freaking out ... help! DD pale skin ...

[wishingchair]

DD1 has always been a bit pale. She's got fair hair, blue eyes and pale skin. Her arms and legs catch the sun (she does wear suntan lotion!) but her face never seems to.

DH has fair skin too, and his mum is very fair.

But I've started worrying about it. She does have a bit of pink to her cheeks but not much. Can also see shadows under her eyes despite 12 hours sleep a night. She's 4.5 years. I've looked on internet and of course saw lots of stuff re: leukemia. She doesn't haved any other signs of anaemia - her gums and nail beds are pink. But it said children with leukaemia bruise easily and she's always got a bruise or 2 (prob due to throwing herself around at parks and soft play). It also mentioned red dots on the skin ... DD has 2 ... although on saying that they're not like the ones the website described - these two do disappear when I press them and she's had them for a good 1-2 years.

I know I'm over-reacting ... DH has a brain tumour so everything seemingly inoccuous spirals out of control in my mind ... but I can't help it. I hardly slept last night. I need reassurance (but will prob take her to drs anyway)!!

Anyone else with pale, fair children with bruises??!

Poor you and no wonder you are worrying about it.

My dds are very very pale as well, with dark hair and blue eyes. I think it is the Celtic skin in our case. Their skin looks much paler and more transparent than say mine or dh, but I just tell myself this is because they are fresh beautiful young things.... They almost look pale blue at times!

I suppose having two of them the same has reassured me, but I used to worry about dd1.

My take on it is that if their skin is pale and transparent it shows dark circles under the eyes more, as well as bruises. At one point I did loads of research about allergies because of dds circles, but I concluded that it is just because they are pale skinned. This must have been so obvious to everyone else, but as your mother you are allowed to worry!

Equally bruises look more vivid on translucent skin.

I am a great believer in going to the doctors for reassurance about these things. I think they have 'nervous mother' marked on my notes.

Don't bruises just show up much more easily on fair-skinned people?

I don't have fair children but my brother got Leukaemia when he was 37, you know when it's leukaemia, DD would be VERY tired. A simple blood test can put your mind at rest.

i used to worry about dds bruises,
nurse pointed out that they were on her legs only. i was thinking they just werent going away but with rumble tumble of life that is how they had occured.
where are the bruises?

Well on the websites I looked at they looked like tiny flat red moles ... I have some too ... think you can get them for all sorts of reasons. DDs are less distinct, more like she's dabbed herself with a red/pink felt tip and the colour's bled into her skin a little. Not the same thing now I look at them.

My grandma always bruised easily. Come to think of it, so do I. I'm generally mildly anaemic too ... borderline. Get head rushes from time to time if not eaten or am thirsty.

Found myself thinking last night at 2.30am: "Draco Malfoy!! He's pale!!". Ignored the fact that he's also imaginary and finally went to sleep.

yes, my skin sounds like littlelapin's

sorry to hear about dh's brain tumour - if you are worried about dd, pop in to see the nurse but I'm sure you are right and you're just feeling a bit overanxious.

FWIW, I don't think my children's legs are ever free from bruises!

The red dots are familiar too. I didn't notice them too much until I rushed her to hospital with flu thinking it was meningitis. Then when it didn't go away I realised it had been there for ages. Only the other day a load more appeared - not sure whether it is when there is stress on the skin for some reason.

I am so sympathetic with you on this one. When there are very stressful situations going on, it tends to expand into worrying about things that wouldn't normally get you down.

In winter time she can look a bit blue too!!!

The bruises are ... erm, you're right ... knees, shins and one on the bony bit of your arm. All look like typical climbing/playing bruises.

lokka - so sorry about your brother. At the back of my mind I did think that about the tiredness. Think she's like any other 4 year old ... never stops then flakes out strangely generally around tea time ("I'm too tired to eat").

Will take her to drs but am feeling a bit better about it all. thanks guys! Maybe I shoudl start giving her a multi-vitamin?

hope doctor can set your mind at ease.
perfectly natural to be worried

My brother is fine now BTW!!!! Doctor will make you feel better, just get the blood test done and your mind is at rest.