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What Should I Do I Have Had Small Black Dots On My Left Leg For Several Years?
Posted on
Fri, 22 May 2020
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 22 May 2020
Answered on
Tue, 21 Oct 2025
Last reviewed on
Question : I am a 22 year old male in good health. I have had small black dots on my left leg for several years. They are completely flat, and do not ever scab or hurt.
Brief Answer:
Kindly upload clearer images
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service. I have gone through your query and noted your concern.
I can make out some vaguely blue to black spots. They could be lentigines which are flat, physiological and sun induced or they could perhaps be traumatic tattoo from a previous injury- flat, blue to black spots at site of trauma due to impregnation of a foreign body like sand/ silica etc..Is there any history of trauma at this site? Unfortunately the images are not very clear. They are a bit out of focus. I request you to kindly upload a few more good quality images of the affected area so that I am able to have a better look.
Hope to assist you further with your query.
Kindly upload clearer images
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service. I have gone through your query and noted your concern.
I can make out some vaguely blue to black spots. They could be lentigines which are flat, physiological and sun induced or they could perhaps be traumatic tattoo from a previous injury- flat, blue to black spots at site of trauma due to impregnation of a foreign body like sand/ silica etc..Is there any history of trauma at this site? Unfortunately the images are not very clear. They are a bit out of focus. I request you to kindly upload a few more good quality images of the affected area so that I am able to have a better look.
Hope to assist you further with your query.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Brief Answer:
Kindly upload clearer images
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service. I have gone through your query and noted your concern.
I can make out some vaguely blue to black spots. They could be lentigines which are flat, physiological and sun induced or they could perhaps be traumatic tattoo from a previous injury- flat, blue to black spots at site of trauma due to impregnation of a foreign body like sand/ silica etc..Is there any history of trauma at this site? Unfortunately the images are not very clear. They are a bit out of focus. I request you to kindly upload a few more good quality images of the affected area so that I am able to have a better look.
Hope to assist you further with your query.
Kindly upload clearer images
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service. I have gone through your query and noted your concern.
I can make out some vaguely blue to black spots. They could be lentigines which are flat, physiological and sun induced or they could perhaps be traumatic tattoo from a previous injury- flat, blue to black spots at site of trauma due to impregnation of a foreign body like sand/ silica etc..Is there any history of trauma at this site? Unfortunately the images are not very clear. They are a bit out of focus. I request you to kindly upload a few more good quality images of the affected area so that I am able to have a better look.
Hope to assist you further with your query.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I can say with almost one hundred percent certainty there has been no trauma to the area.
Brief Answer:
Pigmented purpuric dermatosis- Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Most likely they are hemosiderin deposits from leaked blood through the capillaries I.e Schamburgs pupura- a type of pigmented purpuric dermatosis. It is mostly a cosmetic concern, asymptomatic, flat, may increase or resolve on it's own. However, in most instances it persists as it is for a very long time.
Take care
Pigmented purpuric dermatosis- Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Most likely they are hemosiderin deposits from leaked blood through the capillaries I.e Schamburgs pupura- a type of pigmented purpuric dermatosis. It is mostly a cosmetic concern, asymptomatic, flat, may increase or resolve on it's own. However, in most instances it persists as it is for a very long time.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Brief Answer:
Pigmented purpuric dermatosis- Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Most likely they are hemosiderin deposits from leaked blood through the capillaries I.e Schamburgs pupura- a type of pigmented purpuric dermatosis. It is mostly a cosmetic concern, asymptomatic, flat, may increase or resolve on it's own. However, in most instances it persists as it is for a very long time.
Take care
Pigmented purpuric dermatosis- Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Most likely they are hemosiderin deposits from leaked blood through the capillaries I.e Schamburgs pupura- a type of pigmented purpuric dermatosis. It is mostly a cosmetic concern, asymptomatic, flat, may increase or resolve on it's own. However, in most instances it persists as it is for a very long time.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
What causes this and what can be done to help the appearance of it?
Brief Answer:
Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
It is idiopathic. It is benign and mostly stays the same. In some it may resolve spontaneously or may slowly progress to form more such spots.You may try use a moderately potent topical steroid e.g either mometasone furoate cream or triamcinolone acetonide cream, twice daily for a few weeks to see if it improves..
Take care
Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
It is idiopathic. It is benign and mostly stays the same. In some it may resolve spontaneously or may slowly progress to form more such spots.You may try use a moderately potent topical steroid e.g either mometasone furoate cream or triamcinolone acetonide cream, twice daily for a few weeks to see if it improves..
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Brief Answer:
Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
It is idiopathic. It is benign and mostly stays the same. In some it may resolve spontaneously or may slowly progress to form more such spots.You may try use a moderately potent topical steroid e.g either mometasone furoate cream or triamcinolone acetonide cream, twice daily for a few weeks to see if it improves..
Take care
Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
It is idiopathic. It is benign and mostly stays the same. In some it may resolve spontaneously or may slowly progress to form more such spots.You may try use a moderately potent topical steroid e.g either mometasone furoate cream or triamcinolone acetonide cream, twice daily for a few weeks to see if it improves..
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
I would definitely like to try one of the above medications/prescriptions. Can you subscribe that for me? I can provide a pharmacy and their location and phone number.
I would definitely like to try one of the above medications/prescriptions. Can you subscribe that for me? I can provide a pharmacy and their location and phone number.
Brief Answer:
Purpuric spots- try topical steroid cream
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
You need to talk to your local practitioner/ general physician for a prescription regarding the same. An overseas medical practitioner cannot prescribe.
Take care
Purpuric spots- try topical steroid cream
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
You need to talk to your local practitioner/ general physician for a prescription regarding the same. An overseas medical practitioner cannot prescribe.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Purpuric spots- try topical steroid cream
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
You need to talk to your local practitioner/ general physician for a prescription regarding the same. An overseas medical practitioner cannot prescribe.
Take care
Purpuric spots- try topical steroid cream
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
You need to talk to your local practitioner/ general physician for a prescription regarding the same. An overseas medical practitioner cannot prescribe.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Of those two, which do you recommend? Have you seen a successful outcome/improvement with this condition before?
Of those two, which do you recommend? Have you seen a successful outcome/improvement with this condition before?
Brief Answer:
Regarding Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
hi.
Many patients of Schamburgs purpura improve but some don't at all. I prefer mometasone furoate 0.1% cream, twice daily for 3-4 weeks to gauge whether they would respond to it or not.
Take care
Regarding Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
hi.
Many patients of Schamburgs purpura improve but some don't at all. I prefer mometasone furoate 0.1% cream, twice daily for 3-4 weeks to gauge whether they would respond to it or not.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Brief Answer:
Regarding Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
hi.
Many patients of Schamburgs purpura improve but some don't at all. I prefer mometasone furoate 0.1% cream, twice daily for 3-4 weeks to gauge whether they would respond to it or not.
Take care
Regarding Schamburgs purpura
Detailed Answer:
hi.
Many patients of Schamburgs purpura improve but some don't at all. I prefer mometasone furoate 0.1% cream, twice daily for 3-4 weeks to gauge whether they would respond to it or not.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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