1. < Aging Well

Any suggestions to help with blood bruising on arms?

Posted by anne4u @anne4u, Jun 22 2:16pm

I’ve developed a pretty severe problem with blood bruises on my arms.
It started about 18 months ago and hasn’t stopped with diligent healing lotions, sunscreens, bruising creams, etc.
I recently saw a dermatologist who did a biopsy with negative results. He recommended continuing my regimen of lotion and sunscreen. I was disappointed he couldn’t help me more, but maybe there isn’t more he could do? A few months ago at an annual checkup I had comprehensive blood tests done and everything looks good. I’m not taking blood thinners or anything that would cause my capillaries to break so easily.
It’s so severe that I can tap my arm on something and it leaves a mark. My dog recently (accidentally) kicked her back legs off my upper arm and tore the top layers of skin off which left bad cuts and bruising from my forearm to my shoulder. I ended up at urgent care after it became infected and then 7 days on antibiotics. It’s healing but takes so long.
I’m dedicated to putting quality lotions and creams on my arms and I wear sunscreen when outside. I purchased sleeves to wear when outside working on my yard. I try to avoid the sun whenever I can.
I spent plenty of time in the sun growing up. I loved water sports and live close to the beach. But for the past 25 years my exposure has been limited. It seems this issue came on after I stopped taking pain medications and started using ibuprofen for pain. Recently, after reading that ibuprofen can thin the blood, I switched to acetaminophen. I haven’t seen any change yet.
Just last night I pushed a chair in at a dinner table and the top of my hand tapped the underside of the table, I now have a blood bruise across the top of my right hand. It seems like every day I have a new bruise.
I feel like my life is limited to avoiding the sun and hiding my beat up arms! Summer is here and I’d love nothing more than to be able to go outside in short sleeves and enjoy the day without getting stares at my horribly bruised arms! I know this is common with old age. I’m 65 and feel like I’m too young for the severity of bruising.

Is there anything that has helped anyone with this issue? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

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anne4u | @anne4u | Jul 25 1:17pm
In reply to @gingerw "Oh, @anne4u We are twinsies! My arms look the same as yours! Just last night I..." + (show)
@gingerw

Oh, @anne4u We are twinsies! My arms look the same as yours! Just last night I had finally gotten my left arm almost cleared up. Then I hit the corner of a cabinet as I reached to grab a box. Yep, a new bruise and tear. Sigh....

I thought I might try some arnica gel on the bruises.
Ginger

Jump to this post

Hi Ginger, so sorry I missed your message. I found a few random messages from Connect in my junk folder! I don’t know why some go there and others don’t. I’m also sorry to hear you share my experience. My heart goes out to you! After asking this question here on Mayo I see I’m in good company! Those cabinet corners, door frames & wall corners I seem to cut too close, clumsy moments, etc. now come with lasting remembrances, and not fond ones! You would really think with the numbers of people getting older, more would be done to research this issue.
I’m trying a few products right now to see if I get a more noticeable response to one over the other. The arnica gel is helpful, it was what my dermatologist recommended. I’ve started putting ice on my bruises, especially if I can do it right after they happen. That seems to help with redness and any inflammation. I also use an Omega 6 Healing Cream. It’s been part of my facial skin care routine for some time but I decided to try it on my arms. It’s pretty expensive and a little goes a long way. I haven’t shared about my results with it because of its cost and I want to make sure it helps. I see an immediate difference in the condition of my skin, but the bruising is the main reason I’m using it on my arms. It’s made by a dermatologist and I buy directly from his outlet. I use his Vitamin C Serum and it’s absolutely amazing. I realize this is something I’m going to live with, but if I can find something to help I’m all in! Not only for the condition of the skin but for purposes of healing bruises. I’ll keep y’all posted on my progress!

REPLY
3 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 25 7:01pm
In reply to @anne4u "Hi Ginger, so sorry I missed your message. I found a few random messages from Connect..." + (show)
@anne4u

Hi Ginger, so sorry I missed your message. I found a few random messages from Connect in my junk folder! I don’t know why some go there and others don’t. I’m also sorry to hear you share my experience. My heart goes out to you! After asking this question here on Mayo I see I’m in good company! Those cabinet corners, door frames & wall corners I seem to cut too close, clumsy moments, etc. now come with lasting remembrances, and not fond ones! You would really think with the numbers of people getting older, more would be done to research this issue.
I’m trying a few products right now to see if I get a more noticeable response to one over the other. The arnica gel is helpful, it was what my dermatologist recommended. I’ve started putting ice on my bruises, especially if I can do it right after they happen. That seems to help with redness and any inflammation. I also use an Omega 6 Healing Cream. It’s been part of my facial skin care routine for some time but I decided to try it on my arms. It’s pretty expensive and a little goes a long way. I haven’t shared about my results with it because of its cost and I want to make sure it helps. I see an immediate difference in the condition of my skin, but the bruising is the main reason I’m using it on my arms. It’s made by a dermatologist and I buy directly from his outlet. I use his Vitamin C Serum and it’s absolutely amazing. I realize this is something I’m going to live with, but if I can find something to help I’m all in! Not only for the condition of the skin but for purposes of healing bruises. I’ll keep y’all posted on my progress!

