Steroids & Purpura?

[Heaven20]

Hi there, I'm concerned about my forearms bruising when I lift or knock them, they look unsightly, I have had blood tests and gp said they came back OK. My bronchiectasis doctor says he thinks it may be caused by inhaled beclomethasone, and the nurse said it could be from antibiotics, it would be good to know which, anyone out there have the same problem, I'm sure there are many. I have been prescribed some skin cream to keep skin supple, which helps but doesn't give me a definite answer.

[CDPO16]

I have a high dose of steroid inhaler and bruise very easily. I doubt very much that antibiotics are the cause. I don't worry about the bruising as the inhaler does help to keep my emphysema and asthma overlap as stable as possible.

[peege]

Could be the antibiotics? Good grief what planet is that nurse on! A respiratory nurse told me once that inhalers can't cause bruising or thinning skin. No excuse for such ignorance in the medical profession. Steroid inhalers can and do cause easy bruising and thinning fragile skin. Mine was appalling before my preventer inhalerwas changed against my wishes how, in changing it my skin's improved so much it's incredible.

We're all different though, what suits one doesn't necessarily suit another.

[Heaven20 in reply to peege]

Thank you for your reply, I knew myself it wasn't the antibiotics, I don't know why she said that,she even went to check with one of her colleagues (this was a phone call) and they both said it was unlikely it was the steroid inhaler.I was shocked, but just said OK and hung up. Next time I speak to my consultant I will ask if there is an alternative, according to my gp there isn't. With all these different answers its quite concerning for us patients, I think we sometimes have to believe in our own decisions at times.

[frose in reply to Heaven20]

Definitely steroids!

[peege in reply to Heaven20]

Absolutely ×

[Hidden]

I can't believe that the nurse suggested that it was the antibiotics. How do they train these people. I have lifelong bronchiectasis and only started bruising after I began using fostair which is an inhaler which contains beclametasone. I'm pretty sure that quite a few members will tell you that bruising is an unfortunate side effect of steroid treatment although outweighef by the benefits.

[teenieleek]

I bruise less easily since I stopped using a steroid inhaler. My skin however is all wrinkly but sunbathing, years of smoking, genes and advancing years are probably more to blame than inhalers!

[beech]

I get bad bruising from the slightest knock or scrape; I’ve fairly recently had a litter of cocker spaniels who did a fair bit of scratching and nipping, and my arms looked as though I’d been beaten up for weeks! Long sleeves and concealer make-up are my saviours! Plus some moisturiser to support my skin a bit. And long cuff gardening gloves.

And I too have encountered ignorance from medical professionals about the cause 🙄. So yet again I resort to the Internet for answers, and make up my own solutions as I can’t stop using the steroid inhalers. 🤷‍♀️

[Heaven20 in reply to beech]

Hi there, same happened to me, my sons beautiful staffy jumped up to play and, as my arms were already bruised, and she accidently caught me as she jumped up my arms bled so easily as my skin is now paper thin. But as you say we need to take our medicine.. So it's long sleeved tops for me from now on.

[beech in reply to Heaven20]

I bought some ‘sensitive skin’ steri strips to glue the flaps of skin back in place, press down with tissue to stop any bleeding and soak them off with water to remove later as I can’t pull plasters off without making the newly-healed tears worse! But right now I don’t have a single blemish and all looks normal. Hurrah!

[Tykelady in reply to beech]

Skin tears can be really difficult to heal. I knocked my leg on the Hoover and ended up in A&E followed by weekly dressings at the surgery (the old days) for almost three months and have a horrendous scar. I don't know whether tissue paper skin is the result of ageing or steroids. I suspect both.

[Heaven20 in reply to Tykelady]

That sounds awful, I myself think it's steroids, before my diagnosis in 2017 I didn't have any bruises at all, 6 months after using my steroid inhaler I noticed small red dots which got worse as times went on.

[Hidden]

Hi, I was told the unsightly purpura on my arms was most likely caused by use of steroids, thinning skin, aging skin, and sun damaged skin.

[Heaven20 in reply to Hidden]

I'm thankful for all the replies, it's confirmed it for me, so I can stop worrying about it, take my inhalers and stay well. 😊

[Maverick77]

Hi Heaven20. I have been on steroids for 20 yrs and I definitely bruise terribly every time I have to increase the dose. I’m not too bad on 5mg but anything above that makes my skin like tissue paper and I bruise so easily it’s unbelievable. For me it’s def steroids.

[Cloudancer in reply to Maverick77]

Same here.

[GintyFerguson]

Hi, I take high dose inhaled steroids and bruise very easily. After a recent blood test my arm looked liked it had been steam rollered! GP said that without the inhalers I'd be a "respiratory cripple" !

[Heaven20 in reply to GintyFerguson]

Yes it seems that we would all be very poorly without our steroids, so I can put up with the bruised arms, I'm just more careful now.

[GintyFerguson in reply to Heaven20]

That's it...adapt and survive is my new motto. I wear long sleeves now when gardening. It helps to reduce the impact of any bumps.

[Cloudancer in reply to GintyFerguson]

Such a positive way with words (not) have found recently some doctors have the communication skills and empathy of a rock..

[Hidden]

Since I started high dose fostair I bruise badly, mostly arms and lower legs. I only have to knock myself gently and a huge bruise appears often spreading in an alarming way, and they have in some places caused permanent discolouration.It's a huge nuisance but I can't do without the fostair so have to put up with it. I get through masses of 'concealer' in the summer when I want to expose those bruised bits.

[alunrob]

I too have thin skin,especially on the back of my hands together with thin skin.I am certain it's the Fostair.However I can't survive without the Fostair as I would otherwise have constant incapacitating pain and inflammation in my lungs because of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.

[Cloudancer]

Like other lung buddies I take inhaled steroids plus have been on prednisolone for 17 years.I also bruise easily but my GP laid the blame on uniphylline which I have also been on for years.

Hope you get some answers soon.

[Kristicats]

I was full of bruises for years and w ripping skin due to daily aspirin and steroid inhaler. I now have none and my thin skin seems to have recovered well since I started taking aspirin every other day and changed my steroid inhaler ( fostair) to another non steroid inhaler Spiolto.

[Pwkav1]

Hi im in my 50s and my skin is very thin and i bruise very easily all over. Its definately steroids ive taken all my life ive been given Dermol 500 to apply. My mum whose never had steroids her skin is much thicker than mine. So definately steroids. Karen xxx

[Callyally]

Steroids cause skin thinning. Quite qickly. So any slight knock or cut will cause a more noticeable bruise. Skin thinning happends with steroid use and is irreversable unfortunately. All you can do, is take great care with your skin. Moisturise well and daily and keep your arms covered in the sun. Use a good sunscreen. At least 30 to 50 spf. If you do any jobs that involve getting knocked or cut, use gloves.