Wafer thin

[Duff1953]

Hi everybody I have very severe copd and now I have that the skin on my hands has become very thin does anyone know what I could do to improve this once again thanking everyone for their kindness and help now and in the past duff

[Hidden]

Mine is like that too. From all the steroids I’ve taken.

[Falcon22]

Hello I too am severe and have wafer thin skin especially on my arms and hands ...also bruise easily from all the steroids.. I did ask the nurse but she said no nothing you can do ...perhaps someone will know differently? I find using body cream/lotion daily helps .

[Hidden in reply to Falcon22]

I put Hemp oil on arms and legs it makes my skin feel very soft and comfortable and takes away the dryness

[Falcon22 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Marymint I will give this s try x

[Duff1953 in reply to Hidden]

Just ordered some hemp oil hopefully it will help

[beech]

Moisturising does help a little - even if only to make the fragile skin less “chicken-skin” like!

I wear long gardening gloves outside, but it doesn’t take much to end up with a patchwork of sensitive plasters on my arms if I misjudge a doorframe, or my dog is boisterous indoors!

I have seen advertised on Amazon long arm protectors of a neoprene-type material for just this problem - maybe explore those options as an external defence barrier.

[peege in reply to beech]

I used to wear a double thickness of tubigrip on my arms when I had thin, breakable skin. I never went anywhere without some ready cut Steristrips (Boots version were useless) to stick down the flaps of broken skin.

[2greys]

You are far from alone. My skin is exactly the same and have constant bruising on my hands and arms, I also get cut very easily. It is very hard for me to avoid it, working with my hands. I can even get bruises on my wrist from using a mallet, to bang jobs down in a vice, the shock will travel up through my hands to manifest in a bruise at the wrist, I even get bruises on top of existing bruises. I can get bruises on my legs whilst asleep, because I sleep on my side and the pressure of one leg on top of the other will cause it.

Not nice visually, but painless, unlike a proper bruise from a heavy knock or a fall that takes on a brown, grey or purple colour. One of the side effects of having to take steroids, a trade off to being able to breathe that little bit easier.

[Hacienda]

Same here Duff, This week as I 've been on Steroids via Prednisolone,(my Inhalers Too) so the Bruising is there with the Crepe skin on Hands, I use Creams galore, but the steroid take over and any Knock becomes a Big purple Bruise. Par of the course. just keep Moisturising. As 2 g's says , Bruise or Breathe XXX C. Have a Good Sunday.

[peege]

I don't have severe copd but did suffer from the thin, easy to break skin particularly on my arms. All from Seretide because I rarely take the tablets.

Amazingly since changing from Seretide to Fostair my skin has thickened. I still bruise but only a 1/4 as much. My skin was so thin it would rip off in flaps at the slightest knock - on door frame,pets, gardening, sailing, gardening and even in the soft tissue of throat, the slightest scratch from a crisp, crusty bread and a blood blister would grow instantly. All the scars on my arms to prove it.

I can hardly believe it but I'm chuffed to bits.

Moistursing helps a little but I found protection the only answer.

Tubigrip, 2 layers, last ages and go in the washing machine. And 6mm Steristrips to stick back the skin. P

[Hacienda in reply to peege]

Thanks for that Info for Skin Thickening. On my list for Consultant Tomorrow, Hope this time she listens after seeing my Bruises & Skin. xxx

[peege in reply to Hacienda]

Good luck tomorrow H

[Hidden in reply to peege]

Apart from steroids for my Bronch, I also take them for Vasculitis. Was taking 40mg daily for about 2-3 years. Now take 5mg daily long term.

[Mavary in reply to peege]

I’m exactly the same as you. I always tear in a V and I’m always covered in lovely bruises. Gardening always gives me rip of skin . I’m usually well plastered up after. And it’s not the sort of plastered that makes you merry. I get so annoyed sometimes as I have to come in to see to it before I’ve finished what I wanted to do.

[peege in reply to Mavary]

Tubigrip Mavis, honestly it's saved me many a rip. It's not expensive from a Chemist shop. My daughters dogs always jump up at me ripping my arms if I didnt hold them in the air. I had 20 stitches in one huge rip once. Thank heavens those days are over.

