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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What I have not heard a doctor talk about yet is the effect of menopause and loss of estrogen as a leading cause of these bruises. Starting on bhrt has made me much less vulnerable. I rarely have them anymore.

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Profile picture for CaliforniaGal @califirniagal

I have exactly the same problem and have tried 10 or 12 bruise creams. Nothing works. What is the Bee Venum cream?

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@califirniagal
SupreH bee venum. It’s on their site or Amazon.

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Profile picture for CaliforniaGal @califirniagal

@seidholz
I cannot find this brand on Amazon or any Bee Venum for bruises.

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@califirniagal it’s on Amazon

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Profile picture for seidholz @seidholz

@seidholz do not buy the SupreH wart remover. It’s the bee venum cream that I used

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Profile picture for esque @esque

There are several things that can cause the bruising. Mine started in college when I was taking aspirin for headaches and period pains. When I had to have surgery at age 19, I was told never to take aspirin again due to it causeing a delayed clotting factor in me. Switched to ibuprofen and alive with no issues for many years. After a blood clot in my leg (provoked by a spinal during labor) they gave me warfarin. I hemorrhaged. At menopause time I hemorrhaged yet again a couple of times. Years later I find out I have factor V Leiden… a genetic disorder that causes blood clots! I question how I can possibly be a clotter and a bleeder at the same time. After a TIA recently I am put on Plavix and Aspirin. Needless to say that caused serious bruises and I also ended up allergic to Plavix. Now they did a genetic study because I have allergies to lots of meds. Turns out I have a genetic disorder processing vitamin K…that causes bleeding and requires much lower doses of anti clotting meds. At age 70 I finally know how you can be a bleeder and a Clotter at the same time.

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@esque I m 83 and ruined my skin living on the equator for 20 yrs without sunscreen. If I scratch a mosquito bite gently there’s a bruise. Asked everyone about a cure and there isn’t one so wear protective sleeves (TEMU) is cheap and they make short ones. Always long sleeved shirts and sunscreen on exposed skin. The red parts turn brown after gentle treatment. So now I must get Vit D from sun on my legs!

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Profile picture for gravity3 @gravity3

What I have not heard a doctor talk about yet is the effect of menopause and loss of estrogen as a leading cause of these bruises. Starting on bhrt has made me much less vulnerable. I rarely have them anymore.

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@gravity3 What is bhrt please?

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Profile picture for ddn @ddn

@gravity3 What is bhrt please?

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@ddn

Sorry. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

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I am on bhrt and it has not had any effect on my arm bruising.

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Profile picture for aethos @aethos

I am on bhrt and it has not had any effect on my arm bruising.

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@aethos

Sorry to hear it did not help you with the bruising.

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