Bruise turned into rash

[pmarler]

I had blood draw a little over a week ago. The site turned into a large dark bruise approx. 3 inches across. The bruise turned to the characteristic yellow a few days ago, and was almost completely gone. Today, I noticed itching where the bruise had been, and I now have small raised itchy bumps exactly where the bruise was. I put cortisone cream on the rash; however, it burned quite a bit, and the itching is pretty intense. What would cause a bruise to turn into a rash when it heals?

[Slgrayy]

I have had this same condition for thirty years and in some cases it will not go away unless I treat it with oral steroid- If I don't use strong enough steroids it just continues to spread all over my body except for my face. I have noticed that as the years go by it last longer than usual- I wish I could find a cure or just  basic information on why this happens. It is so misurble to be so itchy all the time. Oh and forgot to add I have had every test under the sun and iam very healthy. Please let me know if you find anything out why our burise turn to a rash.

[SimplySteph]

It's been 8 years since the original post...still no cure.  I've been to traditional doctors, holistic doctors, allergists, dermatologists, immunologists, hell even Standford University Immuno-dermatology doesn't know what's wrong with me.

Mine is a recurring living nightmare. I want to cry every time I get a bruise because I know what intense relentless itching is about to occur over the next 3-4 weeks.  My bruises used to take 2 weeks to completely disappear, then two years ago (July 2014) I noticed my bruises healed unnaturally fast for me, 3-4 days tops followed by a rash in the identical shape of the bruise. intense, welted, raised, poison oak looking rash that would simmer down to a dull red rash then welt up and itch again in the same shape and size repeatedly over 3-4 weeks.  I've undergone auto immune testing, blood work, intestinal permeability (leaky gut) tests, stool cultures, biopsies, steroids, creams, pills, drops, ointments, to no avail.

I'm gonna throw something out here...if you want to be considered for a study (I'm going back to Stanford) you can text me with your contact info. I won't call you myself but I'll give the list of afflicted people to the Stanford research center so they can really see how many of us there are suffering from the same baffling illness. I for one and tired of fighting for a cure the last two years and never getting any answers. If you're interested, feel free to text: [phone]

[Yunxin]

Beehealth Propolis Cream maybe worth a try and the Beehealth Propolis tincture. Excellent for your immune system. Check with your doctor before trying if on medication. Kind regards

[Jomam]

After reading all of the posts I can see so many similarities to my own situation. I recently had a heart procedure for atrial fibrillation and the groin site had a huge bruise which started disappearing after 3 weeks. Last night a rash formed exactly on the bruise area - so itchy!!
Things I know about me:
I'm almost 50 and pre-menopausal, probably not ovulating for about 2 years - about the time I suddenly began getting migraines, though these have eased the past 6 months. I have quite a few inflammatory & autoimmune issues and after decades of being prescribed meds which only seem to mask the symptoms I have lost faith somewhat in Drs & want to find a cause. The Drs are either not really interested or able to any more, because of time constraints.
So, after many tests & rigorous research several things have come up. I have extremely high oestradiol levels because of estrogen dominance caused by a variety of factors over my life. HRT is not the answer as it is synthetic progesterone. This estrogen dominance  is relevant to the younger people & men posting. It is not something that only affects menopausal women anymore because of the high amount of synthetic xenoestrogen in our modern lifestyle. Once you are affected by this there is a cascading series of problems that can develop depending on your genetic make up and the effectiveness of your detoxification processes.
If, like me, you are one of 38% of people who have problems with phase 2 detoxification, (and are also unlucky enough not to be able to methylate a host of vitamins & nutrients), your body becomes more or less overloaded and starts reacting with autoimmune and/or inflammatory responses. This can be a slow process over years or even decades or a 'straw that broke the camel's back' very quick response. Stress has been the biggest factor in exacerbating every problem I have had - our own uncontrolled cortisol levels can lead to chronic illness if constantly high.
The only thing that I can see that will help me is by eliminating as many irritants/chemicals/medications/foods that I can and gradually reintroducing them to see what my triggers are. I need to drop all processed foods from my diet and feed my body with as many nutrient dense healing food as possible. I also need to learn how to manage my stress levels.
I listened to a recent fascinating podcast on the Wellnessmama website called The Overmedication of America. What was said made so much sense and fitted with my symptoms (especially about steroid use - cream or pill...or even my own stress response). There was also a link to the cascade effect from one medication - the oral contraceptive (estrogen). Again this is relevant to all of us.
While 'grasshoppering' about the internet, I came across a book which has an Autoimmune Protocol which I think will help me very much. It is called The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body by Sarah Ballantyne Ph.D. With over 1000 reviews averaging 4.7 stars on Amazon it is worth a look. I read about 400! The wellnessmama website has a 30 day autoimmune diet that is far easier to follow, but not as rigorous. I am starting by taking supplements to boost the glutathione pathways to help with detoxification and pre-methylated vitamins and folate that my body can access now. This is short term until I learn the foods that will naturally do this.
Sorry about the length of the post, and I probably am coming across as a bit of a nutcase new-age hippie - at least my family think so! I know it is going to be a very difficult protocol to follow. I am still trying to get my head around it, but with my body really seeming to turn on itself, I just have to do something. All of this is just my opinion, and sharing what I have found through months of research, and is not intended as advice. It worries me that if 131 people have responded to this thread over 8 years, how many people with the same issue read it and did not respond, and how many more people with the same issue have never even looked? I hope to start the protocol in the next month and will update here in a few months. Good luck to you all and good luck to me - I suspect I'll need it!

