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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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Profile picture for fncz
fncz | @fncz | Aug 21 11:13am
In reply to @pht1123 "These are different from "liver spots". I get these bruises all the time, unfortunately. I am..." + (show)
Profile picture for pht1123 @pht1123

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.

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Thank you

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judystew | @judystew | Aug 21 12:04pm

i use therapeutic repair lotion by adamia. It has macadamia oil. It sure helps the bruises disappear faster. I use every day after my shower.

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lpmikey66 | @lpmikey66 | Aug 22 8:11am
In reply to @gravity3 "Are you talking about estradiol cream? I should have been more specific. I'm referring to estradiol..." + (show)
Profile picture for gravity3 @gravity3

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.

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I believe it was estradiol cream. It was applied to the forearm a few times weekly. Don’t remember exact details, as it’s been years!

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sue417 | @sue417 | Aug 22 1:35pm

Hi
I find it's a lot of medications for me a statin does it. When I stop the Staten it clears up. Unfortunately I have to take one

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spreels2 | @spreels2 | Aug 23 10:42am
In reply to @sue417 "Hi I find it's a lot of medications for me a statin does it. When I..." + (show)
Profile picture for sue417 @sue417

Hi
I find it's a lot of medications for me a statin does it. When I stop the Staten it clears up. Unfortunately I have to take one

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Me too, Sue, ME TOO!!

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mkosloff | @mkosloff | Sep 3 11:48am

I read that icing helps, so I tried it and it really helps!

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marthadean | @marthadean | Sep 7 9:00am

is it brusing or purpura/ I understand that purpura is from an internal toxic reaction. If so you need to find what caused it and it will go away once the toxicity is no more

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anne4u | @anne4u | Sep 7 2:22pm
In reply to @marthadean "is it brusing or purpura/ I understand that purpura is from an internal toxic reaction. If..." + (show)
Profile picture for marthadean @marthadean

is it brusing or purpura/ I understand that purpura is from an internal toxic reaction. If so you need to find what caused it and it will go away once the toxicity is no more

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Purpura may stem from other sources like long term exposure to sun, heredity, etc.
I’ve seen a couple drs for it, none mentioned toxicity. You’d think they would if that were a known cause.

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slowrunner1 | @slowrunner1 | Sep 8 12:39pm
In reply to @anne4u "Purpura may stem from other sources like long term exposure to sun, heredity, etc. I’ve seen..." + (show)
Profile picture for anne4u @anne4u

Purpura may stem from other sources like long term exposure to sun, heredity, etc.
I’ve seen a couple drs for it, none mentioned toxicity. You’d think they would if that were a known cause.

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Thin skin pressure or scrape bruses. They proove you are active, lifting, bumping, a life of hard knocks. I'm 84 and do lots of (dumb) active things-running, dumbells, 40 pound bags of bird seed and so on . I may not do them well, clumsy, balance problems but they are sort of badges I get by doing hard things to do. However, if they bleed treat them like a regular wound, wash, dry, neosporin (or similar) and a band aid or two. If embarressed, long sleeves, pants or high socks may be in order. My own opinion is if people don't like to look at them--TS.

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anne4u | @anne4u | Sep 8 7:52pm
In reply to @slowrunner1 "Thin skin pressure or scrape bruses. They proove you are active, lifting, bumping, a life of..." + (show)
Profile picture for slowrunner1 @slowrunner1

Thin skin pressure or scrape bruses. They proove you are active, lifting, bumping, a life of hard knocks. I'm 84 and do lots of (dumb) active things-running, dumbells, 40 pound bags of bird seed and so on . I may not do them well, clumsy, balance problems but they are sort of badges I get by doing hard things to do. However, if they bleed treat them like a regular wound, wash, dry, neosporin (or similar) and a band aid or two. If embarressed, long sleeves, pants or high socks may be in order. My own opinion is if people don't like to look at them--TS.

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I couldn’t agree more! Unfortunately for me my days are somewhat dictated by chronic pain, although I push through it, it can limit what I’m able to do. And as anyone who lives with pain knows, it’s something that can wear me down.
So many my age experience some kind of daily pain. I love to garden and don’t have a problem getting my hands dirty, but I usually end up with a collection of new bruises! I wear sleeves to protect what I can. This certainly won’t slow me down, it’s just one more thing… But as you so astutely said, TS to anyone offended!

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