Hi all,
I have started to develop reddish-brown blotches on my forearms after taking prednisone for almost a year. I'm at 9 mg right now, down from 15 last July.
These blotches are roughly circular, and about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter. They don't itch, but the skin that covers them is very thin and tends to flake off. They do disappear in about a week, but then new ones appear. Their frequency is increasing.
Is this one of the reactions to prednisone do you think and, if so, it is anything of concern?
Thanks friends,
Hello Bob, sorry I can't be of any help here other than to say that a side effect of preds is Thinning skin so I make sure I keep mine moisturised at all times. As for the blotches? If no one on the forum can help you, I'd be tempted to get myself down to the GP. All the best, christina
Hi Bob, I have the same thing. It is called purpura and according to my vascular surgeon is a side effect of steroids. My GP did not have a clue what it was. I tend to have it on my forearms too. As you say they suddenly appear and then slowly fade away over a week or two. I try and see which one is the newest when I am bored! I think it is just another steroid side effect we have to live with.
Hi Ptolemy,
Thanks for giving my condition a name! Now I can look it up. I am reluctant to go to the GP because I doubt he'll know what it is also.
Thanks so much!
Yes - I read your first post and was going to say purpura but ptolemy beat me to it!
I have it in one very small area just above my watch strap! I'm lucky, I have to scratch a bit for it to really appear but it is the same thing. I find keeping the skin well moisturised helps but I know others don't find that makes no difference.
Dear me - the faith we have in GP abilities...
My GP did actually get a blood test for platelets, then forgot to check on it! At least she admitted she did not know what they were and surmised it was the steroids. I thought that scratching or knocking myself caused them but I am not sure it does. I have not discovered yet why it happens, so I will keep testing.
That's me, speedy Gonzalez!
I had them all over my legs and arms, some as big as tomatoes!😡😡. They even bled sometimes. Some took weeks to go away, and I still have scars. As I reduced pred they disappeared. So take heart!
Hi Bob
Like all the other sufferers here I too have purpura caused by preds. I find that if for any reason they bleed they are extremely difficult to stop and very hard to heal. As others advise, as we reduce our dose this particular side effect will hopefully subside. Good luck.
I have the same problem if they bleed, a real pain. Makes a terrible mess of the sheets.
We were away in the caravan a while ago and sometime during the night I must have caught my arm on the edge of a unit, when I awoke both the duvet and bottom sheet were covered in blood which took us hours to clean using a tiny caravan sink. Oh the joys of preds are enormous.
Hi Bob,
i brought tis up on another discussion because I have these marks mostly on my arms. When they are not too bad I can wear short sleeves and use a scar coverup from the drug store. I only get one at a time on my legs.
Someone recommended Arnica cream and I ordered it through Amazon.
it does seem to speed up the healing for the lighter ones.
This should be the worst of our problems, right? 😀
there was also another cream but I haven't received it yet.
Thanks Audrey. Arnica Cream.
I'll keep that it mind.
Bob, I experienced easy brusing whilst on steroids but not the blotches that you describe although I have come across several members in my support group who have this problem. Our blood vessels are probably weakened, hence the easy brusing from any knocks, and steroid-thinned skin adds to the problem. You need to moisturise daily - Doublebase Gel is excellent and is available both on prescription and OTC. This will help to stop the skin drying and tearing so easily.
Double Base Gel, your GP can prescribe it because of the skin thinning.
If they refuse, just buy a 500ml bottle at the Chemists (Boots do sell it).
Follow the instructions and you will find it helps.
I was told this very early in my journey and thank goodness for MrsO.
Yes, Double Base Gel I ordered it but couldn't remember the name.
i found it on Amazon with free delivery. Do you have Amazon on line in the UK?
Audrey
Hi there,
I too get the reddish marks on my forearms and other types of reddish blemishes on my left foot. The skin on my left foot is very thin and looks quite unslightly most of the time. I lubricate it with various types of skin creams, but it doesn't help that much. The creams help stop some of the irritation, but that is about all.
My fore arms seem to have very thin skin as well, which makes them very susceptible to cuts and bruises. They also take a long time to heal.
My GP/Specilaist, knew exactly what it was (purpura), but didn't have any suggestions as to how to treat it, except for skin creams. He felt that eventually by lowering the prednisone my normal skin would come back.
I have had PMR for about 2 years now and currently at 11mgs of prednisone.
Shawn
Unfortunately Shawn, the normal skin doesn't come back.😡 We are stuck with it for life. Creams and gels help, but the skin never goes back to normal I'm told.
Constance
Constance, my skin has definitely returned to normal post-steroids in that it no longer tears easily or results in easy bruising from the slightest knock, so Shawn's GP is right in sayig that he feels his normal skin will return. Very important to moisturise daily meanwhile though, and DoubleBase Gel will do the job well.
Be grateful you aren't on warfarin too - or are you?