What is this on my DS's leg?

[weeeeeeeeee]

My DS (13) has sent me photos from his bedroom of a red rash on his inner thigh.

It's not scratches it's not raised at all. I've asked if he had hit his leg or taken a whack during football and he doesn't think so.

Obviously I've googled even though I know I shouldn't have and now I'm panicking that he has leukaemia.

Can anybody reassure me that this is nothing to worry about?

Thanks!

Stretch marks or scratching through clothing

I'm hoping it's something like scratching through clothing. I don't think it's stretch marks but I suppose it could be.

Yes, looks like a surface injury. Scratching through clothing, hitting with a stick, dragging a ruler across the skin. Why did he send you a photo? Why not just show you? What does he think it is?

It is scratch marks in the form of bruising.

That happens to me all the time. Normally if I scratch myself and I've been in the bath - burst capillaries under the skin.

Looks like something’s rubbed it. Ive had marks like that from bag straps.

If he's been playing football it could well be from that. Husband gets same marks from rugby. Did he get tackled there/fall over. To be honest he might have even forgotten the incident in the heat of the game.

Possibly chafing - does he have muscular thighs that are close together. Rough seams can do that (or my other leg if I stupidly wear short shorts or bare legs under a dress...).

Possibly stretch marks also.

Stretch marks or scratching skin under a hot shower.

I really think those look like stretch marks. Are they painful? Worth getting checked out anyway.

Looks like somethings rubbed it

@SockFluffInTheBath

Looks like something’s rubbed it. Ive had marks like that from bag straps.

Yea this - when I've had excessively heavy bags carried on the shoulder with thin steaks for example

I sometimes get marks like that on my thighs if I sit with my hot water bottle on my lap.

Thanks everyone.

He sent me a picture because he was just about to get in the shower. He came down after and showed us and I'm sure it's nothing to worry about but I might do an e-consult in the morning just to put my mind at rest.

When he was little he was always ill and pale. We once took him to urgent care for antibiotics for tonsillitis thinking they'd give us a prescription and we'd be on our way (off to have lunch at a family member's house ). Well they took one look at him, put him in his own room and did blood tests for leukaemia. It turned out to be nothing, just tonsillitis, but I felt so guilty that I had let him get so ill looking and hadn't noticed just how bad he was.

So now every time he is ill, I worry that I'm not being anxious enough.

I'm glad you all think it's nothing to worry about.

Does he have muscular thighs? I used to get this on warm days when my legs rub together.

He's muscly but not chunky. I don't think his thighs rub together (like mine). I reckon they're scratches. Hopefully.

I've told him that he's probably got scurvy from not eating enough fruit and vegetables so he's promised to take his vitamins every morning. At least that's something.

My son (12) had the same exact marks on his face when he came back from school the other day. They didn't itch or hurt. Later he was doing homework and I noticed he was unconsciously scratching his face with the pen's cap in the same places where he had these marks. But I love the scurvy strategy :D

@weeeeeeeeee

I've told him that he's probably got scurvy from not eating enough fruit and vegetables so he's promised to take his vitamins every morning. At least that's something.