Blotchy skin is a fairly common condition that most people experience at some point in their lives.
The patches of discolored skin can be red, purple, or blue.
Many cases are temporary, brought on by exposure to irritating influences like the sun.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
However, serious health conditions can also cause blotchy skin.
This article outlines some of the many potential causes of blotchy skin.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
Temperature
Temperature changes can lead to changes in blood circulation in the body.
When this occurs, skin color may be altered in response to either more or less blood flow.
This happens to minimize heat loss from the body.
It can lead to changes in the skins appearance, including paleness and blue mottling.
The discoloration resolves on its own once your body warms up.
Heat Rash
Heat rashfirst appears as a pink rash consisting of tiny bumps.
It tends to occur along the neck, chest, and upper back.
Heat rash can cause pain, itching, and a pins and needles feeling.
brought on by blocked-off sweat glands, heat rash can become infected and trigger a fever.
If this happens, it’s time to call your healthcare provider.
Stress can show up on the skin in the form of acne, eczema, and hives.
Stress increases the production of cortisol, a hormone that causes inflammation.
The skin could respond by breaking out in acne or eczema.
Skin Conditions
More than 85 million Americans contend with some punch in of skin disorder.
Many of these cause skin blotchiness.
Eczema
Eczemais an umbrella term for seven different conditions that can cause inflammation and itchiness.
A dermatologist is best equipped to diagnose eczema and which bang out someone may have.
It can be tricky since they all include common symptoms like discoloration, scaly skin, and itching.
More than 30 million Americans, including many children, have some throw in of eczema.
Folliculitis
Folliculitisoccurs when a hair follicle becomes inflamed or infected.
It starts out as small, discolored bumps resembling acne.
It can be itchy and uncomfortable.
(So many people get folliculitis from hot tubs that there is a condition called hot tub folliculitis.)
There are several other types of folliculitis, too.
Some go away on their own; others require treatment by a dermatologist.
Some people even experience them as a result of exercise.
Most cases of urticaria are temporary, but they can become chronic.
Rarely, life-threatening reactions such asanaphylaxis(an allergic reaction) can occur.
Psoriasis
Psoriasisis a chronic skin disease that speeds up the growth of skin cells.
It is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the immune system attacks the body’s own skin cells.
The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but it seems to be related to the immune system.
People between the ages of 30 and 50 are at higher risk as well.
Sunburn
The inflammation and discoloration from sunburn can lead to blotchy skin.
This change in color is due to sun damage.
Excessive sun exposure without ultraviolet (UV) protection damages the skin cells and leads to accelerated skin aging.
Anyone’s skin can be damaged by the sun.
But people with lighter skin are at higher risk.
Once your skin is already irritated, sun exposure can worsen discoloration, inflammation, and pain.
Tinea Versicolor
Yeast on the skin causestinea versicolor, which is a common fungal skin infection.
It results in discolored patches on the skin, often found on the chest or back.
Oily skin can set off tinea versicolor.
It tends to be most common among adolescents and young adults.
Tinea versicolor can be stubborn, often requiring multiple applications of an antifungal or dandruff shampoo to the skin.
An oral antifungal medicine or topical cream may also help.
Explore Hereditary Factors
Blotchy skin and uneven skin tone can be resulting from conditions you inherit.
Infections
Your skin’s No.
1 job is to protect your body from disease and infection.
But some infections can seemingly outmatch the skin, at least in the short term, and cause blotchiness.
The rash usually begins as flat blotches on the skin that eventually become raised.
Symptoms of shingles include:
Shingles can also cause fever, headache, muscle pain, and vomiting.
Until the virus clears up on its own, you could manage the pain and symptoms with pain relievers.
Pregnancy
It’s common for pregnancy to change skin tone.
Changing hormones may trigger a common condition known asmelasma.
It can intensify after sun exposure.
Melasma usually fades on its own after childbirth.
Alcohol intolerance can cause skin discoloration, flushing, itching, and swelling.
Other symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, rapid pulse, low blood pressure, headache, and diarrhea.
This signals an intolerance to alcohol, which is an inherited metabolic condition.
More specifically, it means someone lacks certain enzymes that the body uses to metabolize alcohol.
Avoiding alcohol can prevent symptoms and resolve blotchiness.
Acne can also result in PIH, especially in people with darker skin tones.
Treatment
Knowing the cause of your blotchy skin is key to finding the proper treatment.
This could be a sign of an allergic reaction or an infection.
Summary
Blotchy skin is a change in skin color due to a reaction or condition.
Some of the causes, like cold weather exposure, can be avoided.
Others, like psoriasis and rosacea, can’t.
See a dermatologist if blotchiness recurs without an obvious cause, worsens, or doesn’t go away.
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Seattle Childrens Hospital.Heat rash.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Stress: Is it a common eczema trigger?
American Academy of Dermatology.New study shows significant economic burden of skin disease in the United States.
National Eczema Association.An overview of the different types of eczema.
National Eczema Association.What is eczema?
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Hives defined.
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National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriasis.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Phototherapy for psoriasis.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is rosacea causing your red, irritated skin?
Skin Cancer Foundation.Sunburn & your skin.
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In: StatPearls [Internet].
Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482500/
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Medline Plus.Skin pigmentation disorders.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of scarlet fever.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: Diagnosis and treatment.
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American Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101 in Adults: When to seek medical treatment.
