What causes brown bruises to last over a year?

Question

Hello doctor,

Dark bruises on my skin have not disappeared. They were black and blue, but now they have turned brown. It has been over a year, and they still have not faded. A few new ones have also appeared randomly.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Have you taken any painkillers or antibiotics recently? It seems the rashes might be due to a drug allergy. Sometimes, even common painkillers can cause such reactions.

Do the rashes turn red after you take any medication? These types of rashes typically start as red patches and, over time, become bluish-purple, then eventually turn blackish-brown. They often reappear in the same area and can develop into blisters if higher doses of the drug are taken.

Medications commonly associated with Fixed Drug Eruption (FDE) include:

Paracetamol.
NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Doxycycline.
Penicillin.
Hydroxyzine.
Co-trimoxazole.
Sulfonamides.
Mefenamic acid.
Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin).
Barbiturates.

Some foods and food additives can also cause reactions, such as:

Tartrazine (a yellow food dye).
Asparagus.
Lactose.

You should review your recent medication and diet to identify any possible triggers and avoid them if possible. Severe or repeated episodes may lead to larger and new lesions. In extreme cases, blisters can cover more than 80 percent of the body, especially affecting sensitive areas like the mouth, genitals, face, and arms.

It is strongly advised that you consult a local dermatologist for further evaluation, diagnosis, and appropriate testing.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

So, from next time, tell your clinician or physician that you are allergic to Doxycycline. And avoid it altogether.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.