I am on 7 mg of prednisone now , tapered down from 15, through the course of 8 months . My question is does anyone get bruises . On low dose

[Athena2020]

Any feed back would be much appreciated.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Quite common for some - skin is s lot less resilient than pre PRED/pre PMR. Use a good moisturiser - doesn’t need to be expensive (probably best not to be ) to keep skin as supple as possible . And keep skin covered with light clothing if you are apt to bang forearms and shins - which seem to be the favourite places.

[Athena2020 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you for your quick reply

[Bennijax in reply to DorsetLady]

What is the reason for this bruising on Preds? Do Preds lower platelets? Thin the blood?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bennijax]

Not as drastic as that -

Pred causes “thin skin”. Patients on moderate to high doses of prednisone often notice that they bruise easily, even with only slight trauma.

Pictured below is a patient with giant cell arteritis who suffered a skin laceration after she struck her leg against a chair..... so can be quite nasty when on higher doses.

I brushed my arm against a radiator in holiday villa in Spain early days with similar result. ...still slightly scarred 7 years on.

Damage to thin skin - Pred

[Bennijax in reply to DorsetLady]

thanks

[Athena2020 in reply to DorsetLady]

Ouch that looks painful! Thanks for your reply

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Bruising when on pred is quite common.Some people are more prone than others. And once a bruise has developed in a particular spot, it bruises more easily. I now only have to lean against the stepladder and a bruise appears - though I am on anticoagulant therapy too.

[Athena2020 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much for your fast reply

[piglette]

I am usually covered in bruises. I had several canullas put into my arms when in hospital in September last year and I looked as if I had been beaten up. I still have one of the bruises.

[piglette]

Same thing happens with blood tests. Some phlebotomists are better than others. There was one when I was in hospital who refused to take my blood as it is impossible to get any out of me! Most people have to try both arms.

[Athena2020 in reply to piglette]

Thank you for your reply

[powerwalk]

Yes, on 5mg now and would actually find it more weird if i didnt have a good bruise somewhere.

[Athena2020 in reply to powerwalk]

Thank you so much for your reply

[Athena2020 in reply to powerwalk]

Thank you so much for your reply

[Athena2020 in reply to powerwalk]

Thank you so much for your reply

[Marijo1951]

I only have to walk within six inches of my coffee table for big bruises to appear across my shins. I've recently reduced to 5.5 mg.

[Athena2020 in reply to Marijo1951]

Yes I am the same bruise all the time. Thank you for your reply

[Athena2020]

Thank you for your reply

[piglette]

In hospital I had the phlebotomist who gave up and called in the house doctor who failed and then called in the chief anaesthetist and he failed, I then fainted so the crash team then turned up!

[SuZuS in reply to piglette]

Miss Piglette. My. Goodness. How Awful. This. Makes. My. Heart. Brake. Why can’t, don’t they listen to us.

And sometimes it’s too late.

At times, sadly, I’ve found this to be the same on this site.

I stopped posting.

But I am still listening. Caring. About so many here.

[piglette in reply to SuZuS]

In my case it was not a matter of listening, my body just not like giving blood to anyone else!! I am so sorry you are leaving the site. I agree some of the stories one hears are quite frightening.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SuZuS]

are you on this forum -healthunlocked.com/search/c...

[johnybiker]

Yup... Specially on shins look awful OK as male hide under long socks.. Taken to wearing shin pads in garden.. Garage when working

[Kendrew]

Me too! Bruise very easily and also find minor injuries take forever to heal....eg. scratches from gardening, small cuts and grazes etc. When they do heal...often some 'scarring...as in darker pink discolouration of tissue. However...I have discovered Sudocreme! Haha! 😄 I used to put it on my son's nappy rash. It's an antiseptic healing cream, fairly cheap and very effective and quick at healing. Definitely worth a try.

[Suffererc]

I am on 5mg Pred and have found lately I don’t get those ugly bruises anymore. I tripped and fell and went down with a thud got up and walked away, next day normal bruising on knees. Nothing on my hands. Also use a moisturiser on my arms. May be just luck

[Roltuba]

Second vote for Sudocreme! I (or the OH) put it on my many cuts on my arms, with covering of dry lint and Micropore tape (get the 3M version on line, it’s the best by miles). Change when it gets wet, cuts heal very fast. But my lower arms look as if I’ve got a dreadful lurgy with purple splodges. I’ve got protective Sleevies for gardening which help, as I’ve only got to look at a bush.... 7 years on Pred.

[badgerbeck]

My wife uses Arnicare gel on her bruises and ensures I also treat my bruising with it. It works for us.

[agingfeminist]

I have had random bruising while on pred...never had it before. Appear occasionally on legs...even though I am sure I haven't knocked them. Just one of those things I tend to ignore. They do disappear, eventually.

[2013mayo]

Hi,When I was on high dose pred I bruised all the time, I was also on blood thinners, I was so bad I now have massive scars on my legs.

I started wearing leggings to protect my legs as it become so bad.

Hope you get better but maybe talk to your doc about not taking blood thinner.

I’m now on low dose pred 4mg and I stopped taking blood thinner, it stopped all the problems

[VAl4266 in reply to 2013mayo]

That picture is just like my legs at the moment, my arms too.I’m on 10mg at moment but too painful to come down.

[Athena2020 in reply to VAl4266]

Thank you

[AneitaB]

Yes. I’m down to 2 mg and am still bruising very easily. My forearms look as if I’ve been beaten - combination of old and new bruises.

[Athena2020 in reply to AneitaB]

Wow even at 2 mg there is bruising . Thank you for your reply

[piglette]

The house doctor crept into my room that evening he was determined to get some blood out of me. He stroked my arm for ages and I think he may have been praying!! He got blood.

[DogAgilityObsessed]

So that explains the bruises I’ve noticed recently. Kept trying to remember what I’d bumped into.

[Lejazzhot]

Not just bruises! My skin is like tissue paper that bleeds immediately upon contact no matter how slight. My arms and legs look like I’ve been in battle. Deep purple scars or open wounds that take forever to heal. I think I’ve tried every adhesive bandage out there to find one that doesn’t rip my skin off. Even at 4 mg/ day my skin is thin and fragile. I’ve seen countless dermatologists who all say the same thing: Age and steroids. Nothing to do. And after steroids, lots of time

It has been the biggest life changer for me especially in the summer. That I am not someone who naturally moves slowly and mindfully makes me even more prone to mishaps The kitchen is a minefield. I have to wear wrist bands for protection.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lejazzhot]

There is a form of dressing that only sticks to itself, called self-adherent/cohesive wrap bandages, like this

nexcare.com/3M/en_US/nexcar....

amazon.co.uk/Adhesive-Banda...