# Is there a name for these spots on winter-dry skin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 22, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-spots-on-winter-dry-skin/710577 "2015-01-22T15:32:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-spots-on-winter-dry-skin/710577/1 "2015-01-22T15:32:56Z")
Since childhood, if I’m not vigilant about using lotion in the winter, I get strange spots on my upper legs and bottom. Only one or two at a time, usually. They’re usually small, about a quarter inch in diameter. They are pink in color (I have Caucasian skin). They don’t hurt. I find them because they are hard. I can tap my fingernail against them, and it makes a noise. When I pinch one up I can twiddle it between my fingers like a tic-tac. I treat these by putting a dollop of lotion in top of them. They will suck it up in a minute, and then be gone. Obviously they are just patches of extremely dry skin, but is there a name for them? ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-spots-on-winter-dry-skin/710577/2 "2015-01-23T01:13:02Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Since childhood, if I’m not vigilant about using lotion in the winter, I get strange spots on my upper legs and bottom. Only one or two at a time, usually. > > They’re usually small, about a quarter inch in diameter. They are pink in color (I have Caucasian skin). They don’t hurt. I find them because they are hard. I can tap my fingernail against them, and it makes a noise. When I pinch one up I can twiddle it between my fingers like a tic-tac. > > I treat these by putting a dollop of lotion in top of them. They will suck it up in a minute, and then be gone. > > Obviously they are just patches of extremely dry skin, but is there a name for them? Nummular Eczema. If you have one on one arm, do you have one on the other arm in the same place? It’s probably smaller or fainter. > **[Nummular dermatitis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nummular_dermatitis)** > > Nummular dermatitis (commonly known as nummular eczema or discoid eczema) is one of the many forms of dermatitis. It is characterized by round or oval-shaped itchy lesions. The name comes from the Latin word "nummus," which means "coin." > Nummular dermatitis is characterized by chronic or relapsing itchy coin-sized ovoid-shaped red plaques. They can occur on the trunk, limbs, face, and hands. > Many contact sensitizers or irritants are known to cause contact dermatitis superimposed on nummular der... ---
**Author:** ![vomit\_comet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/73ab20/32.png) [@vomit\_comet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vomit_comet)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-spots-on-winter-dry-skin/710577/3 "2015-01-23T01:25:05Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I can tap my fingernail against them, and it makes a noise. When I pinch one up I can twiddle it between my fingers like a tic-tac. Sounds like a fun way to pass a long winter night. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-spots-on-winter-dry-skin/710577/4 "2015-01-23T19:10:57Z")
> [@Marion\_Wormer](#): > > Nummular Eczema. > > If you have one on one arm, do you have one on the other arm in the same place? It’s probably smaller or fainter. > > [Nummular dermatitis - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nummular_dermatitis) I have been asking this question periodically since my debut on the Dope 14 years ago… and you are the first person to give a satisfactory answer. You get awards. Talk to Ed. ---
**Author:** ![CraterLayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/87869e/32.png) [@CraterLayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CraterLayer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-spots-on-winter-dry-skin/710577/5 "2015-01-23T22:41:55Z")
Do not use any cortisone creams on them. Ever! They give short term relief but the eczema returns four-fold. Keep with the lotions. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-spots-on-winter-dry-skin/710577/6 "2015-01-24T02:59:45Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I have been asking this question periodically since my debut on the Dope 14 years ago… and you are the first person to give a satisfactory answer. > > You get awards. Talk to Ed. That’s very kind. I’m a newbie, I didn’t know about awards. Maybe you’re pulling my leg? I had this when I was living in the Land of the Frosty Hell where the mean winter temperature was -20°F. And it was a really mean temperature. I was in a conservative profession and had to wear skirts to work. The cold and the dry gave me the condition on the exposed skin of my legs. When I moved to someplace decent it cleared up. You may find that a heavy moisturizer regularly applied will clear it up permanently. You can get varieties of moisturizers for cheap in the travel section of the drug store and work your way through it. Eucerin has a heavy duty one that might work, but you might find something from the Dollar Store just as good.