Red Marks caused by taking Steroids

[Phed]

Can any one give me advice please on what I can use to put on my skin to help reduce these red marks caused by taking Steroids, my arms itch and even without scratching the marks appear, these are just a few of them.

[Lenore58]

Uggh, aren’t they awful! I’ll watch for answers to see if anyone has any remedies because I’d like to know too. Meanwhile, I have used a coverstick to hide them a bit. You can hide them even better if you can get a green based cover stick because green cancels out red. And then put a bit of flesh-colored make up on top.

[Phed in reply to Lenore58]

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly, they really are awful as fast as one lot disappears more arrive, I will try a green based cover stick, do you buy any special make that works really well? looking on line there are very mixed views as to whether they work or not.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Your image is rather blurred but those look like bruises because of the size of them. Smaller and redder marks are purpurae if larger or petechicae when they are are more pinprick sized. They are due to the capillaries in the skin being made more delicate by pred and they leak into the surounding area. Scraping the skin makes them worse - like letting your handbag strap slide down you arm.

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

The gallery includes images so you can compare.

Protecting your arms and legs when doing housework or gardening helps some but there isn't a lot you can do. They do fade, leaving a pale brown mark longer term. It usually improves as you taper the pred dose but it is also a factor in aging .

[Phed]

Thank you for your reply, so far I have been lucky and haven’t had any on my legs, I’ve had quite a few pale brown marks they they have caused over the years, oh the joys of Steroids and getting old,.

[Merryfield in reply to Phed]

All the bruising is disheartening. I use body cream on limbs every day and wear long-sleeved tops, , pants, tights or long dresses.

[Phed]

Thank you for your reply, like you it’s long tops or trousers. It’s mainly my arms that get the marks, I guess the only good thing is it’s winter so 🤞by the summer I can be off Steroids and the disappear for good.

[2013mayo]

hi, join the club, I’m covered in them, both legs and arms, I’m only on half a pred now but I’ve still got them, I have to cover my legs all the time now, I’m sure people would think I’ve been attacked by something, nothing gets rid of them, I don’t knock them in any way, they just appear, my arms have joined in now.

[Phed in reply to 2013mayo]

I’m lucky they haven’t appeared on my legs yet ( bet the will now😂) I had hoped the lower the dosage the less chance of them appearing but it doesn’t sound like it. I’m just glad it winter now and I can keep my arms covered up. Like you I don’t knock them they just appear out of the blue.

[Thelmarina]

Very lowering and very familiar. I use a little bio oil for the patches and scars from the inevitable tares and scrapes - over time scars are reduced and the red patches are kept moisturised/oiled. Makes me feel better even if not magic!

[Phed in reply to Thelmarina]

I hadn’t thought of bio oil, I will give it a try, the only conserlation is it winter now so nobody sees them but me, they are just so unsightly.

[nuigini]

Even though the picture is blurry, it's very familiar. It could be my arm after bumping or banging into something. As with other folk, it doesn't happen on my legs.

I recently found that putting pressure on the mark as soon as it happens and massaging the area quite aggressively, helps spread the blood out and it all disappears much more quickly. Using Arnica gel or lotion (bought on line or in some pharmacies in Canada) makes it happen even faster.

[Phed in reply to nuigini]

Thank you for your reply. I will try the advice you have passed on, anything is worth a try, they just look so horrible

[Stella3]

I hate to be a downer but I got so many bruises and cuts that left big red and purple marks on my skin while taking prednisone. I didn’t realize I bumped into things so often! Now I am off steroids I still have some blue marks but do not bleed in the same way. If steroids are helping rejoice that there is something to help you. I have had to be happy I no longer have to take them and just don’t look in the mirror!

[Phed in reply to Stella3]

I can’t wait to get off steroids, I agree steroids are helping the PMR and it definitely helped the GCA which I developed first, So I guess the purple marks are a small price to pay.