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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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anne4u | @anne4u | Jul 14 3:19pm
In reply to @vivi75 "Okay! I'm dealing with a 77 year old child who worked in the sun since he..." + (show)
Profile picture for vivi75 @vivi75

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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Good luck! Yes, please keep us posted on how he does! I purchased the Helichrysum oil too but haven’t received it yet.
I took my dog to a local dog beach on Sunday and lathered up with sunscreen. According to Consumer Reports the sunscreen that rated highest in protection is Coppertone’s water babies, spf 50. It works really good. I was in the sun at the beach for almost 2 hours and no sunburn at all. I’m pretty diligent about putting it on every couple hours or so and I apply it liberally!

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vivi75 | @vivi75 | Jul 14 9:47pm

I have used Coppertone Water Babies for years and have never sunburned. Of course, I'm the weirdo who uses the sunscreen/sunblock, wears a SPF shirt and sits under an umbrella. I just wish my husband had listened to me 40 years ago and I will keep you posted on his results from using this concoction.

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misplacedhippie | @misplacedhippie | Jul 16 1:29am

I live with this blood bruising is well. It’s frustrating. Everytime I barely bump or glide my arm against something I instantly know what’s about to suddenly appear and I dread looking down.
I was told that CeraVe lotion would do the trick. It didn’t,so I tried the cream. It did nothing for the bruising under the skin, but I did notice much better looking skin in terms of dryness. So recently I was told to use vitamin E oil directly onto the skin. It’s only been a few days, but my marks do seem to be looking a little better. It could be just my imagination getting the best of me thought. It’s really too soon to tell.
So far the only thing I know for sure is goodbye Aveeno…..hello CeraVe.

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vivi75 | @vivi75 | Jul 16 9:53am
In reply to @pb50 "I am Irish fair skin and while I protected my face when younger (only because the..." + (show)
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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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Believe me, my expectations aren't high - - - I'm just thankful that he is listening! He goes regularly to a dermatologist who does skin checks and also preaches to him, he is using a sunscreen/sunblock every day and I actually overheard him discussing the importance of prevention to a younger employee who just started working for him. I'll take it! I have fair skin as well and was the nerd who never laid out with her friends as they broiled in the sun using baby oil and iodine - remember that? While on vacation, while everyone laid out on the sand, I was the nerd that despite using sunblock, had on a long sleeve cover-up and hat, sat under a hut with a book. Meanwhile, Mr. Know It All just went about his usual mind set of, "I'm on vacation, so I've got to come back with just a little color!" I'm just thankful he's finally listening, so I'll take anything I can get!

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pb50 | @pb50 | Jul 16 1:56pm
In reply to @vivi75 "Believe me, my expectations aren't high - - - I'm just thankful that he is listening!..." + (show)
Profile picture for vivi75 @vivi75

Believe me, my expectations aren't high - - - I'm just thankful that he is listening! He goes regularly to a dermatologist who does skin checks and also preaches to him, he is using a sunscreen/sunblock every day and I actually overheard him discussing the importance of prevention to a younger employee who just started working for him. I'll take it! I have fair skin as well and was the nerd who never laid out with her friends as they broiled in the sun using baby oil and iodine - remember that? While on vacation, while everyone laid out on the sand, I was the nerd that despite using sunblock, had on a long sleeve cover-up and hat, sat under a hut with a book. Meanwhile, Mr. Know It All just went about his usual mind set of, "I'm on vacation, so I've got to come back with just a little color!" I'm just thankful he's finally listening, so I'll take anything I can get!

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Thanks for the memories of baby oil and iodine and those foil reflectors. 🙂
My Dad and I were the two in our family who pretended to be like everyone else on day 1 and the morning of day 2. Then we were crispy and had to stay inside. So on day 4 he is packing up the car and we drive home. Every year.

I have had so many bad burns. So if there is a price to pay, there is no surprise that I am paying it now.

I do think this essential oil Helichrysum is helping.

