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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lpmikey66 | @lpmikey66 | Aug 19 3:00pm

In reply to @gravity3 "Do you use bhrt?" + (show)

What is bhrt?
Thank you.

fncz | @fncz | Aug 20 12:43am

Wow. I thought I was alone on this.
I’ll be 77 in a month, and the blood bruises started in the early Spring ‘25.
I will try the tips I see, since nothing helps. Is this what was called “old age” or “liver spots?”

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Aug 20 5:09am

In reply to @fncz "Wow. I thought I was alone on this. I’ll be 77 in a month, and the..." + (show)

Senile purpura.....

mtnmarge | @mtnmarge | Aug 20 7:37am

Here's what I do...I go on with living, aware of the bruising but there is nothing I can do about . The people that matter the most in your family and social hook ups most likely understand and don't care as long as you're healthy. Hold your head up eye, don't pay attention to those who persist in staring and making comments..
This is your time and you should enjoy it without worrying about what others think. I do get bruises and cutting injuries all the time. I keep the injuries clean and sometimes bandaged. I have a cat and a dog and the cat seems the most determined to give me a 'little ouch' once in a while. Out comes the tube of antibiotic and band-aid. No problem. Some of my friends have the same problem and same answer from the doctors. We laugh about and get on with living, bruises or not.

pht1123 | @pht1123 | Aug 20 8:08am

In reply to @fncz "Wow. I thought I was alone on this. I’ll be 77 in a month, and the..." + (show)

These are different from "liver spots". I get these bruises all the time, unfortunately. I am not old and get it from steroids I use for asthma. It comes and goes - with or without an injury, sometimes just appearing out of nowhere. I use the Arnica cream (Arnicare or DerMend are just 2 of them). They sometimes appear more as people age, since there is less collagen under the skin and the skin does thin as we get older. They are annoying, don't hurt, and will eventually go away. Good luck.

gerrieme | @gerrieme | Aug 20 10:21am

I cover my many skin bruises
With inexpensive concealer
By Revlon.
My arms look a lot better and even if concealer isn't perfect color it doesn't show.
Just spread it around.

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Aug 20 11:08am

In reply to @lpmikey66 "What is bhrt? Thank you." + (show)

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Aug 20 11:26am

I am assuming that you are menopausal. Do you take hormone replacement therapy?

lpmikey66 | @lpmikey66 | Aug 21 8:18am

In reply to @gravity3 "Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy" + (show)

Thanks. I did use topical bhrt for a few years.

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Aug 21 10:24am

In reply to @lpmikey66 "Thanks. I did use topical bhrt for a few years." + (show)

Are you talking about estradiol cream? I should have been more specific. I'm referring to estradiol patches and testosterone cream or estradiol pellet with testosterone, progesterone and estradiol vaginal cream. Sorry about that.