Which sign suggests peripheral arterial disease?

Which sign suggests peripheral arterial disease?

• A. Eczema
• B. Psoriasis
• C. Hyperthyroidism
• D. Dry, shiny, hairless skin

Answer: (D)

Peripheral arterial disease reduces blood flow to the legs, so the skin in those areas can become dry, shiny, and hairless as perfusion declines. That specific skin pattern is a classic sign of arterial insufficiency and helps distinguish PAD from other skin conditions. Eczema presents with itchy, inflamed patches; psoriasis shows thick, silvery plaques on the skin; hyperthyroidism brings metabolic symptoms like weight loss and tachycardia, not a vascular-specific skin change. So the dry, shiny, hairless skin on the legs directly points to arterial insufficiency associated with peripheral arterial disease.

Peripheral arterial disease reduces blood flow to the legs, so the skin in those areas can become dry, shiny, and hairless as perfusion declines. That specific skin pattern is a classic sign of arterial insufficiency and helps distinguish PAD from other skin conditions. Eczema presents with itchy, inflamed patches; psoriasis shows thick, silvery plaques on the skin; hyperthyroidism brings metabolic symptoms like weight loss and tachycardia, not a vascular-specific skin change. So the dry, shiny, hairless skin on the legs directly points to arterial insufficiency associated with peripheral arterial disease.