I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on dealing with very fragile skin. I've always had quite thin (redhead's) skin which tears easily but a combination of age and being on pred have made it worse. Example: I haven't been able to wear a proper bra for ages because even the softest seam free types just tear the skin under my bust. I only have to knock against something and I bleed. The final straw was five days ago when I knocked against a magazine rack, thought Ouch, I'll have a bruise there, then looked down to see blood pouring out. I'd gashed a deep two inch square flap out of my shin. It's been steri stripped, dressed and bandaged at A&E but still bleeding so I have to keep changing the dressing. Practice nurse at the surgery is supposed to do it, but I'm having to wait a week for an appointment. I'm fed up with all the sore areas on my skin. I've tried various creams with only slight improvement. I'm sure I'm not the only one with this silly problem so if anyone can suggest anything I'd be grateful. Annoyingly, I was fine when this happened, patched myself up and carried on until nagged into going to A&E by husband and friends. It's only now, a few days later, that I'm feeling dreadful, very stiff and aching and shaky. I'm only just getting over flare caused by starting stains (and rapidly stopping them again) On the bright side, the sun is shining, the daffodils are covered in buds and we've even got a rose out!! Something nice to look forward to.
Pred and fragile skin: I'm wondering if anyone has... - PMRGCAuk
Pred and fragile skin
Sorry to hear that - I have had a couple of humdinger cuts on my shins too! One happened when I caught my shin with the heel of my big clumpy winter boots as I crossed my ankles for comfort. And that was through trousers AND socks!! The surgeon who stitched it in the ED commented on the thin skin but although it took more than the week he suggested it did heal fine, but took a long time to fade.
If it continues to bleed you may have to stage a sit-in at the practice for someone to check it or brave a return to the ED. Mine was deemed too bad to steri-strip and needed to be stitched to stem the bleeding.
Steri strips not doing a very good job, still bleeding quite a bit, now of fifth day. I thought it should have been stitched but male nurse who dressed it seemed in a hurry, but I don't blame nurses, A&E packed as usual. At least you get seen straight away if you're bleeding!!
Really think you need it seen to by someone. Might have been a bit OTT here - but I got a surgeon!! Maybe the nurse didn't realise the delicacy of long term steroid skin.
I am on an anticoagulant. I find that to stop bleeding I usually have to miss a couple of doses (I take it twice a day). I also have the thin skin problem, particualarly on the backs of my hands. I carry a medium sized dressing with me in my wallet in case of skin tearing.
The only thing I can suggest after suffering in a similar way (The damage to my shin took just short of three months to heal ) is to buy arm and leg protectors . Mine are from Limbkeepers but there are several to chose from. I use the forearm ones on my legs too as as the leg ones are too long. It works well in the winter because they don’t show under winter clothes.
Thanks for the tip about Limbkeepers. I was going to try bubble wrap but sometimes trying to protect my legs can cause marking in itself. These look good and the comment about using the arm ones instead of leg ones should suit me best. I shall give them a try and hopefully incur less damage 😃
fragile skin can be an enormous problem...and if it is still bleeding I think you need to get it looked at again.
A slight tear in the skin on my toe (goodness knows how it happened) resulted in sepsis and an antibiotic drip.
I am now watching a minor burn that caused major damage to a small section of my arm heal slowly ...did it one month ago (guess another month to go). Given Silvederma to deal with possible infection. Now going to start calendula.
I am on 1.5mg but skin still fragile but not so much bleeding.
A tip I learned from a visit to the Minor Injuries unit with a bad skin tear on the back of my hand, was to use Vaseline. It forms a protective barrier and seems to speed up the healing process. And there is no scar. I always carry a tub of Vaseline with me to have at the ready. A careless shopper recently knocked into me with her supermarket trolley and caught my hand. Within seconds my hand was bleeding profusely and I was given a temporary dressing by the shop staff. Once home I applied the Vaseline, the bleeding stopped and it healed in no time. And no scar. Just saying …… Hope it helps. 🙂
Thanks, that's a good idea. I've always got Vaseline. It's usually my arms that get regular tears. I must remember to use Vaseline on them regularly before I bash them.
Same here with the shin problem, bled and leaked clear fluid for a month, and some, then completely damaged my skin with the adhesive strips upon removal, my skin could not take anymore. Then used non stick dressings and crepe bandages, daily. My arms are a mess too! Good luck.
Thanks everyone for your advice and shared experience. Just one more thing we have to contend with apart from main PMR symptoms. It's comforting to know there's a lot of us in the same boat, although I wish for everyone's sake that you you weren't suffering too.
You can get a product called Second Skin by Germolene. I don't know how effective it is, but my elderly parents used it.
I have lichen sclerosus and frequently get bleeding around my anus when I walk a lot. I use Sudocrem nappy rash cream applied as a barrier before I go walking. It works a treat. If you try using that on your most vulnerable places maybe?
I also have very fragile skin on arms & legs, I had a fall in the bathroom about three weeks ago and scraped the skin off my lower arm and over the elbow, still putting dressing on it, when I next change the dressing I will put vaseline on it.
