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

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

Profile picture for denisemarys @denisemarys

I was told by my dermatologist that nothing can be done except cream on your arms. DerMend and Cetaphil were the two she recommended. She told me this is an inherited condition that happens to some of us as we age.
When I talked to my doctor she recommended Vital Proteins Collagen Powder because she has the condition. My Psychiatrist has the same condition, she told me to take 2000 mg of Vitamin C with Bioflavonoid Complex and Rose Hips. I am doing all of these recommendations. My psychiatrist said the University of Miami did a study and the Vitamin C worked in 50% of the cases. I still have to be careful, but it is slightly better.

This started when I came under extreme financial, medical, and emotional pressure. However, I am 68 and I might have developed the condition at this time just because of my age.

I am grateful to be this age. So, I guess it's just another thing to deal with, like wrinkles. 🙂

Jump to this post

@denisemarys

I am not sure I mentioned this before here. My senile pupurea stopped after I started bhrt. I still have the brown spots that are most likely related to my years as a beach rat but no more purple.
I am using estradiol patches. Compounded testosterone cream, progesterone and vaginal estradiol cream.

REPLY

Yesterday I ended up with a blood bruise size of a nickel on the top of my hand. I applied Vitality extracts Helichrysum Essential Oil Balm right away.

Before I went to bed I thought, hmm, why not try neosporin. Put that on at bedtime. The mark is basically gone this morning! Did the neosporin do that?

I’m self conscious when I get a big one on my arm and have bought a cover up product from Westmore beauty. The color matching is a little off, but I put a little on and it covers it up and lasts quite a while.

REPLY

I started getting bruise marks on my arms and upper legs after I started taking a daily baby aspirin after having a TIA. I have to continue with the aspirin but will see a hematologist in May. Yes I'm old, 81, but I wonder if something else is going on.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.