Thinning Skin Prednisone or lack of Carbohydrates

Thin skin is a side effect of steroids as is slower healing

I don't know if too little Vitamin B complex would cause skin thinning as such, but the B vitamins are very important for skin and hair health.  Depends what carbohydrates you have given up, because we tend to depend on grains for Vitamin B.  That being said, I haven't given up carbs, although I have cut down drastically on refined carbs (we have a great baker in the family so temptation is ever present) and I think my skin is thinner since I started pred.  But I am getting older so maybe I'm just noticing normal decay!

Hi Marriane,

I try and watch my carbs and try to eat the "good" ones. We don't eat sweets and the only sugar I have, other than what might be in a salad dressing or condiment, is less than a -1/2 t. of in my coffee which I only have about 4 times a week.

I have definitely noticed my skin thinning. I've been on pred for 33 months (but whose counting😉) and only recently tend to bruise more easily and also, when I scratch my leg because of a bite, it seems to leave a little area of broken blood vessels or ??   My hair and nails grow like crazy.

Sorry,  this doesn't really answer your question about carbs but I think it is the pred that has caused the changes on my skin.

Hugs

Diana🌸

I'm getting older and my skin was already thinning, I would bruise very easily.  However, I've discovered that my skin NOW cuts VERY easily, bleeds longer than before, bruises, and takes a l-o-n-g time to heal.  I slipped and hit my hand near my wrist over 2 weeks ago, it's just starting to heal.  slow, slow, slow!  However I did find that when I got a small cut near my elbow, it did not bruise when I put ice on it (I wrapped it in a towel with the ice against the cut) for a while.  It reddened some, but that's one less bruise for me to look beat up upon.  Try it next time.

I'd say it's more likely the pred - I'm in my early 50s and my skin has gone so thin I just need to scrape my arm against something and I'm bleeding all over the place. I have sores and scabs everywhere - so very attractive.

Some of it could be age related.  I was told years ago before I ever

had PMR or took pred and started bruising very easily.....that it is

loss of elasticity in my skin.  just another wonderful part of getting

older...If anyone has this, putting coconut oil on your arms at night

helps somewhat.  Also owner of Health Food Store told me that

putting Arnica Gel on the bruises 2-3 times a day makes them go away in about half the time and it does work well.  I still bruise just not as bad and it doesn't last as long.

Me, too. Me, too. Horribly thin skin. Slightest bump and I bleed under the skin. Slightest scrape and the skin peels. All mostly on my lower arms. Hair thinning and falling out. So depressing.

Have taken to using Biotin for the hair and several different hair products. Thinking about a wig. I also use Arnica on my skin and a ton of moistuizer.

Are we ingesting too few B-vitamins? I understood that B-vitamins helped with stress. Is the stress of PMR coupled with steroid use causing an increased need for B-Vitamins?? Shall be preading Marmite thickly on my toast??

Paula (balding and bruised in the USA at age 69. Groan)

Me also, on skin tearing and bruising under skin on lower arms and hands!  I try to wear long sleeves, and as stated prior, I now have 4 wigs due to thinning hair (really bad, too). I have eaten low carb way before PMR entered the scene with its ugly head!  But, Pred took horrid pain, so I can have some kind of life, even tho it's NOT what it was by a long shot. I will keep trying, though to get back if possible!