hello everyone
a silly thing on Friday, but I was merely changing the bed covers & I caught my arm on the mattress seam. I couldn’t believe the blood! It was flowing profusely and today bad bruising has appeared on my arm. The cut was pretty deep and was so close to a main vein!
Are skin problems like this associated with the PMR or is it purely a sign of me reaching 70 in May?
I was asking that about a month ago.I rubbed myself dry aft a shower which was a rough one.I walked out with blood rolling down my hands.It was like I rubbed the skin off Also had red bleeds under skin.Gone now but I scare easy.
Usually associated with pred. I got glorious bruises and in the last year or so have had a few very bloody cuts. One on my shin where I crossed my legs and scraped the skin with the sole of my snow boots through my sock needed to be stitched and the surgeon commented on the think skin. It has improved a lot since I have been able to reduce the pred dose thanks to Actemra.
Certainly connected to Pred - but age doesn’t help either -.plenty of related posts on the subject.
Oddly enough I never had this problem at higher doses of pred, but I do now that I'm back to 2 mg, and did the last time I was this low. Go figure.... I suppose that means in my case it's age related and pred actually helps. 🤔🤷♀️
I caught my leg last week and thought it was a tiny cut. The sheets looked like a horse’s head had been dumped there!
I so agree with you all!!!!👍😊
I have found since taking steroids that l have the problem you mention. The slightest knock brings up bruises or a skin wound that bleeds a lot. I am 67
thanks everyone. It’s good to know I’m not unique in this issue🤣
I had numerous jabs and tears. Since I take daily Vit A ( dr. Recommended) I still bruise but seldom tear and bleed. On 9 mgm pred going to 8.5 now.
Sadly it is and the damage is disproportionate to the injury. Mine is always worse when I am away, I seem to bang into everything. I always have plasters in my handbag and a little set of dressings when I go further a field. The bleeding looks alarming but it’s not, as PMR Pro says a little blood goes a long way.
If it’s just bruising I cover it up with concealer, if I can’t see it I stop worrying about it.
Take care
thanks, EdithWales. You’re all so right: blood looks worse than what it is. I was just being wimpish as it was so close to a vein.
It’s finally stopped bleeding today thank goodness.
That’s good. It’s a dreadful nuisance and always looks worse than it is. I am expert at sticking skin back and it usually heals very nicely. The panic reaction of others needs managing though
Take care
Your not unique, it happens to me all the time. Skin thinning and bruising is one of the many unfortunate side effects of Pred. The back of my hands are a mess of bluey red marks and sometimes even the slightest rub against a towel can cause bruising. Catching anything rough or a solid surface makes them bleed which then takes a long time to heal so much so that I wear protective fingerless gloves for jobs around the house which helps a lot.
I like many others on this forum have that same issue.I can get a cut from brushing against the simplest of things.
They also take forever to heal.
Just try to be careful and take things slow.
I get this, apparently its thin skin, and is an age problem. I have been told not to use a plaster but to use a bandage now as my skin could come off with the plaster xx
my old mum had very thin skin too, but not until well in her 80’s. I’ve only just turned 70 and moisturise my skin thoroughly every day.
I’ve been aware of this since my diagnosis in 2018. I’m currently not only still on prednisone and Actemra, but just had an increase in my blood thinner med due to a blood clot in my leg! I look like I’ve been beat up half the time. Bruises on thin skin make me love being covered up during these cold months. I’ve tried everything and I hate to say it, but it’s very embarrassing showing my skin. On the plus side, I’m still breathing and able to do what I love.
I'm the same but what's weird I get the bruise spots by just scratching my arm(and not hard either) And the stranger thing is that it's only from my wrist to my elbow the top. Thankfully I have lots of freckles so doesn't show too bad. If I scratch the under/inside it doesn't mark (and I can scratch as hard too!) - very odd but guess skin must be lot thinner on top? But only got it since been on steroids (on 7mg) 😊
I suppose the skin on the top of the arm has been exposed to sun and has more sun damage.
Thin skin
Skin thinning 
Thin skin - It's no joke...
Help for thin skin: Dermatuff clothing
