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Bruising of the Hands And Arms
Information provided by Thomas C. Weiss - Published: 2010-11-10
Bruising on the back of a person's hands and arms is fairly common. When it occurs, dermatologists refer to it as, 'actinic purpura,' 'Bateman's purpura,' or, 'solar purpura.'
The bruising looks like flat blotches that begin with a red coloration, then turn purple and darken, although they eventually fade. The bruises are different from other bruises in various ways; for example – the person usually hasn't experienced an injury in order to cause them, and the bruises are not tender. The bruises also last longer than regular ones do, many times for a period of a few weeks.
The bruises often happen on the back of a person's hands or forearms. The person's skin is thin, wrinkly, and sun-damaged. The bruising is largely experienced by persons who are older; actinic purpura is due to the weakening of a person's blood vessel walls over many years of exposure to the sun. Blood thinners such as coumadin or aspirin, as well as consumption of alcohol, can make the condition worse. Administration of steroids, through the form of a cream, pill, or inhalant, can induce this form of bruising as well.
The use of cosmetics may help to conceal the bruising associated with actinic purpura. Dermablend cosmetics are often recommended for dermatologic conditions like actinic purpura and may be purchased at department stores. Application on a daily basis of Retin-A prescription cream, or alpha-hydroxy acid cream, can help to increase the thickness of the person's skin and could help. The hormone progesterone in lotion form can help women with actinic purpura.
Bateman's Purpura
Bateman's purpura is essentially a skin disease associated with people who are younger, although it can occur in people from any age group. Bateman's purpura are very common lesions, especially in people who are older. The bruising can result from even a very minor trauma, one the person might not even remember. The bruises or, 'ecchymoses,' can appear to be any color from blue to black depending on the age of the bruise. Many times, a number of them are present on each of the person's arm, a characteristic location. The bruises heal with a whitish and irregularly-shaped scar called a, 'stellate pseudoscar.' Bateman's purpura refers to flat and irregular, purple bruising that appears on a person's skin as they age.
Bateman's purpura also occurs on skin that has been exposed to the sun such as a person's hands or forearms. The person's skin is often thin and wrinkly. While Bateman's is common, it is not dangerous. Bateman's can also occur in a person's mucus membranes, such as their mouth, or internal organs. Sometimes, medications can also cause the disease because the medications affect the person's blood platelets, resulting in Bateman's purpura. The disease affects women and men equally, although it does affect people with fair complexions more often.
Bateman's Purpura Causes
Aspirin, prednisone, and alcohol use can all contribute to the formation of Bateman's purpura. Aspirin and alcohol both thin a person's blood and make it easier to leak into their skin, while prednisone causes a person's blood vessel walls to become more fragile. Bateman's purpura is found most often in people who have skin that is sun-damaged and who are over the age of fifty.
Bateman's purpura is due to the weakening of a person's blood vessel walls. Over a number of years, sunlight damages a person's skin and their blood vessels underneath, making the walls of their blood vessels very fragile. Even slight trauma, such as bumping against something, can cause the walls of the person's blood vessels to break and their blood to leak into their surrounding skin.
Bateman's Purpura – Signs and Symptoms
Major symptoms of Bateman's purpura include skin that appears both thin and wrinkly, nearly flimsy in appearance, as well as flat and irregular, purple lesions on the person's skin as they age. The purple lesions or bruises show up on the person's face, neck, forearms, or hands. The bruising is not related to either pruritus or pain and they commonly last between one and three weeks. The bruises are bigger than three millimeters around and are usually present on the outer surfaces of the person's forearms and the dorsa of the person's hands, but do not extend onto the person's fingers. The bruising is present in the area of atrophic and inelastic damaged skin. Bateman's purpura may be diagnosed through a clinical examination; a laboratory investigation is only needed if a diagnosis is not readily apparent.
Treating Bateman's Purpura
Treatment of Bateman's purpura can include:
- Vitamin K cream applied to the skin daily
- Daily application of alpha hydroxyacid lotions
- Application of cosmetics to camouflage the lesions
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- This web page is from the Disabled World Skin Conditions section which provides: Information on various skin diseases infections and conditions in humans including functions of the skin.
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