What are these strange brown patches appearing on my legs - and should I be worried? DR ELLIE has the answer By Dr Ellie Cannon Published: 06:58 EDT, 27 July 2024 | Updated: 06:58 EDT, 27 July 2024 e-mail View comments I’ve been taking a blood pressure drug called ramipril for about a decade. Since the dose was increased in 2019, I’ve developed some large, flat freckles on my shins which look like stains. Could this be due to the drug? Dr Ellie Cannon replies: New skin lesions should always be checked out by your GP.
We look for worrying moles – those which have changed colour, shape or size – as this can be a sign of skin cancer . But other types of skin changes can be a sign of a medical problem, too. Many GP surgeries allow patients to send in pictures of skin lesions, which can then be passed on to a dermatology specialist for review.
New skin lesions should always be checked out by your GP, writes Dr Ellie Cannon Brown staining on the legs is often called hemosiderin deposition. This is something we notice on the ankles and legs of patients whose blood vessels are not working as well as they should be. This leads to blood cells leaking out of the veins and into the skin – hence the brown staining.
Hemosiderin deposition is often seen in patients with high blood pressure, so it’s not surprising that someone taking ramipril would get it, and it’s unlikely to be triggered by the drug itself. It is a commonly used high blood pressure medication. One side effect.