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Any suggestions to help with blood bruising on arms?
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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@seidholz
I looked up benum crème. Which should I order?
@sevieg003
There are many types of creams. I have red spots on arms & legs.
@sevieg003
Supre H is the best I’ve used. Just put some on this morning
@sevieg003
The bruising can be very embarrassing and can have different causes. Please make sure your platelets are OK. Something similar can occur if platelets are not good - causing little red/purple spots. This is a different type of bruising and can be from poor ability to clot. Other types of bruising can be from steroid use, which decreases collagen beneath the skin.
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2 Reactions@pht1123
I can tell you that my bruising started not long after I began getting steroid injections in my lumbar area.
My doctor said he doesn’t think they are causing it because the injections are centralized in my lower back, but I know darn well that no medication stays in one central area! I’m trying to decide if the injections are worth the side effects.
They help temporarily but the pain in my back returns within a couple of weeks depending on my activity level.
I’m so grateful when my arms clear up but I know it’s just a matter of time and they’ll be covered with bruises again!
I’m not as self conscious as I used to be but I do wear long sleeves if I’m going out. The skin on my right elbow is permanently discolored from brushing and scars. I keep telling myself the bruises reflect that I’m an active person! I’m certainly not going to let this stop me from doing what ever I want to do!
@anne4u
Hi Anne, If steroids are helping with your pain, consider taking them - even though I know the injection is painful and does not last as long as you would want it too. I take prednisone by mouth - and get these bruising areas on my arms, legs, and even some on my chest. Even slightly brushing against something causes bruising for me - and I bleed very easily. I am not on blood thinners. However, steroids decrease the collagen under the skin, as well as thin the skin - making us more prone to the bruising. I use Arnica cream - as soon as I get a bruise. Sometimes it works quickly, other times, not as much. Please watch that your blood sugars do not get too high - yes, steroids can cause diabetes type 2, but maybe not as often when one gets the occasional injection for pain. Good luck!! (as I sit here typing and see new bruises on my arms). It could always be worse - I'm grateful to be breathing OK from the steroids helping my asthma.
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1 Reaction@pht1123 thanks for your kind words! I don’t take any blood thinners either. I’m living in a home that sits on about 1&1/2 archers and much of the yard is manicured like a botanical garden. I love doing work on the property but my arms definitely pay a price. I’ve purchased protective gear to wear but nothing prevents 100% of the cuts and bruises I get from working in the yard. I do enjoy being outside and maintaining the property. It’s my therapy!
I’ll continue with the monthly injections I get, at least for now. They do offer me a break from pain. I have an excellent doctor and he’s never hurt me during an injection. I’m very grateful for that! I’ve had a painful experience with a back infection and it wasn’t fun!
My heart goes out to you! I certainly don’t take steroids to aid in breathing! That’s a tough one to treat. It’s frustrating when the medications that help us create other issues!
I have had that as well and it appears to be a consequence of dermal sun damage. I have been using an over-the-counterpreparation of ammonium lactate called “AmLactin Daily” for several years now and that seems to keep this under control. I’ve learned that this may predisposed to sunburn if you’re not careful and hence I do wear long white sleeves under my golf shirt and protect the areas that I have treated. I also tend to use it on cloudy days and at night.
Hope this might help.