G C A

[Phed]

Has anyone any advice please on how I can stop these unsightly keep appearing on my arms, I have been on Prednisone since August 2019 40mg a day gradually tapering down and now on 6mg a day, since tapering down these marks seem to be more frequent.

[SheffieldJane]

Can you send the picture to your GP’s surgery? Mine welcomed that method when I had what appeared to be an ulcer in the corner of my eye. I think skin things like bruises/ rashes/ warts/ moles all seem to be common as this disease rumbles on. I have my fair share too, sometimes accompanied by itching.

[piglette]

I have had purpura on my arms caused by pred ever since I was first diagnosed with PMR. The only good news is that they fade away over a week or two. A much worse thing I have is blisters on my legs, due to thin skin caused by pred, if I get knocked. These can be quite horrendous and develop into ulcerated sores. I have even had to have a debridement operation for one of them. I currently have one and I have the district nurse coming in three times a week to dress it. It looks as if a cat has been sick over my leg!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

We answered this 3 months ago when you asked about them then.

Par for the course I’m afraid with Pred...and age ...both make the skin thinner and less resilient to minor bumps, pressure. In fact I still occasionally get the odd one and I’ve been off the meds for 4 years.

Try using a cream like DoubleBase- or similar....you may get on prescription if you’ve an accommodating GP, and keep arms protected- easier with winter approaching.

[Hidden in reply to DorsetLady]

Morning Dorsetlady, I think it was you that advised me to use Almond Oil on my fingers nails. I always keep a bottle of the extract in my cupboard as I bake a lot. Wow, it's worked my thumb nails have improved greatly. Thank you if it was you that told me about this.

Anne

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Don't think it was me!

[Constance13]

No help to be had I'm afraid. They are common with our disease. Just keep them clean and cover them with a soft cloth if they bleed.

[Suzita76]

I got these marks frequently over the 3 years I was on prednisolone, (often appearing after gardening when I must have been rubbed or scratched by bushes). I’ve being completely off pred. since March this year (currently on Ro-Actemra injections) and haven’t had a mark since.

[Phed]

Thank you for your replies

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Surprising that they are worse at the lower doses - they are due to the pred making the capillaries in the skin fragile so that they leak, especially if you rub or bang the area, a bit like a concentrated bruise. They are called petechiae or purpura depending on the size of the mark. Once they form they often fade to brown patches which are more likely to "bruise" again in the same place.

dermnetnz.org/topics/capill...

As for stopping them - protection to prevent scraping or banging the area is about the limit.

[Phed in reply to PMRpro]

I was surprised they were worse on the lower dose, they take a lot longer than a week or two to disappear but I agree they do fade to brown patches but then seem to come back again in the same place, I guess as it’s winter people won’t notice them so much with my arms covered up.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Phed]

I noted they called it capillaritis - which suggests a degree of inflammation in the tiny blood vessels that maybe was being stopped by the pred? So a double underlying cause.

[Snnib]

Another one too tick off my list. Had quite a few of these on my arms. Keep smiling 😃

[Phed in reply to Snnib]

I will keep smiling😊good job it’s winter as they won’t be seen under long sleeves, I just feel disappointed that as the pred dose was low now that I’m still getting them and more than when I first went on the pred

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Phed]

You're probably doing more, and may be less careful about what you're doing.

[Snnib in reply to Phed]

I'm the same on31/2 now. Din't get them when on HIGHER dose. The mystery of PMR.

[HeronNS]

Idk. I've had them, contrary to received wisdom, since low doses, which is most of my time (5.5 yrs and counting) on pred. They did seem to go away during months I was at 1 and below, but now at 2 again they are back. Not as spectacular as yours in the pic, I must say! Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, avoiding products which may irritate the skin (perfume).

[Jackoh]

I used to get these when I carried my shopping bag over my arm. Needless to say I try to remember not to do that now. ( don’t always remember- another side effect of pred!!) 💐

[RiverKings]

I’ve had them on lower doses of Prednisone too. As PMR pro mentioned, pressure can cause them as well as bumps or scrapes. I wear sun proof compression sleeves at times, and they cause the bruising too. I’ve found two products from DerMend that help: Fragile Skin Moisturizing Creme, and Bruise Protection (which causes the bruise to fade). Both are available over the counter or on Amazon.

[Fasttrack]

I get exactly the same. I think someone told me once that pred thins the skin and that's why you get them. Has been particularly bad this year what with covid isolation and lots of gardening. I view it as just another thing I have to put up with, along with waking up at 5.30A.M. and constantly rushing to the loo. Bring on the winter when I can hide it all under long sleeves.