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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Appearence Of Purple Bruise On Left Arm?

I have a friend (in her 70ish)who s left arm gets these purple bruise like and it comes and go a lot. Same area. She is not over weight. She doesn t write with her left hand (you would think it was from bumping it) but it s on her left hand and the middle of her arm. She had biopsy but it didn t show anything. Is she lacking some kind of vitamin? I knower older people gets it all over there arms, but it s always on the left arm same area
Mon, 23 Dec 2019
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello,

Purple bruise on the arms in elderly is commonly due to thinning of skin & less fat underneath the skin to cover the blood vessels. Blood vessels in elderly become fragile & prone to bruise.

It can be due to deficiency of vitamin C, B6, B12, K. You are suggested to get your friend clinically examined by a GP to rule out medical conditions like Purpura, Ecchymosis, Petechiae, etc.

The treating doctor may order for few blood tests. Certain medicines taken for thinning of blood may also cause purple skin color. Be careful while walking so that you may not bruise your skin.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Nupur K, General & Family Physician
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What Causes Appearence Of Purple Bruise On Left Arm?

Hello, Purple bruise on the arms in elderly is commonly due to thinning of skin & less fat underneath the skin to cover the blood vessels. Blood vessels in elderly become fragile & prone to bruise. It can be due to deficiency of vitamin C, B6, B12, K. You are suggested to get your friend clinically examined by a GP to rule out medical conditions like Purpura, Ecchymosis, Petechiae, etc. The treating doctor may order for few blood tests. Certain medicines taken for thinning of blood may also cause purple skin color. Be careful while walking so that you may not bruise your skin. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Regards, Dr Nupur K, General & Family Physician