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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blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Jun 14 11:39am

In reply to @maggieb892 "Isn't aging grand? So many pieces and parts begin to weaken or fail and we still..." + (show)

Just found this. Have not been on this site before I have Bronchiectasis but will be reading this info somewhat now also.
I have often compared us to trees where one dead limb, or two, on the tree....yet and however..... the tree thrives and lives on. "So many pieces and parts begin to weaken or fail and we still go on."

izzymeyer | @izzymeyer | Jun 16 6:13am

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

Yes is would have the same question.

anne4u | @anne4u | Jun 16 10:55pm

In reply to @gravity3 "For convenience and cost I am going to go back on the estrogen patch, testosterone cream..." + (show)

Thanks!

idnic | @idnic | Jun 17 11:24am

Dermend eliminated
mine in one day

aethos | @aethos | Jun 17 7:19pm

In reply to @idnic "Dermend eliminated mine in one day" + (show)

You are lucky, it didn’t do anything for mine, same for arnica cream

Amy19 | @amy19 | Jun 18 3:48pm

Hi ladies! I have all of the same problems with “blood bruising” on my arms and legs. Names for this include: Ecchymosis, Petechiae, and Purpura, and frankly seem confusing. There is another name that starts with a T. 🤓

I’ve been on oral steroids for 21 years for Interstitial Lung Disease so most doctors blame all my complaints on that, which is somewhat true, but I have to breathe!

I have multiple autoimmune diseases that have never been treated successfully. I am on aspirin as a blood thinner. I’m 61 with no HRT, and I’ve had this ugly bruising for several years.

Interesting, it did show up after dealing with Covid, so as someone pointed out that may be the culprit. And may explain why doctors just shrug and call us old ladies! 🤦‍♀️

As anyone tried body make-up to cover it up? I just found this at QVC: Whish Beauty Coconut Milk + Verbena CC Body Cream. It has a lot of moisturizers. I’ll think I’ll try it. Hopefully it’s not too shimmery.

Best wishes to everyone as we try to enjoy the beautiful summer weather safely. Any thoughts on the best sunscreen?

Thank you for the information. I feel ‘seen’, lol. I look forward to updates on this discussion.🙋‍♀️

anne4u | @anne4u | Jun 18 7:05pm

In reply to @amy19 "Hi ladies! I have all of the same problems with “blood bruising” on my arms and..." + (show)

For sunscreen I use:

Coppertone water babies, hypoallergenic with aloe & nourishing vitamin e. 50spf

That’s what the label says! It comes in a 8oz pink bottle.
I use it because Consumer Reports rates it high in having the sun protection it says it has. So many say they have a certain SPF rating but in reality don’t offer that protection.

It doesn’t seem like there is a rhyme or reason for us having the bruising we experience. I try to be careful but it seems like every time I look at my arms there’s a new bruise! I believe my time in the sun when I was younger contributed to my bruising. My mom had it if it’s hereditary. Who knows?
I’ve been using Arnica gel. I ended up with a couple good size bruises on my arms last week and have been putting Arnica gel on them and they are fading fast! I also found some coverup makeup that matches my skin tone pretty good. It helps cover the bad bruises if I wear short sleeves. The only problem is they are discontinuing the stuff so I’ll be looking again when I run out. I think I’ll go to Alta or Sephora to get a good match. I’ve spent more than I’d like already on coverup that doesn’t match my skin tone.
I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to having these bruises but if I can help them go away faster and cover them a little, I’ll learn to live with them. I’m not vain, but I don’t like having big bruises all over my arms!

woondogger | @woondogger | Jun 19 12:24pm

In reply to @anne4u "For sunscreen I use: Coppertone water babies, hypoallergenic with aloe & nourishing vitamin e. 50spf That’s..." + (show)

I have spent way too much money on concealers over the decades (going on 84) that don't cover enough or the shade is "off." Westmore is expensive but worth it and I often combine it with my moisturizer for lighter weight coverage. Arnica does help and as another person on this thread mentioned, raising arms over my head along with gentle massage seem to lesson the bruise color and size. I take a low dose aspirin with my BP med daily, that's it.

aethos | @aethos | Jun 21 9:11pm

In reply to @woondogger "I have spent way too much money on concealers over the decades (going on 84) that..." + (show)

Which westmore product do you get?

sue417 | @sue417 | Jun 22 7:11am

Hi
This issue started with me also at the age of 65 I am now 67 which is still hard to believe anyway. I too went to a dermatologist had biopsies done blood work everything's normal. Mine seems to come and go in Cycles it will completely clear up in the winter and then as soon as the warm weather hits in my arms are exposed it's there and I can barely tap my arms and they have a spot right now they're a mess and I'm so tired of it also there is a cream you can get from the health food store which I put on nightly that does seem to help them go away faster it is called arnica by A. Vogel is like a gel and make sure it says for bruises. That is the only thing I have found that actually helps get rid of them quicker. I find that sometimes I just wake up with them in the morning so in the night I must have scratched myself or something. It really plays on your mental health for some reason I think it's because of the comments people say when they see you without sleeves. I believe that my medication causes it and I believe it is from the Statin because when I went off it they disappeared. I hope you find some help with this. Unfortunately I have to take a Statin so I'm stuck with this and it also is on my shins