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Meme50 profile image
21 Replies

I have been using ie: Symbicort for many years and now having issues with thinning skin and bruise very easily. The bruises on hands and sometimes arms are very dark big blotches sometimes they seem to appear without much effort.

I feel it may have something to do with the Symbicort and cortisone I have taken over the years. Does anyone know of an effective non- cortisone treatment?

Thank you.

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Meme50 profile image
Meme50
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21 Replies
Kristicats profile image
Kristicats

I came off Fostair which also contains steroid as my bruising and thin skin was getting really bad. I was on Fostair and Spiriva but now I’m on Spiolto instead and my skin is recovering somewhat and I don’t bruise at every tap. However my Fev1 has gone down a little without the Fostair but no worse with my breathing so I’m monitoring it.It May be worth you discussing it with your doctor. I do not have asthma. I also take my aspirin every other day now after discussion with my GP ( trialed it first)Cx

peege profile image
peege in reply toKristicats

It's bizarre isn't it. My skin was appalling after 4 years on Seretide, previous 4 on Symbicort. The slightest knock & a triangle of all layers of skin was ripped open. I had Steristrips in every bag, pocket & bathroom. Also got blood blisters on soft tissue at back of throat from a crust, toast, crisp & once a scratch from a fishbone gave me one the size of a golf ball. Was horrible. At a respiratory check the nurse asked me to to try Fostair and the change for the better is just incredible. No more blood blisters, rips or bruises, I haven't bought Steristrips for a few years now & no longer have to wear double tubigrip on arms.

To Meme50, you might try another inhaler, we're all different, what suits one wont suit everyone else. I still bruise a bit but not nearly so much. P

I have asthma & small airways disease.

Meme50 profile image
Meme50 in reply topeege

That sounds good! Yes my throat and inside sometimes seems raw.

peege profile image
peege in reply toMeme50

I always rinse my throat before as well asafter using inhaler

gardenalan profile image
gardenalan in reply topeege

Hi Peege I started taking new inhaler before the old one was finished old say in the morning and new at night for about a week before old one ran out and it really has helped with sore throat have been doing it for about a year hope this helps xx

Kristicats profile image
Kristicats in reply topeege

It was Fostair that mainly caused my thinning skin and bruises.

peege profile image
peege in reply toKristicats

Yes, so you wrote and yet for me it's been the best thing so strange one drug can affect people in different ways . P

Tykelady profile image
Tykelady in reply topeege

I never thought of tubigrip. I could use it when my daughter in law leaves her boisterous but lovely dog.

peege profile image
peege in reply toTykelady

YES! Perfect, I used to wear them when visiting my daughter & family with their two naughty jumpers so my arms wouldn't be in shreds. Also useful for gardening.

Buy one pack, cut the whole strip of it in half, then fold each piece in half to wear. They wash well in the washing machine & last forever. ×

Tykelady profile image
Tykelady in reply topeege

Cheers for that x

Meme50 profile image
Meme50 in reply toKristicats

Thank you so much x

Troilus profile image
Troilus

I get the same thing Meme. I’m just trying plenty of moisturiser at the moment with a retinol serum. Don’t suppose it will work but I live in hope.For now I’m settling for midi skirts and cardigans to hide them as they are on my arms and legs. I’ve also invested in some arnica to get rid of them more quickly. We’ll see😁

Meme50 profile image
Meme50 in reply toTroilus

Thank you for reply. I used a little retinol too 😕 it didn’t help. I will try Arnica though ...think it will be more soothing. Thank you x

in reply toTroilus

I have the same thing. I think we just have to live with it the best we can. I found arnica made the bruises worse.I'm very careful all the time but even then lapses in concentration occur or the toddler throws himself at you or the dog jumps on your legs! I wear long or 3/4 length sleeves and midi or maxi skirts in summer... leggings in winter.... and use lots of concealer.

Monty11 profile image
Monty11

My husband is exactly the same with thinning skin and bruising, came off symbicort and on to fostair however breathing was worse so returned to symbicort. He says he would rather be able to breathe better and will put up with the bruising

CDPO16 profile image
CDPO16

I am on fostair and bruise if you look at me but, like Monty11's husband, I would rather have something that helps my breathing and ignore the bruising.

in reply toCDPO16

Very interesting I was on Fostair and it did me absolutely no good at all whereas my brother who has been asthmatic all his life swears by it

CDPO16 profile image
CDPO16 in reply to

It's quite surprising how we all react or respond to treatments in different ways. I don't find that fostair helps as much as it once did but it is still better than many alternatives I have had over the years.

Tykelady profile image
Tykelady

After years on Fostaire i changed to Trimbow a year ago but my skin has been tissue thin for longer than I have used either. It is probably because I have been on inhalers of one kind or another since my diagnosis 20 years ago. I used to use Vaseline with aloe vera to moisturise but now I have home oxygen I've been told not to and to find anything that doesn't contain petroleum products is not easy. To add to it all when I change the dressing on a skin tear the plaster usually causes more damage so they take months to heal.

Meme50 profile image
Meme50 in reply toTykelady

I think we need to wrap ourselves in bubble wrap 🙂.Take care x

busygardener profile image
busygardener

Totally understand your concerns,been asthmatic since 7 yrs old ,skin also extremely thin ,often have skin tears, and also have multiple bruises on arms and legs which are embarassing especially on photos will read your replys with interest 🙂

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