Dark Spots on Legs
Our skin's appearance tells a real story for many of us. Any type of discoloration normally can have a variety of different physiological causes, and should be diagnosed by a skilled dermatologist.
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Solar Lentigos
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Solar lentigos are the result of damage to our skin's melanocytes, which are the epidermal cells that produce melanin. When those cells take in too much sun exposure, whatever melanin we have in our skin will develop hyperpigmentation (brown spots).
Skin Cancer
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Brown spots that appear on areas exposed to sunlight can be caused by hyperpigmentation but also can indicate skin cancer. The most common type of skin cancer, according to www.medicinenet.com is basal cell carcinoma, occurring in more than 90 percent of the cases.
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Melanoma
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Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that aggressively and quickly spreads to different organs of the body. With melanomas, the skin lesion will have uneven borders to it and appear asymmetrical. Occasionally, there might also be some bleeding of the lesion itself.
Kaposi's Sarcoma
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Kaposi's sarcoma is another type of malignancy that often goes hand in hand with HIV or AIDS. It presents as dark spots on the skin (legs and groin, among other places) and can often be painfully swollen. According to the American Cancer Society, HIV/AIDS is the most common cause of Kaposi's sarcoma within the United States.
Common Diagnostic Procedures
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According to the Mayo Clinic, the two most common diagnostic procedures for various skin discolorations are either visual skin inspection or a skin biopsy. A skin biopsy is often done under local anesthetic.
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