Skin spots and discoloration: what's going on?

So, I noticed a few days ago that there's this little brown spot sitting about a couple of centimeters above my belly button, maybe around 4mm wide. It's just sort of a light brown circle—does anyone actually have a clue what that might be?

I noticed this red patch on my back after hitting the hot springs. It started fading out on its own, but then I went back in the pool and now it’s spread out and looks a bit raised. The edges are bright red while the center is lighter. It gets itchy every now and then.

Any idea what I'm looking at here? You can rule out an infection or a chlorine allergy.

I've dealt with similar spots before if I happened to shower multiple times a day for some reason, but those usually cleared up in a day or two. This time, it's been three weeks straight. I have a feeling the water is triggering it, but I still haven't figured out what it actually is or how to fix it because it looks terrible and I'm worried about it spreading further.

Have you ever gone through allergy testing specifically for chlorine?
I’m not entirely sure why we would just rule that out completely, right?

From what I can tell, though—and this is just my take—it looks like contact dermatitis. It could be an allergic reaction, or maybe just simple irritation.
Honestly, showering multiple times a day isn't helping at all; it'll probably just create this endless loop where things actually end up getting worse.
You should definitely see a dermatologist—and in the meantime, I'd suggest staying away from pools and avoiding any harsh shampoos or cosmetics (like heavily scented lotions or perfumes) that might aggravate it, even if we aren't 100% certain yet.

Samuel Morgan40 said:Have you ever gone through allergy testing specifically for chlorine?
I’m not entirely sure why we would just rule that out completely, right?

From what I can tell, though—and this is just my take—it looks like contact dermatitis. It could be an allergic reaction, or maybe just simple irritation.
Honestly, showering multiple times a day isn't helping at all; it'll probably just create this endless loop where things actually end up getting worse.
You should definitely see a dermatologist—and in the meantime, I'd suggest staying away from pools and avoiding any harsh shampoos or cosmetics (like heavily scented lotions or perfumes) that might aggravate it, even if we aren't 100% certain yet.

Nah, I haven't, but I was hitting the pools all summer and nothing happened. Maybe they're dumping extra chemicals into the indoor ones.

Anyway, it sucks... I've got a few more small spots popping up. I can't get to a dermatologist for another week because I'm stuck at school. I'll try to sort out a referral and head to a clinic here in Washington, D.C. if that's an option.

If anyone else has an idea what this could be or has dealt with this, please weigh in...

It might be atopic dermatitis. It usually clears up in kids, but for adults, it tends to stick around. My sister deals with it and uses A-Derma products—it really helped clear her skin up. Of course, she has to stay consistent with them. There’s a specific wash and then a moisturizer for after you shower. You should definitely see a dermatologist, though. The creams will run you about $83 total.

That’s all I know, so hopefully it helps 👍

Pityriasis rosea isn't nearly as scary as it looks 🙂 Thanks for all the input guys!

So, I’ve been dealing with this spot on my face for a while now... basically, I had a massive pimple a bit ago, and I ended up squeezing it during PE class. Now, instead of a pimple, I’ve just got this dark mark sitting right where it was, and it’s been sticking around way longer than it should. It doesn't actually hurt or anything, but it looks pretty crappy, and honestly, it's driving me nuts because I'm naturally pretty pale and this thing just stands out like a sore thumb. -.- I really don't feel like going to the doctor for it, though, because they'll probably just order a bunch of tests to investigate it, and I really don't need that headache right now—I need to stay focused on finishing up school.☕

I'm posting a photo of something on my skin. It looks a bit like a scab, but it isn't really raised—it just feels rough when you run your finger over it.
Also, whenever I try applying any kind of cream, the area turns twice as red and looks much more "bloody," even though nothing is actually bleeding or anything. Does anyone know what this could be?

I don't have any cats, dogs, or pets. This spot hasn't changed at all for about two weeks now.



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Jesse Wilson17 said:I'm posting a photo of something on my skin. It looks a bit like a scab, but it isn't really raised—it just feels rough when you run your finger over it.
Also, whenever I try applying any kind of cream, the area turns twice as red and looks much more "bloody," even though nothing is actually bleeding or anything. Does anyone know what this could be?

