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Original poster

Purple stains

97 replies

Elliejane · 19/06/2022 10:27

Hi
I wonder if anyone can help with with a bizarre thing . I have noticed these purple stains on my sons sheets now and seem to be new ones appearing every day
I am really worrying something is wrong .
He is 14 and has no idea where they came from
I seem to remember a while ago I noticed it as well and just thought it was a pen mark or something
I have googled it and others have seen similar but no one knows what it is .
My heart is beating so fast . I suffer from health anxiety too and struggle with things I can explain .
photo attached.
please help

Purple stains
Purple stains
Purple stains
Purple stains
OP posts:
TenRedThings · 20/06/2022 10:21

If it's up near the pillow does he wear a watch with a fabric or leather strap, or anything else on his wrist ?

Carrotzen · 20/06/2022 10:29

What does he wear to bed? Anything on his wrist/head?

Does he do homework on his bed? Does he read? Does he had a laptop?

Does he use any moisturiser?

It looks like dye transfer, so either dye is coming from something onto the bed either mixing with sweat or moisturiser. Could be something on the bottom of his laptop maybe?

kingsleysbootlicker · 20/06/2022 10:31

What colour is his mattress under the sheet? Could he be sweating since it's warmer weather and the moisture is leaving to colour leakage from a fabric

This is what I'm wondering too

grey12 · 20/06/2022 10:32

Blueberry stains from dirty hands?

Original poster
Elliejane · 20/06/2022 10:42

Wears an Apple Watch but takes it off at night

When you said head I remembered something. He has a headband with pods in it that he got at Xmas . It’s black and I know if he struggles to sleep he listens to pod casts and then takes it off
Could it be sweat from his body transferring dye from headband ?

Long shot

OP posts:
Original poster
Elliejane · 20/06/2022 10:43

Meant to say does not take it off he just falls asleep with it on . I just don’t know

OP posts:
EarthquakesinEastActon · 20/06/2022 10:44

Elliejane · 20/06/2022 10:42

Wears an Apple Watch but takes it off at night

When you said head I remembered something. He has a headband with pods in it that he got at Xmas . It’s black and I know if he struggles to sleep he listens to pod casts and then takes it off
Could it be sweat from his body transferring dye from headband ?

Long shot

Not a long shot at all - I think you’ve just solved the mystery! Now go and have a cup of tea and try to get into a calmer space for a minute.

Ugzbugz · 20/06/2022 10:45

What colour is the mattress? Are there any marks on that?

I said previously but it sounds like damp or like mould/mildew or damp sweat.

Is the mattress clean and properly dry and aired?

Seeline · 20/06/2022 10:46

Get some dark sheets

Toddlerteaplease · 20/06/2022 10:50

Very likely from the headband yes. Please speak to the Gap about your anxiety when they phone back.

Original poster
Elliejane · 20/06/2022 10:55

Does everyone here think it not a medical issue ? I seriously so struggling even now I might have explanation . I tried to wet the headband but it did not really leave a mark but maybe it would with sweat .
Back to worrying.
I am a grown woman and I can’t go on like this .

OP posts:
FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 20/06/2022 11:03

Elliejane · 20/06/2022 10:55

Does everyone here think it not a medical issue ? I seriously so struggling even now I might have explanation . I tried to wet the headband but it did not really leave a mark but maybe it would with sweat .
Back to worrying.
I am a grown woman and I can’t go on like this .

Not a single person on this thread has suggested or agreed that it could be a medical issue. Consensus is that it is something environmental like clothing or skin/hair products transferring to the sheets.

EarthquakesinEastActon · 20/06/2022 11:03

You’ve definitely found the cause - it’s clearly something rubbing off onto the sheets from an object, and not your son - so please try to put this particular incident out of your mind and concentrate on getting some help for yourself.

Living with this level of anxiety is utterly exhausting and soul destroying, even if you understand the trigger. You deserve to have the help you need to allow you to live a life as free as you can be of this terrible burden of fear, and it is available. That appointment with the gp is the start of taking charge of it and freeing yourself to enjoy your life and your son.