Lovely to hear from you and hope that you're alright xx

[Mavary in reply to peege]

I was over my Sons one day and they have two shitzus. I had just gone in and I happened to turn a little. The dogs were both on the sofa waving their legs madly and as I turned one of them caught my arm. That like you was a trip to our local hospital. I tripped over a netball stand one night in the dark. I didn’t think I had done any damage. My Son made me go back in an I had a big rub rip. So that was another trip to the hospital at 11.00 at night. Our local hospital sees its last patients at 8.30 in the evening so we had to travel about 25 miles to a big hospital. I think we got home about 12.30.

It’s so annoying and embarrassing when it happens isn’t it. I’ve had loads of other rips that I’ve had to go to hospital with as well.

[peege in reply to Mavary]

I used to use Steri Strips (or Steristrips?) Little stitch like plasters to stick the rips back immediately. The 6mm width, they're in my travel wash bag, handbag and bathroom cupboard.

Trundling about in the dark not a good idea 😆

I'm not bad (fingers crossed), I found something that helps enormously with the CFS thank goodness so have a bit of life back. You may remember I left the pollution of London behind (sadly though) so lung health has improved.

My lot are flung far and wide but all together this Xmas at youngest's . 5 grandchildren 8 weeks to 8 years so it'll special. XX

[Mavary in reply to peege]

That’s a brilliant idea Peege. I will definitely get some for my arms and hands for when I’m gardening. I’ll make a hole for my thumbs to go through. Thanks for that idea. I was wondering if I should give it up but it would be with great reluctance. I do find it hard because of the fractures in my back but I love it and only do a little at a time now.

[Mavary in reply to peege]

I’m reasonably fine now thanks Peege. I went to the hospital last week and they still want to see me with this aspergillosis thing. My blood is still not right. Apparently my Eosinophils should be between 30 to 350 and mine is 850 which show I’m allergic to the aspergillosis fungus. I’ve been on antifungals for the last year and they’ve really messed my stomach up. I have been told I can now stop one and after Christmas stop the other. So I’m happy! I do however have to go straight back on them if I have any breathing difficulties.

So how are you now? I hope you’re doing ok. It’s nearly Christmas and there’s so much to do. I’ll be glad when it’s over and I can get straight. Anyway I hope you have a lovely Christmas. XX

[beech]

And on a related vanity note, if I wish to avoid too much comment if I’ve dressed up for an event and I wish to hide my bruises, I use a wand applicator of concealer by “NYX” from Boots which does a good job and doesn’t rub off. I’m sure others might have some good alternative suggestions I’d welcome!

[Hacienda in reply to beech]

I have done that many times with Concealer Stick, it works ok. XXX

[peege in reply to beech]

Ha, wish I'd known that before I spotted a Christian Dior stick at Marseille duty free! Thanks for next time though x

[CFla]

Collagen helped me when my nails and hand skin got thin after menopause. Now I make sure to get daily protein requirements and not need collagen anymore. Still get dry hands (from persistent hand washing), cracked skin around the joints, and find that using petroleum jelly and medical gloves overnight, once or twice a week, help hydrate and heal hands better than daily lotion

[Kristicats]

Bruising from use of steroid/ steroid inhalers is a nightmare I try to be very careful but the slightest knock and I get a whopper!

[megshafer]

I do not have this problem.....but I have been told Cerave lotions and creams, have ceramides in them are fragrance free...when i go to the dermatologist, I ask questions!! I have real sensitive skin, and this brand has been the only one...not one hive...or rash...ceramides build collagen...so might be worth a try!!

[Duff1953]

Thank you

[Mavary]

Hi Duff.

I too suffer with very thin skin. At the moment one of my hands is bruised all over and that’s from general living. I dont very often know how I bruise myself. My elbows are prime targets for door frames and my hands for drawers. I always manage to scrape them on the upper side. My legs! I haven’t got a clue how I bruise them. I’ve been on steroid inhalers for years and at the moment I’m on Fostair 200 twice a day. So steroid which I think most of us are on. I guess we can’t win.

[Duff1953 in reply to Mavary]

That is me all over their are some good suggestions in replies to my original post about covering up the bruises

[peege in reply to Mavary]

Such a shame M, mines imoved so much since being on Fostair.

[hallentine47]

I was prescribed Double Gell from the chemist and it heps keep the skin moist and my GP says less likely to bruise or tear. Not sure it works but makes the skin feel better.