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@anne4u Yesterday while at my oncologist, the nurse practitioner I saw commented, "boy you have quite the number of bruises!" I told her they are all healed up. It has been 3 weeks since my last nasty one! Knocking on wood. Yes, still a lot of discoloration, but no fresh scabs. And, yes, some permanent scarring, but hey! at least nothing new!
Ginger

REPLY
11moondog11 | @11moondog11 | Jul 28 10:04pm
In reply to @anne4u "Hi Ginger, so sorry I missed your message. I found a few random messages from Connect..." + (show)
@anne4u

Hi Ginger, so sorry I missed your message. I found a few random messages from Connect in my junk folder! I don’t know why some go there and others don’t. I’m also sorry to hear you share my experience. My heart goes out to you! After asking this question here on Mayo I see I’m in good company! Those cabinet corners, door frames & wall corners I seem to cut too close, clumsy moments, etc. now come with lasting remembrances, and not fond ones! You would really think with the numbers of people getting older, more would be done to research this issue.
I’m trying a few products right now to see if I get a more noticeable response to one over the other. The arnica gel is helpful, it was what my dermatologist recommended. I’ve started putting ice on my bruises, especially if I can do it right after they happen. That seems to help with redness and any inflammation. I also use an Omega 6 Healing Cream. It’s been part of my facial skin care routine for some time but I decided to try it on my arms. It’s pretty expensive and a little goes a long way. I haven’t shared about my results with it because of its cost and I want to make sure it helps. I see an immediate difference in the condition of my skin, but the bruising is the main reason I’m using it on my arms. It’s made by a dermatologist and I buy directly from his outlet. I use his Vitamin C Serum and it’s absolutely amazing. I realize this is something I’m going to live with, but if I can find something to help I’m all in! Not only for the condition of the skin but for purposes of healing bruises. I’ll keep y’all posted on my progress!

Jump to this post

Removing one's arms may be the only solution! I've tried everything and nothing yet has worked....

REPLY
jana13 | @jana13 | Jul 30 7:47am
In reply to @anne4u "Hi Ginger, so sorry I missed your message. I found a few random messages from Connect..." + (show)
@anne4u

Hi Ginger, so sorry I missed your message. I found a few random messages from Connect in my junk folder! I don’t know why some go there and others don’t. I’m also sorry to hear you share my experience. My heart goes out to you! After asking this question here on Mayo I see I’m in good company! Those cabinet corners, door frames & wall corners I seem to cut too close, clumsy moments, etc. now come with lasting remembrances, and not fond ones! You would really think with the numbers of people getting older, more would be done to research this issue.
I’m trying a few products right now to see if I get a more noticeable response to one over the other. The arnica gel is helpful, it was what my dermatologist recommended. I’ve started putting ice on my bruises, especially if I can do it right after they happen. That seems to help with redness and any inflammation. I also use an Omega 6 Healing Cream. It’s been part of my facial skin care routine for some time but I decided to try it on my arms. It’s pretty expensive and a little goes a long way. I haven’t shared about my results with it because of its cost and I want to make sure it helps. I see an immediate difference in the condition of my skin, but the bruising is the main reason I’m using it on my arms. It’s made by a dermatologist and I buy directly from his outlet. I use his Vitamin C Serum and it’s absolutely amazing. I realize this is something I’m going to live with, but if I can find something to help I’m all in! Not only for the condition of the skin but for purposes of healing bruises. I’ll keep y’all posted on my progress!

Jump to this post

I was looking at my arm this morning and they are awful. I have a huge dark bruise on my left elbow. I think l must have walked into a door.
That same arm has keloids from where my granddog
Scratched me. I am see a dermatologist in October about the keloids. My right arm isn’t as bad just a few purple marks from where l scratched my arm when it was itchy. I try to keep itch calming lotion on my arms. The skin just tears so easily.
I had blood work last week and my platelets were a little high. Maybe that is what causes them to be so dark. My primary saw of bruises, but didn’t seem alarmed by them, Maybe when l finally get to see the dermatologist he will have some answers for me. It may just be that l’m 77 years old and l take a lot of medications. But
anxious for what the dermatologist has to say. I am going to try the arnica cream. Maybe it will also help with joint pain from RA.

REPLY
4 replies
mydogsbestfriend | @mydogsbestfriend | Jul 31 9:46am

I have had this problem for about 2 years now, I will be 77 in September. I have had high red blood cell counts and low platelets for about the same time ( not extremely high or low, just above or below the norms). My doctor had me tested for polythemia vera and polycytothemis (I think those names are correct. The lab had no idea what test to use! ). The results were negative for both. My doctor says the bruises are just because of thinning skin. My mom died at age 92 and also had them. I gave up buying creams & lotions because nothing was helping. I try to be careful but I still get them, mostly on my left arm. They just fade away, depends on the size. I just live with them.

REPLY
Always Hopeful | @AlwaysHopeful | Jul 31 11:52am
In reply to @jana13 "I was looking at my arm this morning and they are awful. I have a huge..." + (show)
@jana13

I was looking at my arm this morning and they are awful. I have a huge dark bruise on my left elbow. I think l must have walked into a door.
That same arm has keloids from where my granddog
Scratched me. I am see a dermatologist in October about the keloids. My right arm isn’t as bad just a few purple marks from where l scratched my arm when it was itchy. I try to keep itch calming lotion on my arms. The skin just tears so easily.
I had blood work last week and my platelets were a little high. Maybe that is what causes them to be so dark. My primary saw of bruises, but didn’t seem alarmed by them, Maybe when l finally get to see the dermatologist he will have some answers for me. It may just be that l’m 77 years old and l take a lot of medications. But
anxious for what the dermatologist has to say. I am going to try the arnica cream. Maybe it will also help with joint pain from RA.

Jump to this post

My right arm looks like I tangled with a mad dog. Even itching my arm leaves marks. Physician does not seem concerned about it. Long sleeves help!

REPLY
darleneporter | @darleneporter | Jul 31 2:07pm

I have the same problem, mostly on my right hand, my skin is so thin , you can see all my veins, I to am also 77 yrs old, and just try to be careful, creams don't help me either.

REPLY
1 reply
gina5009 | @gina5009 | Jul 31 5:55pm
In reply to @jana13 "I was looking at my arm this morning and they are awful. I have a huge..." + (show)
@jana13

I was looking at my arm this morning and they are awful. I have a huge dark bruise on my left elbow. I think l must have walked into a door.
That same arm has keloids from where my granddog
Scratched me. I am see a dermatologist in October about the keloids. My right arm isn’t as bad just a few purple marks from where l scratched my arm when it was itchy. I try to keep itch calming lotion on my arms. The skin just tears so easily.
I had blood work last week and my platelets were a little high. Maybe that is what causes them to be so dark. My primary saw of bruises, but didn’t seem alarmed by them, Maybe when l finally get to see the dermatologist he will have some answers for me. It may just be that l’m 77 years old and l take a lot of medications. But
anxious for what the dermatologist has to say. I am going to try the arnica cream. Maybe it will also help with joint pain from RA.

Jump to this post

do you take aspirin. T'his is frequently the cause of bruises in the arms?
Gina5009

REPLY
gravity3 | @gravity3 | Aug 1 5:06am
In reply to @darleneporter "I have the same problem, mostly on my right hand, my skin is so thin ,..." + (show)
@darleneporter

I have the same problem, mostly on my right hand, my skin is so thin , you can see all my veins, I to am also 77 yrs old, and just try to be careful, creams don't help me either.

Jump to this post

I'm with you. Just accept it and live to the fullest. I am 76

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hopeinal | @hopeinal | Aug 1 9:14am

Yes! That is exactly what happened to me not long after I started Prednisone. My forearms and the tops of my hands look like I've been beaten with a baseball bat all the time. I mean, it's so bad I won't wear short sleeves out in public because people stare at me. They're probably wondering if it's contagious. I also have the extremely thin skin now after 18 months on Prednisone, too. The least little contact with anything and I have a skin tear. From what I've read and what my rheumatologist told me, this is from the Prednisone. I thought at first that when I finally manage (if I do) to taper off it completely my skin would go back to normal but again, research says no. My eyes are always very very red and swollen with undereye bags upon bags. Three ophthalmologists said it's because the Pred is thinning my eye membranes as well as my skin and that's why the blood vessels keep rupturing. I have the "Prednisone Pregnancy" belly. My feet and ankles swell at times and other times it's my face and hands. Honestly it's still better than being in intractable pain but as I sometimes say, I don't mind getting old but I hate looking like a goblin. lol

I read that Vitamin C, Rutin and Hesperidin supplements will help a lot to stop the severe bruising starting at about 4 weeks. I've been taking it two weeks with no change. So we'll see. If it does help, I'll update here. Best of luck to you. If you find something that works please post!

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