Does anyone have any experience of hyperpigmentation of the skin in children? i.e. dark patches just turning up?

[foxinsocks]

because I noticed last week that dd had one on her neck. Thought it might have been some strange rash but had a closer look at her today and have realised it's a very large patch of skin that is coloured differently. Almost like a birthmark (she has olive skin, so it's a darker brown colour) but all around the front of her neck.

Obviously, I'll book a GP's appointment as it's definitely not a birthmark (i.e. has only materialised now and dd is 8) but has anyone else seen anything similar in their children?

I have a mole that appeared when I was eight. My DSis has large, brownish marks on her face and neck (they're not that noticeable, and she's pale-skinned) which were not there at birth, and my DS2 has similar (but smaller) marks on his neck too. They look almost as if the bearer hasn't washed properly for some time, but aren't glaringly obvious. We're all blue grey white Scots.

Did you get them looked at? I'm just wondering if it's a normal thing that I don't need to worry about. Yes, it looks like dirt - I almost told her to go and wash it off but it's fairly noticeable, maybe because she's olive skinned so the dark areas look quite dark iyswim. I am pale skinned so tend to have a lot more freckles/moles anyway so maybe I have patches and don't notice .

If it's a normal thing, then I won't worry about it but I'd never seen a large patch like that just appear.

hi fox i have a large stain on the back of my leg, it appeared one day when i was five and my mum thought i had wet myself. Its all to do with the amount of melanin in the skin, its natural and you will find it will get darker in the sun. Google pigmentation mark to put your mind at ease.
Im 29 now and its still there, much to my annoyance as people tend to think i have had an accident with fake tan

In adults dark patches of skin in the neck area and other areas can be a sign of insulin resistance.

oh barbie, that does make me feel better, thank you! Was getting quite worried about this happening for seemingly no reason!

yes, I saw that when I googled ggirl. Will take her to the doctor anyway. I thought it might be a hormone thing as she seems to have just started developing a little bit so wondered if it was connected. Will take her along to the docs and see what they say but it is reassuring that it can be just not very much rather than something immediately worrying.

My sister tried all sorts of bleaching creams when she was younger, they made bugger-all difference but the patches don't cause any problems (she's in her 40s now) and there's no increased risk of skin cancer or anything. Do have your daughter checked, but don't stress too much in the meantime.