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Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jul 16 5:12pm
In reply to @misplacedhippie "I live with this blood bruising is well. It’s frustrating. Everytime I barely bump or glide..." + (show)
Profile picture for misplacedhippie @misplacedhippie

I live with this blood bruising is well. It’s frustrating. Everytime I barely bump or glide my arm against something I instantly know what’s about to suddenly appear and I dread looking down.
I was told that CeraVe lotion would do the trick. It didn’t,so I tried the cream. It did nothing for the bruising under the skin, but I did notice much better looking skin in terms of dryness. So recently I was told to use vitamin E oil directly onto the skin. It’s only been a few days, but my marks do seem to be looking a little better. It could be just my imagination getting the best of me thought. It’s really too soon to tell.
So far the only thing I know for sure is goodbye Aveeno…..hello CeraVe.

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@misplacedhippie Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I’m glad you joined us and joined the discussion. There are many more discussions https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/other/
In the Just Want To Talk group.
Please keep me posted on how all your blood bruising is doing.

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anne4u | @anne4u | Jul 16 5:25pm
In reply to @misplacedhippie "I live with this blood bruising is well. It’s frustrating. Everytime I barely bump or glide..." + (show)
Profile picture for misplacedhippie @misplacedhippie

I live with this blood bruising is well. It’s frustrating. Everytime I barely bump or glide my arm against something I instantly know what’s about to suddenly appear and I dread looking down.
I was told that CeraVe lotion would do the trick. It didn’t,so I tried the cream. It did nothing for the bruising under the skin, but I did notice much better looking skin in terms of dryness. So recently I was told to use vitamin E oil directly onto the skin. It’s only been a few days, but my marks do seem to be looking a little better. It could be just my imagination getting the best of me thought. It’s really too soon to tell.
So far the only thing I know for sure is goodbye Aveeno…..hello CeraVe.

Jump to this post

Arnica gel or cream work pretty good. I’ve been using the gel with noticeable results!k

REPLY
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vivi75 | @vivi75 | Jul 16 5:31pm
In reply to @pb50 "Thanks for the memories of baby oil and iodine and those foil reflectors. :) My Dad..." + (show)
Profile picture for pb50 @pb50

Thanks for the memories of baby oil and iodine and those foil reflectors. 🙂
My Dad and I were the two in our family who pretended to be like everyone else on day 1 and the morning of day 2. Then we were crispy and had to stay inside. So on day 4 he is packing up the car and we drive home. Every year.

I have had so many bad burns. So if there is a price to pay, there is no surprise that I am paying it now.

I do think this essential oil Helichrysum is helping.

Jump to this post

He's been using "The Concoction" for 3 days; I figure that's a win because he's at least using it! I'm going to give it several weeks and hopefully we'll see a difference. As to the iodine and baby oil - - - that definately shows our age!

REPLY
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sears | @sears | Jul 17 2:18pm
In reply to @misplacedhippie "I live with this blood bruising is well. It’s frustrating. Everytime I barely bump or glide..." + (show)
Profile picture for misplacedhippie @misplacedhippie

I live with this blood bruising is well. It’s frustrating. Everytime I barely bump or glide my arm against something I instantly know what’s about to suddenly appear and I dread looking down.
I was told that CeraVe lotion would do the trick. It didn’t,so I tried the cream. It did nothing for the bruising under the skin, but I did notice much better looking skin in terms of dryness. So recently I was told to use vitamin E oil directly onto the skin. It’s only been a few days, but my marks do seem to be looking a little better. It could be just my imagination getting the best of me thought. It’s really too soon to tell.
So far the only thing I know for sure is goodbye Aveeno…..hello CeraVe.

Jump to this post

Vitamin K cream really helps.

REPLY
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czgunch | @czgunch | Aug 5 10:45pm

I read somewhere about citrus bioflavonoids helping thus condition. I’ve learned that too large a dose isn’t helping so I’ve dropped to a lower dose which seems to help but doesn’t prevent them. My doctor said it was ‘old lady skin’! He lucky I like him and didn’t slap him! I’m 74 but my dad had this too! Long sleeves don’t help much but they hide it. It’s hard to wear long sleeves in Texas in summer! No doctors seem to have a clue why this happens. My dad has Welsh ancestry. Mom was half Swede. Her skin was fine.

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