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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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Profile picture for anne4u
anne4u | @anne4u | Jul 6, 2025
In reply to @pb50 "I just began to use it. You get a roll on or a balm or straight..." + (show)
Profile picture for pb50 @pb50

I just began to use it. You get a roll on or a balm or straight essential oil you can mix with what is termed a carrier oil - i use sweet almond oil but olive oil is fine too.
I didn't have to wait long to test it - I turned into a door frame the next day carrying towels from the dryer and banged my forearm.
I mix it in a little plastic container with a lid intended for condiments. I try to mix a solution that is maybe 3 teaspoons all together - 2 tsps of carrier oil and one dropper of the essential oil. That is based on reading a lot about strengths. A lot of people report they just do full strength and i may work up to that.
You should test it on your arm - I put some in the crook of my elbow because it is less likely to get inadvertently wiped off there. Give it a while to make sure you don’t get hives or itchy, etc.

I am going to show two pics - one the day it happened and one four days later. I don't know how fast anyone else heals, but this event would typically take four weeks to fade. This seems significantly faster. One time is not proof and it isn’t magic but it is better than Arnica.

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Thanks for the tip! I just purchased some. I’m pretty happy with Arnica but if this works faster to heal, I’m in!

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anne4u | @anne4u | Jul 8, 2025
In reply to @bobgallen "I. Find a product called renew works best on my forehead and arms for blood patches..." + (show)
Profile picture for bobgallen @bobgallen

I. Find a product called renew works best on my forehead and arms for blood patches and bruises
Etc.

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Are you using the AHA Skin Repair cream?

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fltutu | @fltutu | Jul 9, 2025

Have you tried Dermend? It worked pretty well for my husband. He also had some success with retinol cream.

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jillb329 | @jillb329 | Jul 9, 2025

I have blood bruising on my arms and legs. My little dog scratched me the other day and now I have a giant black and blue spot on my leg. I've tried all sorts of lotions and creams. Now I use 5Kind arnica cream. I'm 84 years old and I've decided that I don't mind if people stare at my unsightly legs. I love to swim and garden - if my legs are a problem for anyone else, that's their problem not mine!

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anne4u | @anne4u | Jul 9, 2025
In reply to @fltutu "Have you tried Dermend? It worked pretty well for my husband. He also had some success..." + (show)
Profile picture for fltutu @fltutu

Have you tried Dermend? It worked pretty well for my husband. He also had some success with retinol cream.

Jump to this post

I personally have used Dermend. I don’t think I gave it enough time. I’ve had pretty good results from arnica gel so I’ve stuck with it. I’m glad your husband saw results!

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fltutu | @fltutu | Jul 10, 2025

It did take a while for the Dermend to show results. Glad you are getting results from Arnica!

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slowrunner1 | @slowrunner1 | Jul 10, 2025
In reply to @jillb329 "I have blood bruising on my arms and legs. My little dog scratched me the other..." + (show)
Profile picture for jillb329 @jillb329

I have blood bruising on my arms and legs. My little dog scratched me the other day and now I have a giant black and blue spot on my leg. I've tried all sorts of lotions and creams. Now I use 5Kind arnica cream. I'm 84 years old and I've decided that I don't mind if people stare at my unsightly legs. I love to swim and garden - if my legs are a problem for anyone else, that's their problem not mine!

Jump to this post

Good for you! I do lots of dumb stuff - lurching into door frames, counter tops, getting in and out of cars, carrying milk crates, 40lb bags of pet/bird food and so on. My arms (and some other parts) look like leftovers from assembling Frankenstein's monster. Ask me if I give a hoot. If it doesn't hurt or at least stops bleeding, no problemo.

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | Jul 11, 2025

Are you on bhrt? It has worked very well for me. If you are uncomfortable because you believe that others are looking at your bruises, remember this "what other people think of you is none of your business."❤️

REPLY
Profile picture for vivi75
vivi75 | @vivi75 | Jul 14, 2025
In reply to @pb50 "I just began to use it. You get a roll on or a balm or straight..." + (show)
Profile picture for pb50 @pb50

I just began to use it. You get a roll on or a balm or straight essential oil you can mix with what is termed a carrier oil - i use sweet almond oil but olive oil is fine too.
I didn't have to wait long to test it - I turned into a door frame the next day carrying towels from the dryer and banged my forearm.
I mix it in a little plastic container with a lid intended for condiments. I try to mix a solution that is maybe 3 teaspoons all together - 2 tsps of carrier oil and one dropper of the essential oil. That is based on reading a lot about strengths. A lot of people report they just do full strength and i may work up to that.
You should test it on your arm - I put some in the crook of my elbow because it is less likely to get inadvertently wiped off there. Give it a while to make sure you don’t get hives or itchy, etc.

I am going to show two pics - one the day it happened and one four days later. I don't know how fast anyone else heals, but this event would typically take four weeks to fade. This seems significantly faster. One time is not proof and it isn’t magic but it is better than Arnica.

Jump to this post

Okay! I'm dealing with a 77 year old child who worked in the sun since he was 8 years old (growing up on a farm) played sports all the way thru college and still plays competitive sports on two teams, still works (despite my begging him to retire!) in a field he LOVES which requires him to be outside. His skin is literally FRIED! After years of begging, pleading, and nagging him to wear sunblock, he thought he knew better. Cancer spots on his face - check. Tissue thin skin on his arms, bruising and bleeding under the skin - check. Our dermatologist suggested intense moisturizers, Dermend, sunblock, "no arms exposed to sunlight," etc., etc., Soooooo. I purchased a bottle of Helichrysum oil and coconut oil and mixed 8 drops of the essential oil into 1 oz. of the coconut oil, handed it to my hubby and said, USE it! Yesterday was day one. I'll keep you posted!

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pb50 | @pb50 | Jul 14, 2025

I am Irish fair skin and while I protected my face when younger (only because the burns and peeling were so hideous), my legs and arms bore the brunt of my sun worshiping. And about six months ago I got the first set of blood bruises like my mother had. Dammit. I have become a fan of sleeveless tanks with mens style button up shirts with the sleeves rolled up a bit. That hides about 75% of the gross looking purpura.

Good luck but manage expectations. Some of them fade quickly but some linger. I think it has to do with how hard i banged into whatever it was.

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