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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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marguerite1524 | @marguerite1524 | 2 days ago
In reply to @anne4u "@califirniagal I can relate to your frustration! I started using Arnica gel and I notice bruises..." + (show)
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@califirniagal
I can relate to your frustration! I started using Arnica gel and I notice bruises heal faster. My dermatologist recommended it. I found some on Amazon made by DuLac and the label says arnica gel 98%. It does help my bruises go away faster. I use it primarily on my arms but my legs have some bruising too. Definitely worth a try! It’s important to use it regularly while healing bruising.

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@anne4u my husband has the same problem..hands and arms. He was using the arnica cream, which helped, but, did not have the patience to use it, I bought him the arnica pills(three small pills you dissolve under your tongue) and they seem to work better…when he takes them. I can notice the difference when he dosent. Arnica is homeopathic and doesn’t interfere with any meds

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esthermayo | @esthermayo | 2 days ago
In reply to @pht1123 "@anne4u Hi Anne, If steroids are helping with your pain, consider taking them - even though..." + (show)
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@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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@pht1123 sometimes it’s helpful to have a friend or neighbor spend a bit of time with you in the garden & observe you just to see what you’re doing . Sometimes such a person can see if you are inadvertently doing something or touching something that is inadvertently causing some irritation .

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anne4u | @anne4u | 2 days ago
In reply to @marguerite1524 "@anne4u my husband has the same problem..hands and arms. He was using the arnica cream, which..." + (show)
Profile picture for marguerite1524 @marguerite1524

@anne4u my husband has the same problem..hands and arms. He was using the arnica cream, which helped, but, did not have the patience to use it, I bought him the arnica pills(three small pills you dissolve under your tongue) and they seem to work better…when he takes them. I can notice the difference when he dosent. Arnica is homeopathic and doesn’t interfere with any meds

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@marguerite1524 that’s interesting to hear! I have some of the pills as well as the gel but haven’t tried the pills. I guess I should! I was thinking that another pill is the last thing I need but I haven’t talked to anyone who tried them. Sounds like it would be worth a try! Thanks!

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pht1123 | @pht1123 | 1 day ago
In reply to @esthermayo "@pht1123 sometimes it’s helpful to have a friend or neighbor spend a bit of time with..." + (show)
Profile picture for esthermayo @esthermayo

@pht1123 sometimes it’s helpful to have a friend or neighbor spend a bit of time with you in the garden & observe you just to see what you’re doing . Sometimes such a person can see if you are inadvertently doing something or touching something that is inadvertently causing some irritation .

Jump to this post

@esthermayo
Hi Esther,
Nice to hear from you. Unfortunately - or rather fortunately, I have a black thumb - no plant is alive when it is around me. I don't do any gardening. My best plants are plastic, and the one I have in the house, I have my son or daughter-in-law take care of it weekly to water. I have killed bonzai as well as cactus. Gardening is not my strong point. I put on my creams and moisturizers on my arms and I can get p with new purpura on my arms or chest from sleeping - all related to my steroids. Thanks, though for the thought. Be well.

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seidholz | @seidholz | 1 day ago

SupreH bee Venum cream is what I use. It really works well

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hdeff | @hdeff | 5 hours ago

Are you taking any blood thinning supplements like omega 3 or ginko biloba? If you are taking supplements maybe you should Google if any of them have that effect, If not, I'd slap on some fake tan so the bruises aren't as noticeable :+)

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