I too have these skin issues. My only contribution is that any disruption I get, is to clean it right away using a betadine (non-staining) wash, add bacitracine ointment, and cover it. I may do it a couple times / day and definitely before I go to bed. 1. Nothing heals if there is any infection, 2 i'm trying to maximize healing when asleep. Take care..
I have a similar problem. I don't use stick on band aids because they leave a bruise too. I bumped into the corner of the wall and my arm had skin ripped right off. Took 6 weeks to heal....I take blood thinners so it makes it worse... Try wearing long sleeves all the time. I bought some medical sleeves to wear, they help a little. will be a test in summer though... I stumble a lot due to balance problems... I think we just need to adapt and see the light at the end of the tunnel...hope you are better...
Hard luck having to take blood thinners. My husband is on them and fell outside recently. By the time I got to him it resembled the chain saw massacre. There was so much blood I thought he'd split his head open. When I'd cleaned him up there was just a tiny cut above his eye! It took ages to scrub the path clean.
Heads have a very good blood supply, not just to the inside but the scalp as well and even a tiny cut looks horrendous!! And that's WITHOUT blood thinners ...
I'm still not sure if I fainted or tripped, but I cut just above my eye back in the sixties whilst wearing my "I feel like the Bee's knees in it" white trouser suit!!!! That needed a good soak.😀
morning Ck,so many of us here in the same boat,have lost count how many times I have presented at docs and A and E if I can’t repair wounds myself.I buy steristrips that are especially for fragile skin.Think the answer is to use MORE on the gash/ tear than one would normally use,but obviously don’t cover it completely.Quite proud of some of my handiwork once it heals!Also,I put lashings of Cetraben cream in my bath, to soften skin .Guess any emollient would do,I just get it from docs on repeat luckily enough.The lower I got on Pred,the better my skin behaved but now I am back up on higher dose,am noticing a lot more blood spots,bruises etc.Am thinking of buying an NBC suit for when gardening starts.,!😂😂😱😜
like many others I’m afraid I can only offer you sympathy as a fellow sufferer. Just the slightest brush against something can crest a large tear. All of my bags are now stocked with varying sizes of Saline Wipes and Gentle Border Dressings - just in case. Even if there is only a bruise or slight tear wounds take weeks to heal. My legs look a real mess with the remains of past injuries still visible over 6 months later. I try to be so careful but you can’t prepare for things like a passerby brushing your leg with a carrier bag. The main concern is obviously infection and although I thought I was very adept at treating wounds appropriately I was disappointed to get cellulitis at the end of last year. My latest though was caused by a lapse in concentration when I walked into a concrete planter creating bad tears on each leg which needed medical attention with one too painful to walk on and still generating fresh blood 17 days on. Nurse has been brilliant with regular checks and redressing and I’m hoping 4 weeks on my next visit will show sufficient improvement for it to be my last. Luckily I’m not the sort of person who lets things get them down so yes nature brings us so many things to look forward to. Always good to look on the bright
Perhaps we should all buy shares in the companies making dressings! I've always got enough to start my own field dressing station (although I couldn't find them last week when this latest injury happened)
I can really relate to your post. These days I never seem to be without a bruise or cut on my forearms and shins. I managed to cut my leg yesterday on the edge of an occasional table through my jeans. Fortunately it’s a skin flap and not a deep cut. I find if I manoeuvre the torn skin flap back into place they heal more quickly. I’m allergic to normal plasters so I use Atrauman impregnated wound dressings then apply an Opsite Post-0p waterproof dressing over the top and try not to disturb it for a few days. Both dressings can be purchased on Amazon 🌸
We all seem to manage to gash our legs through our trousers. Perhaps we should wear thicker trousers or just accept it as a badge of belonging to PMRGCAuk! I did think of digging out my husband's old cricket pads but I have enough trouble walking at the best times and I thought I'd look a bit silly.😃 Hope yours is healing.
In case you missed it. I did mention earlier in this post that Limbkeepers are really good under clothes. They have regular or lightweight in a variety of colours. They certainly protect me from our children’s over enthusiastic dogs. 😉
Thanks for reminding me. I've been meaning to look them up.
Further to my previous post I ordered my Limbkeepers on Monday and they were delivered today. Thanks for the suggestion Bridge31. Not cheap but they feel really nice and comfy. I ordered a set of leg and arm ones. Leg ones are a bit long but I think folding over at the bottom will give some extra protection for my lower shins. 🤞they work but I’m trying to be even more extra careful not to knock against things so it might be a while before I find out.
Hello Countrykitten, my name is Winnee. There is so many knowledgable people on the website, especially The Ambassor and Dorset Lady (very helpful). Like you with the preds my skin is like tissue paper, the slightest knock and bruise and cut myself. My Doctor prescribed Fusidic Acid Cream (prescriptions only) it is very good. You only need a small amount 2 or 3 times a day. Try and keep the wound uncovered as much as possible. For me it tends to heal my wounds quicker. Hope this is if help to you and anybody else. 👍🤞🏻.
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