Fragile skin on lower leg

[smoothilly]

Hi all, I have had PMR 8 years and am currently on 4/3 mg of Medrol. My skin on my legs from the knee down are very fragile and bruise and cut easily. I wear compression socks which helps but when taking them on and off I still bruise. I currently take 1000 mg of collagen. But I am wondering if there is anything else I can take. Thank you in advance for any help on this situation.

[Constance13]

If that is blood it probably is PMR/GCA related - or the relative medicines. If it is black - see the doctor asap. See the doctor anyway, because if it breaks there could be a hell of a mess. When it happened to me in early pred taking it took special plasters from the doctor which weren’t to be moved for several days - even when showering - and till I had it seen by the doctor again.

[smoothilly in reply to Constance13]

Yes, it did break and was a mess. I went to a dermatologist and now it is being treated properly.

Leg wound

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to smoothilly]

Yes - that's what the one that didn't get stiched looked like until this week. There wasn;t a similar hole in the one that was stiched until the scab fell off right at the end. It has filled in now - the scar is visible and the new skin still pinkish, More obvious after a shower but fades again.

[smoothilly in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, it has taking a long time to get there. I put medicine on it everyday and wrap an ace bandage from my foot up to my knee to allow the water to come out and the blood to up and heal the wound. Thank you for your input.

[Koalajane]

I don’t get them on my legs and I wear shorts throughout the summer. But my arms are always marked.

[smoothilly in reply to Koalajane]

My arms are marked as well.

[Seacat30]

You have shown that to a doctor haven't you? My sister didn't get a lower leg sore treated soon enough and it is taking a very long time to sort it out.

[smoothilly in reply to Seacat30]

Yes it has been treated and is healing. Thank you!

[Seacat30 in reply to smoothilly]

Glad to hear that xxx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Is that a bruise or is it actually damaged skin?

I think you need advice about dealing with them - I crossed my ankles a few months ago and my winter boots caught and broke the skin surface enough to require stitches although it didn't bleed as much as you'd have expected. But the resulting scar looked very like that and took probably 3 months to granulate from underneath and heal. I managed to bash my shin on the car door sill - smaller damage that didn't need stiches but has been a similar healing process.

It is important to use the right sort of dressing and know whether to leave it in position or "let the air to it" so a chat with the nurse at the practice who deals with wounds would be useful. Granny would probably have said to leave it uncovered - modern medicine doesn't always agree!

Protective clothing may be more useful than compression socks which MAY be reducing the blood flow to the damaged skin.

[piglette]

If you find what to do let me know. My legs look like I have been in a car accident.