really a birthmark.It is probably more of a capillary function. The condition I have is something that I have never known a name for even though I have been to a dermatologist and researched online.
First, almost exclusively on the left side of my body, I have patches where the skin is slightly lighter than my usually tan skin. More noticable after working out or getting a deep tan, there is a line down my forehead, the left side of my neck and spots on the left side of my arm/stomach/back. When working out my skin gets flushed but these spots do not, and same with tanning, they don't hardly* tan w/o tanning oils and sunblocking regular areas.
Second, my left leg starting with the calf down has a red birthmark like appearance of the left side starting gradually but becoming most red in the foot region. My leg blanches when pressure is applied and if I lift my leg high will turn mostly white again. The most annoying thing is that it is extremely sensitive to cold, my left foot/knee/elbow gets cold VERY easily, becoming purple and then numb. When turning cold, it starts red (except for my left foot which is always red) turns purple mottled and then gets numb. When I get cold it's only these areas, (left elbow, knee and foot) but I end up being more 'cold natured' bc of it. (Which is also really annoying). Anything you can tell me would be great...Just looking for some more information on what causes this.
Thanks!

[skydogda]

Thank you so much for your response and further inquiry. I am a 27 year old male with no other health problems to date. I am in almost perfect health, with a great metabolism and have always had a great immune system. No history of skin disease in my family, only my mother has some whittish splottchy spots on her legs. I was a light smoker very shortly for a 2 years. The 'symptoms' have been since birth, and when I get cold it is happens rather quickly, depending on the coldness. For instance my left arm which appears rather normal starts by getting splotchy red and then if colder splotchy purple.
I have had multiple check ups but have never gotten any of my vascular system evaluated.
My pulses are present  in the left and normal and I have never been diagnosed with any of above metioned conditions. Also, upon really noticing the condition, my skin does turn red rather (get blushed quicker than most)  easily but not in an extreme manner. Maybe pictures in the varying degrees would help? I know it sounds weird but I don't know if anyone else has ever had this particular condition. I have researched quite a bit and never heard of it.

[Jasmina Jankicevic, MD, MSc, CCRP]

Welcome to the Dermatology Expert Forum!

Congenital, unilateral (left), hypomelanotic lesions, mostly linear and probably following Blaschko lines, and possible related with symptomatology  you described on left leg and arm (elbow) require detailed evaluation to reduce a list of possible diagnoses to the final one.  It is obviously related to vascular disorder and peripheral neuropathy.

We might be able to give you more focused answer if you provide more details:

1. How old are you?
2. Are you a male?
3. Do you have other health issues of any sort? Any autoimmune disease?
4. Do your parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters of yours and theirs have/had skin diseases and/or other health issues?
5. Are/Were you a smoker?
6. When did left leg and arm (elbow) related symptoms started?
7. Did those changes develop instantly or gradually?
8. Was your peripheral circulation, arterial, venous and lymphatic ever evaluated? What was found?
9. Are your brachial (for arm) and femoral (for leg) pulses present/normal?
10. Have you been investigated for or diagnosed with arteriosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia?


Wishing You Optimal Health,
Dr. Jasmina Jankicevic