Birthmarks...or not?

[Lil]

Please can you guys tell me if you've come across this...

my son is 15 months and in the last month and whilst bathing him I have noticed a grey patch of skin on his waist, exactly where the waist band of his nappy is. Its a strip shape, about 7cm long. It looked like a shadow or dirt at first but its not, and it seems to be getting bigger and more obvious. If it was red I would safely assume it is a reaction to the nappy - but can a nappy cause the skin pigmenatation to change? i have spoken to our local nurse and she says its a bit late for a birthmark to show up. I know I should go to the docs but I wanted to know if anyone has experienced this?? i feel like potty training him immediately!!

Lil, Just a thought. Do your son's nappies have a blue-coloured stretchy bit at the top? Some nappies have this, don't they? If this bit is getting wet, could the blue dye be leaking a bit and on contact with your son's skin, staining it grey?

It sounds almost bruise like - I really really think you need to get him down to the doctors pronto.

While you're waiting Go to NetDoctor (www.netdoctor.co.uk) - between 2 and 3 pm today there is a live email chat session with Dr Hilary Jones - you can email your questions in advance. That might at least give you some sort of answer today.

Good luck.

I did change nappies for a few weeks but no difference, so took a deep breath and went to the doctors. It is a type of birthmark, it seems the red ones come up when they are born and tend to fade but there are others that appear browner as the child grows. They get darker and bigger, until the kids reach their teenage years.

Its always a relief to know isn't it thanks guys for making me do something - it's just facing the doc and feeling like a worrying mum!

just caught this one. My daughter has a birthmark like that on the side of her neck, and that didn't appear until after she was 1. However, when it did come up, my mum told me I used to have one, which I vaguely remember, I think it went when I was in my early teens. Apparently, my uncle also used to have one all around his neck, and kept getting told off at scholl for having a dirt neck! His disappeared also.

Thank goodness - you must feel very relieved Lil.