dark, speckled pigmentation on upper leg/ back (hyperpigmentation?)

[evies]

I have a very large brown spot on my left outer upper thigh and curving

around to one side of my lower back. It's not one single brown spot, but a

bunch of brown speckles all over. It's very uneven in tone. My leg looks

normal colored between the brown spots, but the brown spots are all over

the area. This developed when I was a kid and hasn't gone away since. When I was much younger a doctor told me it

was a fungus. A doctor who looked at more recently said it was not a fungus and that I should talk to a

dermatologist about removing it, since thats what I want to do. I think

it may have spread out some over the years, as it now covers a large surface

area. Do you know what this could be? How can I remove it? Any suggestions

would be appreciated, thanks.

[Evagelia74]

my legs look exactly like your picture did it go away? and what did u use?

[samurai5607]

my daughter had 3 light brown lacey like patches on her lower legs and back of knee. Another just appeared on her belly. She is VERY FAIR.  The ones on her legs have been there for quite a while.  Any idea what this could be? She sees a neurologist for migraines. any link? Just wondering if I should call her or get a dermotologist. My daughter is 13 years old.

[Brenda712]

Hi:

I was search the internet regarding color change on my upper legs. It loks simular to the picture you show...except I only have it on both legs and only on the top. After reading m mind is somewhat at ease....just yesterday I was telling my older sister I think it may be from stopping my hormones.....never saw this prior to stopping. I stopped taken them only about six months ago. I am still interested in finding out more. Anything will be of help. Thank you for your time in advance.

Fondly,
Brenda

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi.

One differential that comes to mind here is ashy dermatoses  which is common in Asians and those with Hispanic origins. Is this applicable in your case?
Ashy dermatoses may present as "oval, polycyclic, or irregularly shaped, gray-blue hyperpigmented macules on the trunk, the arms, the face, and the neck."

Source:http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic132.htm#Multimediamedia1

This type of skin condition is benign and may be treated medically. At this point, this is only  a differential. Your dermatologist may opt for a skin biopsy if this is necessary. However, at this point the cause of the skin condition has to be ascertained first for the proper management to be given.

[evies]

Hi, Thanks for answering.
There are no similar discolored skin areas anywhere else. There are no signs or symptoms associated with it, although I think it has maybe itched a few times but nothing major.
Does the fact that I think it's grown a bit over the years mean anything? It wasn't present at birth, it randomly appeared when I was a kid, maybe like 7 or so. Around that same time I do remember having some brown color appear on my neck - it looked like dirt but wouldn't come off. A doctor prescribed me something to put on it and it went away. The one on my leg did not go away, though. I don't know if the two were related or not.

If it is something congenital, like you said, do you think I can get it removed?
Whatever it is, it's possible to remove it (with lasers, etc.), right??

Thanks for your help.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi.

This seems like a skin hyperpigmentation. At this point, I can not really give an exact differential as this may be something congenital that is, it is something present at birth. Are there similar discolored skin areas in the body? Any associated signs and symptoms like a burning pain, neurologic deficits like weakness and visual symptoms?

A dermatologist may be able to help you with this. Without any associated signs and symptoms this may be a superficial skin condition.

The management of this skin discoloration may depend on the underlying cause.