I have very thin skin on my hands, always bruising from the slightest bump. My mom was the same way. My PCP says there is nothing that can be done as I don’t have any blood issues or take blood thinners. The dermatologist recommended taking citrus flavinoids. Has anyone taken these or have other suggestions? I use arnica gel when I get a bruise but it doesn’t seem to help much.
I have the same problem with my hands and forearms. Constant purple marks and they open up and bleed. I get them from just carrying grocery bags even with long sleeves on. My doc said the same thing.
We can wear gloves or arm protectors. My skin was thinned by a cancer med, I believe, but I am not sure. It is embarrassing when I wear short sleeves!
A vein specialist MD I saw recently recommended this specific citrus flavonoid supplement (she said this particular brand is known for its quality):
https://www.amazon.com/BiosupportMD-Formula-Supplements-Created-Specialist/dp/B06XV3HTVM
Check with your doctor before taking anything to make sure it will not interfere with your other medications or cause side effects!
Dermatologist suggested the Swanson brand. Don’t know if there is a big difference between brands.
I’d stick with what your doc recommended. You will not see a dramatic change instantly (or may not see any changes at all). Good luck.
Retinol cream is used for this. The drawback is that the expensive stuff used for your face is also the most effective for hands and arms. It’s not an overnight solution and may take weeks to see a difference. But it does help thicken the skin tissue.
Hydration helps (hyaluronic acid). Neutrogena Hydro Boost is great (they make another but this one is fragrance free). Very little goes a long way.
Vitamen A supplements help–but don’t overdo it. (Max 10,000 mcg/day). And less for anyone with liver problems–talk to your doctor.
In addition to bioflavonoids, which are found in the white part of citrus peel, rutin is helpful in decreasing capillary fragility. Rutin is found in buckwheat, green tea, bell peppers, asparagus, and certain other vegetables.
When I was pregnant with my first, before moving to the Midwest, I had prenatal care at a freestanding birth clinic that recommended eating a great deal of foods containing bioflavonoids and rutin as well as taking vitamin E to avoid varicose veins and decrease tendencies towards stretch marks.
Following those instructions, I had no problems in that direction, unlike in the years since. Vit E in recent decades has fallen out of favor for some well researched reasons. But Vit C, rutin and bioflavonoids are old mainstays for decreasing capillary fragility. Supplements are available, but increasing intake of the foods containing those substances is a good place to start.
So is this problem thin skin, or thin capillary walls? To me, it seems like the latter, since some of the (deep purple) spots/areas are actually more like purpura or ecchymosis. They are sometimes almost 3 dimensional and fill with blood so if bumped or scraped at all, they bleed a lot. Hematoma? All caused by no noticeable impact. Anyone else?
I see there is Arnica cream for skin, but supplements would be needed for capillary walls. Not sure if they are effective. I am keeping arms and hands covered as much as possible.