Thinning skin on arms

did you ever find out what causes this. I am 4 years post op and the same thing has been happening to me

 I see that most of these problems have been listed last year. My husband lost 60 pounds about 2 years ago. He is 5'6" and this was a signifigant wait loss for him. after he lost the weight he started gett bruising and bleedin on his arms only from his elbows to his wrists. We went to the Dr. and they took a bunch of tests, but couldn't figure out the problem. He has light hair and blue eyes as well. This problem is very distressing to him. We want to find some kind of way to make it better. He thought he was the only one who had this. Finding this website made him cry. He thought he was going crazy and that he was the only on going through this. What have you found that works best? It looks like Viatamin D has been good for others.. Please help. 

Me too - that happens to me!  It never did before survery.  A piece of paper can barely graze me and cause me to bleed.  A little pinch produces a big reddish bluish spot. 

I'm not on any blood thinners - only script other than OTC vitamins and supplements is Hctz (lowest dose).  And this was happening before I started the Hctz anyway. 

I haven't been too worried about it or spoken with a doctor about it - I just figured it was part of losing weight (and getting older).

Check few things:
low iron , low ferritin, low cholesterol (yes - it can be too low ) low vit a and B2, low vit K, low copper, low proteins, low sodium - dehydration. low thyroid - (hight TSH) or low T3  and many more  posibilities. etc.

Greetings all,

I too have this very same problem, however, I have not had any type of surgery for weight loss. I did lose 80 lbs on my own and have kept it off....but I do have the same thin skin which rips with the slightest scrape....and also get the blood blisters too. I have been to two dermatologists and they both said this was caused from sun damage. Well, interestingly, I was never a sun worshiper because I was always heavy and embarrassed to be seen in a bathing suit. My question to both "brilliant" M.D's was..."If it's caused from sun damage then how do you explain the fact that this only happens on my arms from the elbow to my wrist?" Naturally, they had no answer. Bottom line? They have no clue. I am dark haired, olive skin with green eyes so I really don't think there is any connection in what our coloring is. I do believe it has something to do with losing a lot of weight and perhaps lacking in nutrients as so many of you have talked about. My brother is a Chiropractor and an expert in nutrition. I am here visiting him for a week. I talked to him and showed him my most recent scrape on my arm and also how my skin looks like crepe paper. He mentioned several things that some of you have mentioned here as well.....Vit K, but Vit K2 which you can order online. He also mentioned Vit C but NOT ascorbic acid which is what most of us think of as Vit C. He recommends Raw Vit C which most of us can get at a good Health Food store...NOT GNC! Anyway, I too am so thankful that I stumbled upon all of you here because like all of you I have been looking for a solution. It's great to know that it's not just me!!! And ya know it's bad when a total stranger tells you that you don't look your age but your arms are a dead giveaway!!! Yep, that made me feel great! I will continue to check in on everyone's progress and will hopefully have good results to share as well. Best to everyone.

I have been looking at some off label uses of something that I just have left over.  It is premarin creme usually for vaginal use.  I found that using a x10 dilution with a good sunscreen at morning and twice daily on arms and face has been found to thicken skin.  through vitacost you can get vitamin K2 one capsule a day should help with any bleeding.it may take several weeks to show results but you can always try it.  Also retin A creme at night may help.  You can get that from Puritans pride on line

Unlike most who have answered here, I am only 10 months out of surgery. Have only lost 45lbs, and the Dr doesn't expect me to lose anymore! But now I have the thin skin and constant tearing and blood blisters. I am also light haired and eyes. My iron level is fine, but my Vit D is low.  Anyone figure out the problem yet?

I have read all of these posts.  I have brown hair and am fair complected.  I am five years out from WLS and for the past two years, my arms are horrible.  I can relate to all that you have posted about it.  I did just find out that I am low on Iron, but from reading here, I will also be adding Vitamin K and D.  It is embarrassing to say the least.  I find it very interesting that so many have this.  I am 56, but that is not old enough to have this severity, as many of you are not old enough either.  I think there has to be a common denominator, and most likely a deficiency in some vitamin from our diets.  Will post back after I have been on the iron and Vitamin K and D for a few weeks.  Blessings to you.