[Harrisburg]

I am commenting because I came upon this post two years ago after a the same thing happened to me. After a serious bruise on my right shin, a terrible rash formed right over the top of it, and has been there ever since.  I have since been to three doctors who seem skeptical of the bruise theory, and tell me it's severe eczema.  It only fades after steroid treatments, and comes blazing back as soon as I run out.  I'm so tired of this thing. It itches like crazy and looks terrible.  What really gets me, is the way the doctors just can't believe that the bruise was the catalyst.  Even my husband will verify that it is exactly where the bruise was, and it appeared as the bruise was fading. I wish I had a photo of the original bruise to show someone. I'm tired of the steroids as well. I'm glad I'm not alone.

[Varni]

Interesting read thanks. I have also developed a rash over a large bruise that has faded, it is driving me crazy and seems to flair up at night, but I think that might be because I take an antihistamine for hay fever in the morning, so I'm guessing that helps during the day, even though it's still there, just not as bad. It's been about 5 days, so thought I should Google it as it's a bit odd, but seems quite common after reading this.
Someone posted earlier about the histamine, think there must be something in that, because creams aren't working and I have tried a few... the antihistamine seem to do the trick. Just hope it goes soon though!!

[Karlemagne]

Same problem but made it worse/triggered it by massaging a deep contusion on my ankle I had for months from some amatuer kickboxing. Gf and I thought it would help blood flow to rub the healing hematoma abit. Well now I have a rash that looks like a typical allergy reaction rash that everyone describes. However the rash covers both my legs and my arms about 60% of the area. Seems like most people have the rash where the bruise is, it follows that the rubbing did circulate my blood and with it the dead blood/platelets toxins etc... And that is the reason for the wide spread reaction. Also it seems others have found it is exasperated by warm weather, mine coincided with four days in a row of intense sun exposure temps 80+ after which the rash began, so I thought it was heat rash, but since I have it now two weeks later I don't believe that is the case. What really threw me was that the rash is really only on my arms and lower legs, almost exactly what is exposed to the sun. So perhaps the sun is not the cause but just a contributing factor, my skin/tissues were already weakend or damaged by my sun exposure and the combo has caused my wide spread rash. Just hoping this clears soon I look like I have some terrible disease, and I'm hoping no blood clots are meandering their way to a just too narrow artery. Morel of story: Never Never Never massage a deep bruise. Also it would seem that deep, terrible bruises lead to localized allergic reactions in some of us. How special we are...

[Duncavi]

I fell on my mountain bike 6 Jan 2015 and couldn't unclip my peddles in time.  Consequently, the bike bashed my left knee.  I could see no visible bruise, but found EXQUISITE pain if I crawled on my knees- even on my "pillow-top plush" mattress.  In early Feb, I began to develop a light bumpy red rash over the same area.  I thought "What a crazy coincidence!" until I found this site.    

So by April, my rash became itchy.  I started to treat with antifungals.  Aloe.  No improvement.  Over-the-counter steroid cream, Gold-Bond Medicated ointment.  No improvement.  Went to the doctor.  Stronger steriod cream, then borrowed Mom's even-stronger-steroid cream.  Went on anti-inflammatory diet.  No improvement.  

Now it is June and the thing has expanded and erupted in blisters!  Gross!  Mostly is like a raised red bumpy area, about 2x2 inches, with a blistered crusting rim.  ITCHY!   Especially in the areas outside of the rash, which appear red, like they are about to also erupt.  So now I'm intoxicating myself with Hydroxazine to see if I can curb the progression.  I think it must be autoimmune in some way.  We are military so have to wait on socialized medicine to get my appointment.  

Has anyone else had a rash over a bruise that continually progressed for 5 plus months, over a bruise?  This thing ain't going away.  Thyroid connection?