I don't have any cats, dogs, or pets. This spot hasn't changed at all for about two weeks now.



Uploaded with Imgur

Where exactly is this located? Honestly, it could easily be some kind of fungal infection. You really need to go see a dermatologist because it’s tough to tell what you're dealing with in person, let alone through a damn photo. Could be psoriasis too; there's plenty of stuff out there that presents like this.

wiredcanyon2 said:Where exactly is this located? Honestly, it could easily be some kind of fungal infection. You really need to go see a dermatologist because it’s tough to tell what you're dealing with in person, let alone through a damn photo. Could be psoriasis too; there's plenty of stuff out there that presents like this.

It’s on my calf (the muscle underneath the knee). The spot isn't moving—it’s not growing or shrinking at all. I doubt it's psoriasis; if it were, my whole body would probably be acting up by now. :/

Get to a doctor right away!!! You really shouldn't mess around with stuff like this!

Anyone else got a better take on this?

Could be contact dermatitis, an allergy, some kind of fungal infection... 🤷 How long has this been going on?

It’s been maybe a week or two, just noticed it by accident. Nothing was ever there before, but now there's this thing—it looks totally round, like a little circle about half an inch wide.

Just hang tight for a little bit longer. If it doesn't start backing off, go see a doctor.

Look, there’s no way to give you a straight answer until a doctor actually gets their eyes on it and runs some tests—maybe a swab or whatever else they deem necessary. Honestly, given where this is located, a fungal infection is a super easy call. But psoriasis comes in all sorts of different flavors and doesn't even have to cover your whole body; sometimes it shows up in a differential diagnosis alongside dermatophytosis (you know, those fungal skin issues), meaning it can look identical to a basic skin infection. Contact dermatitis could also be doing the trick... It’s a massive list of possibilities, so your best bet is just to go see a dermatologist.

I mean, look at Jesse Wilson17 and how they're just guessing at all these answers... honestly, you’d probably get a much better response if you just went and talked to an actual doctor! I guess if you're finding it that difficult to actually make an appointment with a physician, then maybe there isn't much point in worrying about it in the first place... just let it go!

To looks quite a bit like ringworm to me. I actually dealt with a similar spot on my lower leg once after coming into contact with a cat that had it. You don't necessarily need to have a pet at home to catch it; it could have just been a neighborhood cat or dog brushing against you, or perhaps you were petting someone else's pet and ended up with a little scratch. It really isn't anything to lose sleep over. My suggestion would be to check in with a doctor so they can prescribe an antifungal cream—if memory serves, something like Lamisil—and then you just apply it once or twice a day, continuing for a few days even after the symptoms seem to have cleared up.

Of course, I'm just basing this on how the photo looks, so I can't say for certain that's what it is. Either way, please do see a doctor so they can get you some proper medication. There's no need to panic.☕

Thomas Roberts9 said:To looks quite a bit like ringworm to me. I actually dealt with a similar spot on my lower leg once after coming into contact with a cat that had it. You don't necessarily need to have a pet at home to catch it; it could have just been a neighborhood cat or dog brushing against you, or perhaps you were petting someone else's pet and ended up with a little scratch. It really isn't anything to lose sleep over. My suggestion would be to check in with a doctor so they can prescribe an antifungal cream—if memory serves, something like Lamisil—and then you just apply it once or twice a day, continuing for a few days even after the symptoms seem to have cleared up.

Of course, I'm just basing this on how the photo looks, so I can't say for certain that's what it is. Either way, please do see a doctor so they can get you some proper medication. There's no need to panic.☕

Yeah, I'm with you there. Ringworm is a solid possibility. The culprit is usually the Microsporum canis fungus that cats carry around, though most fungal skin infections tend to have that classic red ring with a lighter center. But hey, clinical presentations aren't always textbook, so who knows...

My doctor just put me on Afloderm twice a day for the next week. We'll see where this goes...

Any thoughts?