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What Causes Purple Discoloration Of Leg?
Question: My leg has turned purple. I had a discoloration for about 3 years on the same location, but the last 2 days it has turned into a nasty bruise which is spreading. How serious is this?
I am a mild diabetic
I am a mild diabetic
Brief Answer:
Increasing without injury- workup necessary
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. It seems you have had senile purpura for some time. This has led to RBC coming out of blood vessel and leading onto pigmentation of skin. This is due to skin thinning, leading on to microvascular damage below skin.
2. Its common in the elderly and can be reduced using skin pads at contact or maximum bruise or easily getting damaged areas. Also good hydration and skin moisturizer will help.
3. Increasing bruise size could be due to recent doing rubbing or mild injury. Not to be worried.
However, if the size keeps on increasing with adequate protection or if there is any bleeding at any location, then a hemostasis profile would be required.
Get a bleeding time, platelet count, prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time, if you have any further changes.
Control blood sugar within normal range. Any fever or bleeding, you might need to meet your doctor. Until then, not to worry.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Increasing without injury- workup necessary
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. It seems you have had senile purpura for some time. This has led to RBC coming out of blood vessel and leading onto pigmentation of skin. This is due to skin thinning, leading on to microvascular damage below skin.
2. Its common in the elderly and can be reduced using skin pads at contact or maximum bruise or easily getting damaged areas. Also good hydration and skin moisturizer will help.
3. Increasing bruise size could be due to recent doing rubbing or mild injury. Not to be worried.
However, if the size keeps on increasing with adequate protection or if there is any bleeding at any location, then a hemostasis profile would be required.
Get a bleeding time, platelet count, prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time, if you have any further changes.
Control blood sugar within normal range. Any fever or bleeding, you might need to meet your doctor. Until then, not to worry.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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