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Original poster

What on Earth has happened to DD back?

114 replies

Icancount · 09/02/2021 19:25

DD is 15 and currently boarding at school since January. She said yesterday she had a "sore bit " on her back. I said could she manage until she comes home on Friday, and put some E45 cream on it in the meantime.

Today she sent me this photo. Shock.
I have alerted school, and they are contacting the local gp tomorrow.

But has anyone got any thoughts?

Thank you.

What on Earth has happened to DD back?
OP posts:
Toomanyradishes · 09/02/2021 20:57

Reaction to latex in the bra?

Gitfeatures · 09/02/2021 21:00

Lots of bra clasps are made of nickel - if the fabric of the fastening was a bit skewhiff the metal would be sitting against her skin = irritation and itching. I often get bruising as a result of continual scratching.

polanama · 09/02/2021 21:02

It looks like an injury to me. An allergy would not cause the bruise. I suspect something has happened.

CaraDuneRedux · 09/02/2021 21:04

I think @Gitfeatures might have it!

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nickel-allergy/symptoms-causes/syc-20351529

Upper photo has allergy patch in exactly the place your daughter has, lower picture has exactly the same colour of pigmentation.

Then the diagonal scratches are from your daughter reaching round her back to give it a good scratch because it's itchy.

JackieweaverhasALLtheauthority · 09/02/2021 21:05

that is grazes

TallTowerFan · 09/02/2021 21:08

I was going to say stretch marks too. My son had similar marks on his back when he was 15/16. They've faded , but are very much still there in his early 20s.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 09/02/2021 21:13

Those are not likely to be claw marks unless someone's been playing noughts and crosses on her back. Nor do I suspect that in those circumstances she'd want to show the pictures to her mum!

Sexnotgender · 09/02/2021 21:15

It looks very straight, almost like a burn in places. Has she leant against a radiator?

strawberriesontheNeva · 09/02/2021 21:15

It looks like she has had a load of scratches with something sharp like a metal nail.Looks painful.

worriedpleasereassureme · 09/02/2021 21:15

@Icancount please consider Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. It can cause stretch marks to appear that look like this

lockdownalli · 09/02/2021 21:21

There is a big bruise under those scratch marks. So sorry OP but I think someone has done that to her Sad

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 09/02/2021 21:21

I only get a reaction to washing powder on my legs, in particular my thighs and the itch like crazy.

Has she tried a Piriton as that helps. And as PP said I also react to adhesive in plasters similar to some of those marks and that is super itchy too.

Staffy1 · 09/02/2021 21:22

Looks like a bruise under the scratch, so like she scraped it off something.

RhubarbTea · 09/02/2021 21:23

Initial injury which has had a large square dressing over it (so school should know about this, surely?) and then possibly she has scratched at it while it was healing and itchy, possibly the dressing gave her an allergic reaction to the glue in it? Although that doesn't explain the rashy bit along the right of the photo which looks like a bra line irritation type rash.

Cccc1111 · 09/02/2021 21:23

Allergy to something. I’m allergic to hospital hand wash soap. When I was in for a few days by time I left my hands were that dried out and my skin had stated cracking and looked like big scratches on my hands. My hands looked a wreck. Her back looks a lot like my hands did.

Cccc1111 · 09/02/2021 21:24

The bit that looks like bruise is odd though....

AngryPrincess · 09/02/2021 21:27

If she has long hair, and it takes ages to dry you can get a rash from your back staying wet for ages. An anti fungal creme from the chemist would clear it up, if this was the case. Then use a hair dryer. Or cut hair.

myfriendsgivebadadvice · 09/02/2021 21:27

Dormant virus flaring up through the stress of starting boarding school?

Washing powder then scratching seems more likely. She really needs to stop scratching it and the bra isn't helping, is it.

BathshebaKnickerStickers · 09/02/2021 21:28

I need to ask the “elephant in the room” question.

Is this a public boarding school?

Or

Is she at an SEN boarding school?

BungleandGeorge · 09/02/2021 21:29

Doesn’t look like a bruise to me, it looks like pigmentation due to irritation. It’s difficult to tell though, hopefully they’ll be able to do a video consult with the gp for a close look

JackieweaverhasALLtheauthority · 09/02/2021 21:30

It's a bruise with grazes on top. That is not a rash at all.

PurpleWh1teGreen · 09/02/2021 21:30

@Impeachtheplum

Stretch marks? Rapid growth maybe?
That's what it reminds me of.

If so I would recommend a good moisturiser, but you might need to bottom out the itching first in case it is something like a washing powder allergy.

aTeacherIamNot · 09/02/2021 21:33

Stretch marks
My son has them on his back, also look like claw marks
Coincidentally my step son also has them
I suggest bio oil or Palmers coconut body lotion rubbed in daily.

elizabethdraper · 09/02/2021 21:34

Shingles

littlepattilou · 09/02/2021 21:36

@Icancount As a number of posters have said, those are scratches and grazes. Doesn't look like a 'rash' to me. There is a weird 'creasing' and wrinkling all around the scratches and bruises too, which suggests some kind of trauma - and not a rash.

As a few people have suggested, maybe she has done it whilst having a snowball fight, or playfight, or done it playing a sport. Or maybe she has caught herself on a wall and not realised it. maybe when she had had a drink of alcohol.

She may have done it whilst she was drunk, or she could have got it during sex.. (Although you may say 'no way, as my daughter wouldn't do that!' nothing is impossible. You don't know what kids get up to at boarding school.)

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