Weird brown skin patch

[BrightonMama]

While fake tanning last night I noticed an irregularly shaped patch of darker, slightly rougher skin right at the top of my bum crack! At first I thought it was the fake tan so gave it a good old scrub, but it's actually darker pigment that's in the skin. It's definitely new as it's really noticeable and I would have seen it last time I fake tanned because you can't miss it.

Of course I've googled and come up with lots of things to get worried about - Addison's disease, acanthosis nigricans etc. But I feel well, and am also slim and active so not all the symptoms fit. I'm also 48 and menopausal, so wondering if it could be something hormone related? It's not sore to the touch either.

I will of course make an appointment at the doctors to get it checked out, but want to leave it a week to see if it changes/improves in that time. In the meantime, anyone know what it could be? Or could suggest anything I can put on it?

That sounds unusual and I think seeing the doctor is the best idea. As another suggestion of what it could be, I have lots of strange patches of skin on my trunk caused by an autoimmune disease - morphoea schleraderma. These started as brown or pinky patches and it was one, then another etc. It’s basically your body overproducing collagen in certain areas of your body and causing thicker, discoloured skin. I used to use a steroid cream (prescribed) but now mostly just leave them and use normal moisturiser. They don’t bother me that much. Have a Google and see if it looks like it might be similar to your patch.

Hope the doctor can give you some answers!

Sebhorreic keratosis? I have loads, (old), common as you get older.

Ooh thanks so much, Onelittlepiglet! I've googled morphoea schleraderma and it could be that. If it is, I'm very glad yours don't bother you that much! The only thing that doesn't fit is that it says the patches are reddish in colour? This is brown, but more of a grey-brown than a red-brown. Although it's only just come up so maybe it will change colour over time. Will defo go to the doctor.

Thanks NanTheWiser! Just googled sebhorreic keratosis - at the moment this looks more like a patch of darker pigment actually in or under the skin rather than something raised. Although the skin does feel slightly rougher than the rest, so maybe it will grow into one. I'm presuming mine will be something to do with age/hormones! I can definitely cope with that (as long as more don't start appearing). Oh the joys of getting older.

Timea versicolour? I’m light skinned and had a darker rough patch on my back…

Tinea

My understanding is that it depends on your skin type/colour. When they are ‘active’ they can be pinkish or red but then go a brown/grey colour later. I have very pale skin and mine are brown/grey even when they first appear, although sometimes have sort of a pink ring around them when they are active..