What are the fading purple-like patches that appear on arms and legs?

Question

Hi doctor,

My mother is 62 years old. She has purple-like patches on her arms and legs, as shown in the attached picture. She said that she has had it for over three to four years, and these patches fade in a few days once they appear. My mother also has diabetes and hypertension. She is using some antibiotics for diabetes and hypertension. She also has a substernal goiter, and her biopsy was negative. I am attaching her blood and hormone results, which are in the normal range. Liver function tests were also normal. What are these fading purple-like patches?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

I am glad you chose iCliniq for your medical-related queries.

I understand your concern and will try to help you with it.

I have gone through the pictures and reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Your mother's condition seems to be senile purpura. Senile purpura is a common benign condition characterized by the recurrent formation of purple ecchymoses (bruises) on the extensor surfaces of the forearms following minor trauma. It is basically a defect, not a disease. It occurs due to minor trauma or a blood-thinning agent. It may also occur because of aging and photodamage. The dermal tissues become thin and increase the fragility of blood vessels.

As a result, superficial vessels tear and rupture even with negligible trauma. Since this is a benign condition and self-resolving condition, you have to protect your mother from sunlight and minor trauma. She can use broad-spectrum sunscreen like Suncros Soft SPF 50+ over photo-exposed areas. She can also apply topical steroids like Mometasone twice daily for four to five days to achieve faster recovery and take vitamin C tablets once daily for a week.

Hope I answered your query.

You can always reach me.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read and understand your concern.

I can understand your concern. Since I have already enumerated the causes of senile purpura, like aging and photodamage, it is not necessary that a patient must have all of them. Even a trivial trauma that a patient may not remember can cause this kind of ecchymosis. To be on the safer side, get a coagulation profile of your mother and must discuss these ecchymosed patches with the treating physician.

Hope I answered your query.

Looking forward to your response in order to help you.

Thank you.