Q: If I itch the upper side of my forearms, I get red blotches under the skin. It reminds me of a bruise but the blotches are reddish. Am I deficient in a vitamin or do you think there is some other underlying problem? I work a lot outside and I am very tanned.

A:First of all, why should you be itching so much? There may be a skin disorder. If the result of scratching is really a bruise, then it is either purely mechanical outcome of too much scratching, in which case you need to treat the itchy disorder, or it could be an indicator of deficient control of bleeding. I suggest you consult your dermatologist. Clinical findings will guide the path of management.