red spots around ankles and lower legs

[Whatjusthapened]

Hi all

Anybody else have these. They’ve appeared on both legs. Up past the knee on one leg.

Kim 14 months post stent. I’m on Omeprazole, asprin, Bisoprolol, prasugrel and Atorvastatin.

I’m going to try and get an appointment with the gap tomorrow.

[Blearyeyed]

Have you been very hot? It looks very much like a bad heat rash, I get this and the rash has been darker since I've been on anticoagulant medications.

It could also be something else though , called petechiae or purpura.

These are similar rashes often caused by another illness producing some inflammation in the capillaries or they can happen on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications.

The way you can usually tell the difference between purpura and other rashes is that when you put a glass over it and press down the spots don't disappear or become lighter in colour.

Basically, even if it turns out to be heat rash or dermatitis you still need to get it checked by a doctor either at your GP surgery or out of hours to rule out petechiae or purpura and to do some checks or blood tests in case you need to alter the dose of your medication or need the right cream to help.

Sometimes these can be caused by low Vitamin K or Anaemia too so they will want to check in case you need some diet changes or a supplement.

Using a cool damp cloth lightly as a compress should help reduce the heat and inflammation, and keeping your legs raised will help improve the circulation whilst you wait to see the GP.

I've had petechiae a number of times usually triggered by hot weather , and I also had it when I had Anaemia. It looked worse than it felt and were cleared up pretty simply.

Hope things go ok tomorrow, Bee

[Whatjusthapened in reply to Blearyeyed]

Hi

Thanks for the reply

I tried the glass trick and they didn’t disappear. I have been away in the sun but my legs didn’t feel hot or itch as with heat rash.

It has calmed down a bit now, after a week.

Been to see Gp today. Taking blood on Monday to check platelets. 👍🏻

[bluemoon572]

I recommend consulting a dermatologist for what looks like vasculitis of the lower legs with inflammation of capillaries. There are various causes including reaction to medications&allergic reactions.

[Crumbling]

hi there, I’ve had very similar when I’ve done a lot of walking and it’s been very hot, it just disappeared after a few days and I was fine.

[Bahamasgirl]

hello. I noticed that you are taking quite a few drugs together. The anticoagulant Prasugrel combined with aspirin may be causing this. I was on apixaban and had a similar problem. Why do you take Omeprazole? I use digestive enzymes for acid reflux, less side effects. Best wishes to you 😊

[Whatjusthapened in reply to Bahamasgirl]

Thanks for the reply.

I will look into the digestive enzymes. 👍🏻

[pete109]

I was on Ramipril for around a year then suddenly a rash like yours appeared on both lower arms and then on both lower legs then appeared on abdomen and started spreading, stopped the Ramipril and within a few days the rash disappeared completely, my GP then prescribed Losartan, been on that for about a year and now getting skin irritation and other side effects as listed by the NHS for this drug. The rash is called urticaria or hives in medical speak, it also comes on rapidly and itches like mad and scratching doesn't stop it itching, nor does any insect bite ointment.

GP’s seem to take the most obvious cause as the right one, but the insert leaflet in the packet of meds tell a different story.

[L8Again]

Search online for Disney Rash/Golfer’s rash. More properly known as Exercise-Induced Vasculitis. I had it last year. It looked awful and it took 6 weeks to disappear.

[pablojack]

I had vasculitis of the lower legs decades ago, It was more concentrated than your presentation and the spots turned brown, ( oxidation), and this has remained ever since. Yours looks more like a heat rash. If it doesn't disappear quickly you will have to seen dermatologist,