The pores on the calves turn darker

Compared to the skin on our faces, we don’t pay much attention to the skin on our legs. When we usually do skin care, we will apply lotion, cream, etc. on our face, but we rarely apply any substance to our legs. This is also the reason why many leg skin problems occur and we fail to discover the problems in time. Darkening of calf pores is the most common leg skin problem. So what is the reason for darkening of calf pores?

This condition is usually a manifestation of keratosis pilaris.

Follicular keratosis pilaris is a chronic disease of keratinization of the hair follicles. It usually presents with a sandpaper-like roughness or chicken skin-like appearance on the extensor side of the limbs. Scattered, needle-sized, pointed, follicular papules can be seen with a keratin plug in the center. Most of them are normal skin color or dark red. There are generally no subjective symptoms, but there may be mild itching occasionally.

Keratosis pilaris is a fairly common skin problem. It is an autosomal dominant genetic disease controlled by genes and has a 50% chance of being inherited by the next generation. It has a familial tendency and can also be caused by hypothyroidism or vitamin A deficiency. The skin lesions of keratosis pilaris are mainly normal-colored follicular pointed papules with gray keratin plugs on top. Sometimes sweat hairs can be seen sticking out of the center or curling inside. When the keratin plug is peeled off, a tiny cup-shaped depression can be seen, and soon a new keratin plug will grow out. The lesions are not fused and are scattered or clustered together, resembling a "chicken skin" appearance.

pathology:

(1) This is a hereditary skin disease caused by keratinization of the hair follicles, which affects the growth of vellus hair. Therefore, the skin surface feels rough and like goose bumps. Indeed, there is a curly hair in each small papule. There is currently no cure for this disease, but appropriate use of some medications can improve the condition.

(2) From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, keratosis pilaris is mainly caused by liver qi stagnation, liver wood overcoming earth, and spleen and stomach weakness. As we all know, the spleen and stomach are the foundation of acquired constitution. A weak spleen and stomach will inevitably lead to malnutrition of the skin, eventually causing this disease.

(3) This disease is a dominant inheritance caused by mutation of the 12th pair of chromosomes in the human body. In addition, the symptoms are also related to hypothyroidism, vitamin A deficiency, etc. Due to keratinization at the opening of the sebaceous gland duct of the hair follicle, the so-called "keratin plug" is formed, which will cause the pores to be blocked after hardening. The appearance is small pinpoint-like papules, which are scattered and are skin-colored, reddish brown or brown in color. Most of the rashes are painless and itchy. The appearance is very similar to "goose bumps", which are rough and sandpaper-like, feel rough and look more annoying, but goose bumps are caused by the contraction of the arrector pili muscles caused by climate, emotions, etc., which is a temporary skin change; while the papules formed by keratosis pilaris are a persistent condition.