Actinic Purpura: my blood blisters?

[Carolina]

Dearest Sjogren's Angels,

I'm posting this separately because it may help someone in the future.

More and more research turned up Actinic Purpura which is caused by damage from the sun, which weakens the skin and allows the blood to flow into the surface causing blisters.

Why I have a blister on the back of my thigh, which gets NO sun is beyond me.  But the blisters on my arm surely fit that description.

I have an appointment with my primary care physician for next Tuesday....so I'm making some progress.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1087008-overview

PS, when looking at the Images of actinic purpura I saw a purple spot on one person's lip.  Just like a purple spot on my lip, just in another place.  So it's all coming together.  I spent too much time in the sun (all my life) take Aleve, which thins the blood and Medrol (not much, but still).  According to the articles, the purple spots will get better over time, are not 'dangerous', and i should just stay out of the sun (boo hoo) and avoid damage to my forearms (which I didn't know even happened, but is often part of the problem).  By the way another term is 'senile purpura'.  sigh

Hugs,  Elaine

[SjoGirl]

Elaine, Don't you just love those medical terms that are so damning emotionally? Using the word senile is one of them!

Here's hoping you are right!!

[anita]

Wait until you see the doctor.  The article also says it usually occurs after some minor trauma...did you injury the back of your leg in any way?  There are pictures of purpura from vasculitis that look just like your picture as well.  They will need to make an assessment and probably some tests.  You have the sun factor, the steroids factor, and the vasculitis factor...could be any of these.  At least the Actinic is benign!!

Please update us next Tuesday.