What Causes Itchy Lesions On Legs That Look Like Orange Peel?

Posted on Fri, 5 Feb 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 5 Feb 2016 Answered on

Tue, 5 Apr 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My wife is having a problem with her legs there are spots that get hard and the skin gets an orange peel like texture they seem to swell slightly during the day but they go down at night, and they itch constantly. There is no discolorization and the only other thing is that on the back of the leg above and below the knee there are squiggly lines the same as the leg coloring just a little bit lighter

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Hives

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns

You wife has been experiencing a rash or lesions on your legs that itch and appear like orange peel. These lesions are called hives or urticaria. They are local reactions to something she is allergic to. Possibly cat, dog plants ect. The best treatment is to try an oral allergy pill like claritin or allegra. This should stop the reaction.

The squiggly lines are small varicose veins under the skin and have nothing to do with the hives. These are common and normal. No treatment is needed for the varicose veins.

If the above measures do not help then I recommend that she see her medical provider for additional tests.

I hope I answered your question. please contact us again if you have any additional questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ronald Schubert (15 minutes later)

There doesn't appear to be any sort of sores or rashes is there any thing else that this could be

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (1 minute later)

Brief Answer:
submit photo

Detailed Answer:
Perhaps you could submit a photo of the spots. From your description though it sounds like hives. An image would allow me to better diagnose the issue.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar