Any suggestions to help with blood bruising on arms?

Posted by anne4u @anne4u, Jun 22, 2024

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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bunnybear | @bunnybear | Jan 5 8:20am

In reply to @elisabeth007 "i have that condition too and my father had it too. i can suddenly find that..." + (show)

That condition of blood spots on thin, older skin is caused by sun damage over the years and is called Senile Purpura. Ugh!

sueb4bs | @sueb4bs | Jan 6 12:39pm

In reply to @kforrest "my former dr. said to wear long sleeves." + (show)

Hahaha haha... ridiculous... that's,the laughable medical response to this issue I have also. Most aging skin on arms/ tops of hands ( over 65 year old skin) has this issue.. move on, is what I have done.

anne4u | @anne4u | Jan 6 3:17pm

In reply to @walk4life "I have the same problem on my arms. My primary did a CBC (mostly to check..." + (show)

I’ve come to realize my bruising started not long after I started getting injections in my lower back. They are steroid injections such as epidural and trigger point, etc.
I’m going to talk to my pain doctor at my next visit. After 2 years the injections aren’t doing what they once did to help with my back pain. Maybe it’s time to do something else!

pb50 | @pb50 | Jan 6 3:41pm

In reply to @sueb4bs "Hahaha haha... ridiculous... that's,the laughable medical response to this issue I have also. Most aging skin..." + (show)

You really have no insight into how severe any individual’s condition may be-and even if it is a level you would consider trivial, that doesn’t excuse rude and arrogant responses.

micheleliz | @micheleliz | Jan 7 7:04am

In reply to @mabfp3 "Thank you for all of these recommendations! I will try Dermend again and keep at it!" + (show)

I have the same embarrassing blood spots, sometimes many on both hands. My Derm said it’s called solar purpura, caused by years of sun exposure and tanning beds. Some skin types will not get them. I grew up in South Florida and rode the tanning bed wave for years, so that’s my story. She said nothing can be done for them but protecting the hands

micheleliz | @micheleliz | Jan 7 7:06am

In reply to @bunnybear "That condition of blood spots on thin, older skin is caused by sun damage over the..." + (show)

That’s correct, AKA as solar purpura I grew up in south Florida and was into tanning beds when that was a fad. Young people should be aware

micheleliz | @micheleliz | Jan 7 7:08am

In reply to @sueb4bs "Hahaha haha... ridiculous... that's,the laughable medical response to this issue I have also. Most aging skin..." + (show)

Rude reply. Yes aging skin gets thin but years of sun exposure will also cause it, you may feel free to google “solar purpura”

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Jan 7 7:19am

In reply to @micheleliz "Rude reply. Yes aging skin gets thin but years of sun exposure will also cause it,..." + (show)

I wonder if the senile/solar purpura is exacerbated by menopause and loss of estrogen and testosterone. Anybody have information. I also was a beach rat when I was younger.

gravity3 | @gravity3 | 6 days ago

In reply to @gravity3 "I wonder if the senile/solar purpura is exacerbated by menopause and loss of estrogen and testosterone...." + (show)

I found a number of articles and studies on this topic. Here is one
https:/doi.org/10.4161/derm.23872

walk4life | @walk4life | 6 days ago

I was taking lights off the Christmas tree today. I just brushed against the tree and got this bruise. I had a CBC about 5 months ago due to easily bruising. Labs were normal. I am wondering if there are other tests I should request.