What the Red Grid Marks ARE NOT

Compiled here for comparison is a list and skin analysis of marks similar but not of the same form, symptoms, and appearance of genuine Red Grid Marks. I specifically sought images that look closest to what we find as possible. Click any image to enlarge.

Waffle Iron Burn - Despite the shape of the waffle iron, if it were to actually contact the skin full on, the damage it would do would not leave any discernible shape or grid. Below is an example of what actually happens. Why does it not create an even grid? Because our body parts are not flat, they are curved three-dimensional. And the flatter parts of our bodies will never (unless deliberately) contact a waffle iron parallel to its grid. Even if you turn a waffle iron on low and rest a part of your body on it, the resulting marks would be in horizontal and vertical rows, not diagonal like the RGMP produces.

Healing burn from a waffle iron.

Rub Burn - I found the most symmetrical rub burns you can get, and guess how these are won? Roller derby. These are burns that run through fishnet stockings from falling and skidding on a flat surface. The burns in the first image, while diagonal, and in the same decreasing intensity of redness, with a concentrated area (where the skin received the most impact compared to surrounding surface area), the marks are too large relative to their distance apart. The ratio is off. Now, if I had received this first photo from someone claiming it to be a new case, I would not know right away that it was not a genuine RGM. In fact, I may never be able to tell, which is disturbing to me. It only proves how variability in a phenomenon yields uncertainties like this image creates.

 Roller derby fall skid burn through fishnet stockings. Image 1.

The second image, however, shows how important a closer examination of skin is required to truly verify the legitimacy of a mark. In the RGMP, the marks are subdermal. This burn has small brownish blisters on the top layer of skin. The redness is similar to what we would find in the RGMP, but its lack of distinguishable dots/marks to form the pattern makes it clearly not the same type of mark.

Roller derby skid burns through porous fabric. Image 2.

Rub burns, however, are the closest comparison to genuine grid marks I've seen. 

Allergy Testing - When experiencers describe their marks as being like allergy testing, they are not saying they had allergy testing done at a clinic, they are expressing their theory that the marks were the result of an unknown source performing a kind of stream-lined methodical testing like allergy tests do. Doctor performed allergy tests will be marks in spaced out rows, and reactions produced by certain allergens being tested for will create a raised, inflamed bump, and surrounding redness that spreads out unevenly from the contact point. They are not even in comparative size to one another. RGMs are not allergy testing by human doctors.

 Clinical allergy testing on back of patient.

Bug Bites -  To put it simply, bugs do not bite in symmetrical patterns, as evidenced in the photo, and any others you might find. But, for arguements sake, lets say a person happened to funnel bites into a pre-designed pattern with clothing, for instance. The biggest dissimilarity between bug bites and RGMs is the obvious contact points where the bug bit or injected, and the raised bumps at the site. RGMs do not result in raised bumps. This is the number one thing I check for in verifying a mark's legitimacy. Bug bites tend to heal with scabs where the bumps once were. The inflamed skin is a reaction to irritation, scratching, venom, and blood draw. My case studies report no irritation at the site. They would not have even noticed the marks were there if not for someone else's observation, or seeing them while naked in the shower.

Bed bug bites, notorious for biting in rows

Needle-like Pokes - This is a picture of my thigh from deciding to adopt a wild little kitten into our home. I discovered all its claw pokes left a mark similar in size-distance ratio as my old grid marks, so I took a picture for comparison. Notice the deep redness of the marks. These are dried blood sites. You can barely notice it, but some of the bumps are raised. The look of blood above or at equal level to the top layer of skin would be enough to raise my suspicious if this photo was sent to me as a potential case study. The fact that some of the dots cast shadows, suggesting raised skin, would send my suspicion into doubt. These are like needle pricks.

Cat claw pokes in a nearly symmetrical design.

Acupuncture uses very fine needle points that don't usually leave a noticeable mark after the little bit of blood upon the needle removal is wiped away. There would not be any redness in the skin unless there was an allergic reaction to something in needle, as you see in allergy testing (see above). The only visible markings would be the dried blood, or scab. Bumps rose on some of the cat claw pokes because the claw was caught in the skin for a brief moment and had to be pulled out. Acupuncture needles are put in very precisely so as not to disturb the skin around the contact point. An acupuncturist is not sticking the needle in and moving it around underneath the skin like a blood-draw nurse might do to hit a vein. It's a clean stick.

Chinese Suction Cup/Jar Therapy - Unless very tiny jars are being used and their placement on the skin measured to be in line with a near-precise grid, the RGMP is not a therapeutic technique using jars or cups as practiced in alternative medicine.

Swimmer with large bruising from suction therapy. 

Note the considerable difference in circumference between each circle, and the misalignment down the spine and along the side. True RGMs show significant proportion and accuracy in the grid lines, not represented here.

Patient receiving Chinese Suction Therapy using a series of glass jars in diminishing sizes down the back. 

The ancient technique is still practiced in alternative medicine for chronic pain, to promote healing, and flexibility in the back muscles. By stretching and holding the skin and tissue, the practitioners goal is to try and correct repetitive strain and tension. The result of this procedure is large suction marks that may take weeks to fully disappear.

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There you have it. Six similar types of marks which do NOT belong to the red grid mark phenomenon. If you have any other potential causes you would like me to compare, send me a message with your idea via the contact form in the side bar.

The science is in the details. Thank you for reading!


(Originally published on 7/22/14, Updated 1/23/15)