LIZS · 20/06/2022 11:08

Elliejane · 20/06/2022 10:55

Does everyone here think it not a medical issue ? I seriously so struggling even now I might have explanation . I tried to wet the headband but it did not really leave a mark but maybe it would with sweat .
Back to worrying.
I am a grown woman and I can’t go on like this .

Not a medical issue. Stop trying to replicate it. There is a simple explanation, presumably your ds is not worried himself. Ask gp to help you with your anxiety issues.

Floydthebarber · 20/06/2022 11:12

It will be the earphone/headband. Dh works shifts and has headphones in and has the charging cable across the bed. Both of these leave purple marks just like that.

FinallyHere · 20/06/2022 11:13

Long shot

On the contrary, headphone band sounds very likely.

Something similar happened to me, was eventually traced to a biro which had somehow got 'lost' in my bed.

Most important though, do get yourself an appointment for your health anxiety. You don't deserve to go though all that agony for something so trivial.

Hope it gets sorted soon.

Wallywobbles · 20/06/2022 11:28

Sorry this is going to be a bit harsh. How much is your anxiety impacting the rest of your family? It sounds like it might be beyond out of control right now. It would be a real shame to pass this on to your DC.

If this was from his sweat the marks would be patches like water droplets spreading on cotton. Not patterns due to transfer from something.

But really it doesn't matter. This is a non issue.

thesunwillout · 20/06/2022 11:35

Ooh yes, the cable?
Is it dark

RichardOsmansXraySpecs · 20/06/2022 11:43

Elliejane · 20/06/2022 10:55

Does everyone here think it not a medical issue ? I seriously so struggling even now I might have explanation . I tried to wet the headband but it did not really leave a mark but maybe it would with sweat .
Back to worrying.
I am a grown woman and I can’t go on like this .

Everyone, literally everyone here doesn't think it's a medical issue.

Think rationally for a moment OP, if your DS had some weird syndrome where he sweated purple Confused you would find it on his other clothes, wouldn't you?? Or on the chair where he's been sitting.

Have you tried buying a new sheet to see if it happens to that?

My guess is he's sweating and the dye in the sheet/mattress is seeping through.

Please get help for your anxiety before it impacts your poor DS.

BeyondMyWits · 20/06/2022 12:19

How is your son? Does he feel fine?

Original poster
Elliejane · 20/06/2022 12:38

I put a new sheet on last night that was worse .He wears white shirts for school and not seen any marks on them that I can recall . It does not wash out very well which makes he think it must be a dye .

I know this is my mind overthinking but that’s what health anxiety does .

I started seeing a counsellor a few weeks ago .

You must all think I am an fruit loop

OP posts:
FinallyHere · 20/06/2022 12:49

You must all think I am an fruit loop

Nope. Don't think that at all.

Do think that you need some help, to get your mind back on track.

Also think that you are being very hard on yourself. This is big unusual, we all do it but it's so much easier to see in someone else.

Hope you find what you need to get it sorted.

PipeScatter · 20/06/2022 13:22

Bless you. As others have said, it's likely to be coming from something else, rather than your DS, if it's not on his shirts.

Do the marks appear in the same place each time? Is it the sheet he sleeps on, or sleeps under? If it's the sheet he sleeps on, could something be seeping through from the mattress?

Would he be up for a bed swap for the night with you? See if the marks come through if you or someone else is sleeping on it? Or put his sheets on your bed?

Alternatively you could put a new waterproof mattress protector over his mattress and put his sheets on top and see if it still happens.

It definitely looks like ink or dye to me too. An ex of mine used to use spot treatment that used to stain/bleach fabrics. Has your DS changed any products recently, or do any of his usual products have a "new recipe"?

thisbathiscoldnow · 20/06/2022 13:28

Does he draw on his hands/ arms with biro at all? (Only asking because it's the kind of thing I did at that age!)
It does just look like ink transfer, really don't think it's anything to worry about

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 20/06/2022 13:35

Definitely dye transfer. Keep the GP appointment for yourself, your reaction is a bit more than health anxiety.

I'd be pissed off my sheets were being ruined let alone purple sweat!