Is it the Pred or old age that makes it difficult to treat inflamed wounds?
I always healed very well but now, even if I only catch myself on something, or even if I get a bad spot, things take ages to heal. I use antiseptic cream, cover the open wound with sterile pads but they take weeks (sometimes) to heal.
Any advice?
Bit of both I suspect.
I've been off pred for 5 years, but I caught my arm just below elbow on the door handle a few weeks ago, and it took the top layer of skin off.. took ages to repair. Still have a tiny scar.
My skin is still not as robust as it was 14 months after Pred stopped. As to healing, not all areas of the body heal as well as others and some of that is down to blood supply and old blood removal. So, in lower extremities it can be a devil of a job especially if your legs are down all day.
I can relate to that. Leg scrapes take weeks to heal then leaves colored skin afterwards. I am soon to be 73 and on prednisone for 3 years now.
I'm 82 and am on 4mg now. Pred for 9 1/2 years.☹️
Wow, I'm at 9.5 so maybe I will make it to 4.5 by the time I reach 82 (if I make it there 🥲)
Thanks for your reply.
That great "IF"!!!!!!
Do you get a good supply of vitamin C each day? It’s not a vitamin that we store so it is important to have it each day. It contributes to the good health of skin and tissue amongst other benefits. It might help the healing process.
I don't take tablets, but I drink quite a lot of milk, eat cheese, etc.
Freshly squeezed orange juice? ☺️
Can't! Always upsets my stomach.☹️
Not much vit C in dairy. It's fruit and veg you need for C - one bell pepper provides well over a day's supply!
Hmm! Didn't know that. I do like bell peppers.
Any colour peppers?
medicalnewstoday.com/articl...
Red have the most, but even green ones have enough per day. Don't know why anyone eats green peppers though!!! Yuk ...
Red peppers every time - stuffed with onions, mushrooms and cheese.
Sounds yummy
Garlic and mozzarella is rather fine ...
Broccoli?
I like red peppers just raw in the same way I would have a fruit snack of grapes for example although my downfall is seeds and nuts which I think can be calorific, thanks for the link PMRpro
Peppers, strawberries, broccoli, potatoes etc 😉
I love celery but read it’s not worth eating
I agree. You use up more calories preparing it than it gives you!
Could be either - OH took ages to heal any scrapes and he wasn't on pred. I, on the other hand, heal fine.
I recovered from my joint replacements brilliantly - never had an issue - but it’s the tearing of the top layer of skin that seems to be my downfall 🤨
Mine too! Skin is paper thin and a lot of the veins on hands and legs are on the top of my skin - not under it!!
That's good to know. I may have my second knee done next year if I get to top of list,!
🤞then!
Crossing my fingers hurts my swollen joints 😆but I share your sentiment
Oddly for one with an AI disease my skin heals in a thrice. I once had a mole removed from my chin and dr said three weeks to heal but by the next day it was healed and likewise with a dental lump removal two days instead of two weeks. Either I’m a miracle case or it’s testimony to the skill of NHS staff. 😀
What dose are you on? And how old are you?
59 ……. Pain relief only …,, note I have STILLS DISEASE, I’m an interloper here
Not sure if antiseptic cream & dressing pads is the best option. Hydrogel dressings are good for delicate skin wounds. They adhere to the skin and allow healing to take place safely. They can stay on several days at a time. In Uk, boots the chemist have them. Hope it heals ok.
Thanks mossie! The pads were recommended by the hospital when I was last in there. They are non adhesive pads which you use without cream, and you shouldn't change (or even look at the wound) for at least three days.
I must admit I tried the antiseptic cream first but don't think it worked very well.
I just had to respond Constance because I've had the same issue, a new issue for this old body. (I've not posted for a while and must today. )
My top layer of skin, and I think another layer or two, have been ripping and taking forever to heal for more months than I can remember. On 10/19 I reduced by 10mg per day and another 10mg on 11/9. It has been an adventure😵🤪 but just today I noticed how many of my wounds were drying, closing and healing. I was a walking bandaid from legs to arms. So, I am attributing it to decreasing the prednisone, now on 20mg per day.
I did find the medicinal honey worked the best...and I would not look for 3-4 days. I hope it gets much better.💖
Thanks Grammy. 💐
I'm only on mg now so can't really blame pred I don't think - so MUST be old age. What us????👵🏻👵🏻
On higher doses I too had a struggle with sores and open wounds.
