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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vivi75 | @vivi75 | Jun 11 10:43am

This is an interesting topic. My husband, who is 77, has worked outside in construction all his life as well as played outside sports - - - and I mean serious outside sports such as competitive softball and golf. Although I honestly tried to get him to wear sunscreen, you know how that goes! Anyway, I'm 75 and, unlike my friends, never sat outside with the baby oil and iodine nurturing a tan. I could NEVER tan - always burned and peeled and always used sunscreen or wore long sleeves when outside. When at the beach, there I was, the only one under the umbrella. Other than crepey skin, I don't experience the bruising and our dermatologist, during our cancer screening said the bruising was caused by the skin thinning as we aged and exposure to sun. So . . . my darling hubby now wears sunscreen religiously and wears SPF clothing as well as the SPF protective sleeves. When faced with skin cancer, NOW he listens . . . . MEN!

cherokeefaith | @cherokeefaith | Jun 11 11:08am

My husband never listens to me about sun danger either

tjnova624 | @tjnova624 | Jun 11 11:49am

In reply to @cherokeefaith "My husband never listens to me about sun danger either" + (show)

The bruising might be caused by low platelets count. Your welcome ❤️

anne4u | @anne4u | Jun 11 1:11pm

In reply to @gravity3 "I didn't get a response. I have been on bhrt for 7 months and and senile..." + (show)

That’s interesting to me. So your brushing slowed after starting bhrt? Do you mind if I ask what you are on?

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Jun 11 1:34pm

In reply to @anne4u "That’s interesting to me. So your brushing slowed after starting bhrt? Do you mind if I..." + (show)

I am on a estrogen/testosterone pellet, progesterone and vaginal estrogen cream.

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Jun 11 4:39pm

In reply to @gravity3 "I am on a estrogen/testosterone pellet, progesterone and vaginal estrogen cream." + (show)

For convenience and cost I am going to go back on the estrogen patch, testosterone cream and continue with progesterone and estrogen cream.

Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jun 11 10:32pm

In reply to @tjnova624 "The bruising might be caused by low platelets count. Your welcome ❤️" + (show)

@tjnova624 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!

slarson14 | @slarson14 | Jun 12 4:01am

I have been on estrogen patches since a total hysterectomy at age 44. I am 69. I DO know my skin is in much better shape than other women my age who do not take estrogen. I have a genetic sister three years older than me who is not on HRT due to breast cancer at age 30, and her skin is extremely fragile and she also does not have fat under her skin, it seems. Otherwise she is a healthy 72. I found out to keep the bleeding under the skin to a minimum on myself. As soon as you bang/hit/scrape your hand or arm or whatever take a tissue and hold it firmly against the bumped or nicked area with your (usually a hand or arm) above heart level. Since I have been doing this (and being very careful not to bump myself - though it does happen now and again) I have never had an issue in the last two years. Before the pressure and holding it up in the air for extended time, I would get these blood bruises at least once a week. In addition, I don't LET medical personnel stick me more than once. And when they do stick me ONCE: as soon as that needle comes out: ON goes pretty significant pressure by me and my arm/hand goes up into the air for as long as I can. Definitely has helped. I live in AZ and was raised here, so I have lots of sun damage but this pressure methods works for me. And am sure the HRT helps. HRT helps so many things.

woondogger | @woondogger | Jun 13 7:49am

Fascinating information and I will be certain to try next time I scrape, bump or otherwise injure my arms/ hands!

sassyfarms46 | @sassyfarms46 | Jun 14 7:17am

In reply to @woondogger "Fascinating information and I will be certain to try next time I scrape, bump or otherwise..." + (show)

Once leakage is there gentle massage of area with lotion often encourages the body to obsorb the blood so it goes away. Older people bump a lot and have these but if they get lotion applied every other day with some massage (lite) they stay away pretty much. That’s what I do with my hospice patients.