Is this a concerning amount of bruises?

My daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was 4. She had no bruises at diagnosis, just leg pain. Shes almost 19 now.

That looks normal for an active child? Unless there are more, in unusual locations?

Thank you so much for being brave enough to share these photos, it really is such a help to those of us with health anxiety. I’m so pleased to hear your daughter is doing well and wish her continued good health.

I hope you’ve been reassured op. I’ve had exactly the same concerns as you as a fellow health anxiety sufferer. I have improved over time so there is hope!

No it's quite normal for that age.

Yep. You can definitely tell the difference. Thanks for sharing.

I hope she's doing well now. My son had lymphoma last year, it's such an awful thing to go through. xx

I wouldn't be concerned about leukemia in this case without any other symptoms. Other symptoms would be popping up too such as unexplained fevers, tiredness, bleeding gums etc.

No no not insensitive at all! I just know it’s a really common worry re bruises on kids and just wanted to try and put your mind at ease!

I used to count my bruises as a child and remember regularly counting 20+

So I wouldn't be worrying just because of plenty of bruises I don't think, as long as they are generally in "normal" places.

Totally normal.

I think my legs were exactly like that for years. They're in typical places too

I would say this is normal. The bruises are where I would expect them to be.x

OP, brusies are completely normal.

Yes, bruises can be a symptom of something more serious but not all bruises are equal. Once they are yellow/green, they are old bruises and healing.

LotsOfSmallThings has very kindly shown you examples of her daughter's leukemia related bruising and you can see that your daughter's bruises look nothing like that. The shape, location and colour of some of her bruising was, as she said, very obviously not caused by bumping into something.

That is also different to a large bruise developing on an adult's thigh without obvious cause.

Bruises on skin in bony areas, such as knees and shins) is, as others have said, normal and comes from just bumping into things, falling over etc and don't even need much impact in children. Some people do bruise more easily than others.

I used to be covered in bruises after a night dancing in a mosh pit which I always equate with childen running around in a playground!

I was also 'covered in bruises' (including soft areas) as a child but that was a result of being hit at home.

If you are really worried, speak to your GP for reassurance (after all, opinions on a MN thread does not equal a medical diagnosis) but bruises on knees or shins, no where else (particularly soft areas), with no other symptoms and, tbh, I wouldn't even have wondered if I should be worried when mine were children.

But also, bruises on soft areas do happen I had a cracking bruise on my thigh a few months ago after walking into the corner of a table in the classroom! Sometimes, I notice a bruise and have no recollection of walking into a table but assume I must have done.

Bruising like your daughter's wouldn't concern me.

Do you have health anxiety, OP?

Edit -I've just seen that you do. Apologies

Maybe get some help with your anxiety? Talking therapy might help

Now the photo has loaded. Compared to my kids and friends, I would say that’s well lower than average number of bruises.

Totally normal on shins and knees. My kids always has far more than that

Very normal - my DS has way more including his arm/elbow too. He’s just recovered from a black eye which he got from running headfirst into the school metal gate during playtime 😩

I read this last night when the photo hadn’t loaded and expected it to be much worse. I’m 35 and my legs are covered in considerably more bruises than that at the moment 😂
I would say that’s completely normal and very similar to my three year-old.

That really just looks like normal bruising. My legs look like that right now and I’m pretty sure DS’s do too.

No you are right to be worried. 2 weeks a massive bruise grew on my top thigh.

2 weeks later I was fighting necrosis fasciitis.

Today 6 months on I still learn about nf.

Ah she’s fine now thank you - a few long and gruelling years of treatment but we were incredibly lucky, she’s a trooper and came through with no lasting issues and no apparent side effects, finished treatment nearly 2 years ago now and no relapses or problems since. But I see people post with worries re bruises on children fairly often and I’m happy to share photos if it helps people feel reassured that their little ones are just standard busy/clumsy kids. As you can see, when it’s indicative of a problem it’s pretty unequivocal - there’s no way DD’s bruising could have been put down to regular kid stuff.

Poor thing, that does look bad and would worry any parent.

Very brave of you to share, I hope she's ok today.

For you OP and anyone else worried re leukaemia - this is DD’s bruises the day before & the day she was diagnosed. Very, very different from normal childhood bumps and bruises!

I have more bruises than she has, and I am as healthy as can be.