I can't even wear elastoplast as it tears my skin when I pull it off (even though it's the 'sensitive' stuff).
Keep well and happy. 💥
Both age and prednisone degrade wound healing. We have a "double whammy."
I used to treat dogs' wounds with glucose powder, after cleaning with running water. With dogs, we had to use purple spray over the glucose, or they would lick it off of course. Not so with humans!!
Yuck! Don't think I'll try that!🤪
Every skin break takes weeks to months ( one on my shin ) to heal for me. Have found no quick fix, just time. Combination of pred and age? Wonder if mostly age, as I recall this in my Mama. My best to you. Ann
Get the best quality Essential Oil of Lavender you can and apply neat to the area repeatedly during the day. You could also apply it to a dressing and keep it there. Helps the skin cells to regenerate. Also second to none for burns etc. It's not Hocus Pocus, I keep bottles of it around the house and apply immediately and then as often as possible thereafter. It really works!
Minor burns perhaps - but NEVER put oils of any sort onto a burn where the skin is broken.
I, personally do apply it neat to broken skin. It's my first go to solution in these situations. If I put it on last thing before bed, the healing process is well underway by morning. As with anything applied to skin, broken or otherwise, some people can have a sensitivity to it. I have only ever met one person who is sensitive.
hi constance. Hydrogel dressing and micropore tape. leave for 3 or 4 days ok to bathe or shower as they dry off very fast , Remove in bath or shower when wet and easier to peel off and replace with fresh if needed, It is the pred and can't be helped. I have this too and it can't be altered.
I reckon I keep the manufacturers of hydrogel dressings in business!! My feet are so sore that I can hardly walk without them…TMI I know 😖
Made me laugh! Last sentence with hilarious meaning too.🤪😂
It was late Constance!! 😂x
My local GP nurse gives me a supply and told me to come in for her to dress any bad ones I get so really helpful.
Very helpful cycli 👍I’m on my own with it here…
Excellent! 👏👏
she's great and understands so very helpful. Does my bloods so we get on ok. Helps to build relationships with key people. did it at college with cooks and tech assistants. Always got in after I left and always got a free meal when in London. Happy days.
Both corners of my mouth have been sore and split for months or longer. It's impossible to get the skin healed there. I came off pred slowly a couple of months ago. Maybe I could try oil of lavender. It's hard to know what to put on your lips!
Have you spoken to the doctor about it? It may be angular cheilitis
Thank you, I've never heard of that. I'll follow the links and ask my GP next time I can speak to her. I've had so many ailments of my own that I'm trying to sort out since my husband went into a nursing home, and sometimes feel certain things are too trivial to mention. She has been wonderful since diagnosing my PMR in summer 2019.
I find food grade hemp oil helps the skin a great deal. It seems to work better than even the best commercial skin creams. Perhaps chronic use of antiseptic cream is counterproductive?
I must admit I would not now use antiseptic cream. There are more natural ingredients to use.
Just remembered shea butter is another interesting and helpful product for our tired old skin. I actually got the pure product from the pharmacy but it's easier to use as an ingredient, not alone. This is in the interests of improving health, elasticity of skin to reduce the risk or at least the severity of injury. I must say this aging business is not a whole lot of fun.
Last sentence!! I wonder how many of us have said that?
However, we struggle on (often with wit). What a lovely lot of old people we are! 😂😂💥💥
Well, I have for a start ! I reckon you have to be tough to cope with older age. 🧘♀️
Hi Constance, my problem is bruising and I don't know how I got them have a huge one on my leg and I mean HUGE and don't know how I got it and takes ages to get better. ain't life a bitch but I still feel lucky so just a wee moan.take care .
Life can certainly be a bitch but we survive. We're a tough lot (I think)!!!🤪
Thats a definite lol xx
Prednisalone makes the skin very thin. The longer you take it the thinner the skin gets. My skin bleeds for absolutely no reason and all. I don’t have to touch it and it will just bleed under the skin
I understand it happened to me. I now use double base gelAs was recommended to me by a member of this site. It really helped me Constance. My skin was like crepe paper easily damaged and slow to heal
I tried that years ago (on Jinasc's advice). It didn't help then at all. Perhaps I should try again now I am down to 4mg.
Hi, I am 83 and had to go to Urgent Care three times in one year for little things that normally would have healed on their own; e.g., infected thumb from rosebush thorn. I know that it takes longer to heal when taking Prednisone.
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