I have sometimes noticed women with mottled blue discolouration on their faces. These patches are almost always on their cheeks, and usually on one side of the face. Some are small patches, but some seem to spread over half the face. Never have I noticed this phenomenon on a male.
My question is, is this some sort of skin condition that crosses all racial boundaries, yet affects only those with XX chrom9osomes? :dubious:
Or is this just an indication that there are a lot of women out there being subjected to physical abuse?
Some Asian/South Pacific people have marks that are bruise-like. I’ve seen them on small children, of both sexes, but rarely on the face. I’m sorry, I can’t remember the name of the condition.
If the marks are very dark red or purple/red, they could be hemangioma commonly known as port-wine stains. They are hard to cover, and often are full thickness, so can’t be removed.
Lupus? According to http://www.lupus.org/education/faq.html#1 9 out of 10 people with lupus are women. I thought the rashes were normally red, but I don’t know that for a fact.
…or a vascular nevus, which is a patch of skin with a large number of capillaries near the surface. They have the appearance of a large, dark red or purple bruise and can disappear in cold weather, only to reappear in warm weather or when the person is warm or hot.
I don’t think this is it. Googling suggests hemangiomas vaguely resemble a keloid. What I am talking about is a subcutaneous and clearly blue discolouration. Even looks like a bruise gone black and blue.
Your link states that the sores/lesions are typically red too. They were once thought to resemble wolf bites. Does this mean that the inflammation looks vaguely like a fresh wound? If so, that’s not it, either.
Hmm…this might be it IF the frequency of prevalence into adulthood is fairly high. Also, this condition does not seem gender-related. Hmm…
What you are describing must not be as common as you think. I work in a derm office and I’m certain I’ve never seen this except for bruising. Some women, especially during pregancy, can develop melasma, but they’re brown patches, not blue. They do occur on the face.
Maybe you can google up a picture? But then, I guess if you found a picture you’d find the explanation along with it.
:eek: A warning, please!!
Anyway, I did scan through the page, and unless what I’m describing was hidden in the black and white photographs, I’m afraid it wasn’t in there.
I think we should just give up. No way to answer the question without further information.
I have seen these spots on some women too and was hoping someone would reply with an answer. Do they look like little blue faded tattoos on the sides of the face - just little spots? I know one person who has these. Next time I bump into her I will ask.
From a distance, I suppose it would indeed be possible to mistake them for random tattoo blotches. However, they are assuredly not tattoos. Do please ask your acquaintance, if it would be socially acceptable to do so! (Though I doubt she’s going to admit to it if it is indeed physical abuse.)