Thin skin issues here too blood work normal out of surgery 1 1/2 yrs any thing found?  Did see vit k might help. 

15 YEARS AFTER AFFECTS +'s/-'s

I was treated for Thyroid, they overshot the rad.dose in capsule...result 0 activity taking (2.0mg=ext.high dose) to replace.

I am 62yr.fem. 5'6"/125lbs.chart says I should be 150lbs.

I am 15 yrs out from Surgery in Oct. Highest wgt 298lb, at time of surgery 268lb I lost 99lb by 6mo. Mark 169lb by 1yr mark./ 14 mo. out after surgery I was150lb. my base wgt.goal. ( I was 46 & one of lucky few to look younger. At 35 ppl thought I was 19. I believe I looked a true 35.)

I didn't lose head hair or pub. I fully lost un-arm,leg,upper arm & feet/toe hair.& body down.also 1/2 thinned( heavy brows) sparce & eyelash sparce.

Yr 5 my body"down" began 2 grow, sparse & Leg hair,

At 15yr.I have 0 hair un-arm &feet ,legs patchy thin from knee down.eyebrows thin/ eyelashes also.

My skin has been "very" thin on lower arms since 1 yr after surg, bl.blisters & brusing instant upon bumping, scarring, skin ripped easily. Now I have not had for approx.2 years..either I learned to from bumping?¿, I still have boxes of large bandaids Lol, lower outside arm skin is thin & covered w aging white spots/ scars. I got Salmonella at 14 mo.mark after surgery ...I didn't got to hosp. Fear of defficating from both ends on trip..( vanity)I remained home & suffered 14days, I paid dearly, I was 150lb.after 108lb. within 3mo I had trip.bags under eyes/ eyes sunken so upper lids laying ontop of eyes were folding w excess skin & over lashes!. ( My face looked as if I was 75, etc & a drug addict)

It took me a year to gain wgt to 135. & the bags & upper lids went away & left me with excessivly crepe skin around eyes ,very dark esp under eyes...no collegen or fat skin to bones...hduty concealer does not fully mask! .I appear my age now.

Food: I drink 2/3c coffee a day, I eat in evening..I am on heavy pn med. If I eat during day I become too drowsy & tired to function. I eat a protein & vegetable, & snack later on a c.ch.& bagel or sm.piece chz cake/ bavarian choc./ peanut but.pretzels/canalope.etc.

I rarely eat eggs, beef, potatoes, no milk( halfnhalf in my coffee) no icecream(lactose)tiny portions of pot.,rice,pasta, I read labels for low sodium, stay away from foods w bad sugars(sug.alcohol/c.syrup and others use only raw turb.sugar Use Smuck. sugarfreepreserves wP.butter / use real butter. I eat 0 fried foods.

MY DAILY REGIMEN:

Hair, Skin & Nail Caplets, +required GBP Vitamins (I use Costco Adult Gummies x2 a day) +1 dose liquid B-complex vitamins, sublingual B-1 tablet, Caltrate Calcium chew tablet. & my prescribed.

For my thin dry skin I use Oil of Olay body wash, Wen fragrance free restorative cleanser or Wen 68 only. My hair is baby fine & was above my shoulders at time of surgery, & I didn't lose any head hair, but 2 yrs later I stopped using soap shampoo & exclusively used Wen or another condition rinse only shampoo then, in 2016 my hair was below my bum & I cut off 10" never in my life had my hair grown this long. It had something to do with the GBP or Menopause... I wish everyone who has GBP well, Wear your masks & I have had a long hard road after GBP, a lot of eatting issues etc. I wasn't a good candidate for surgery because of my thyroid issue, but I am 62 & I have 8 Grandkids.. & if I hadn't done the surgery, I wouldn't be here to see my oldest GrandTwins have their 15th b-day on Aug1,2020.