Thinning skin

My forearms are covered in scars from when I had skin tears/flaps, I think they are called. My skin would just peel away like tissue paper. For many years I was on high dose steroids which played havoc with my skin.
Even now in summer I wear tennis wrist bands to protect and conceal my skin from bruising, and to cover them up.
However, I am no longer on the steroids so my skin is not getting worse, maybe a little better. Lots of vitamin C and D is important, so I take supplements especially in the winter.

It is a natural part of ageing, just like raised veins on hands. Genes have a part to play, but healthy eating, vitamin D and getting out doors helps. I'm 84 and try 2 - three ies most days.

Ways to Protect Thin Skin at Home
There isn't a natural way to reverse thin skin caused by aging. However, there is a link between nutrition and skin health, meaning skin health can be improved by following a healthy diet.14 The following foods are believed to promote healthy skin:

Fresh, whole fruits
Vegetables
Foods low in fats and carbohydrates
Foods or supplements with vitamin A
Legumes
Olive oil
Fish oil supplement
Cold-water fish caught in the wild
Measures to protect thin skin from cuts and tears include:

Wearing long sleeves and long pants to protect the skin from the sun
Wearing double layers to protect the skin from tearing when working outside
Applying rolled gauze bandages under clothing for skin that is very fragile to protect it from tearing
Using at least 30 SPF sunscreen when outdoors
Keeping the skin well moisturized

www.verywellhealth.com/thin-skin-5105401

I find these good to protect my arms from the sun and they’re cool to wear. They may also protect your arms from minor bumps. The skin coloured ones look like your bare arms - from a distance.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08HGFG4CN/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?pf_rd_p=5084c3e1-1319-4b43-a10c-02a891285e91&th=1&pf_rd_r=X4HC71BJWT339XYQ1EGM&pd_rd_wg=MkRGt&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwy&pd_rd_i=B08HGFG4CN&pd_rd_w=YaM6j&content-id=amzn1.sym.5084c3e1-1319-4b43-a10c-02a891285e91&tag=gransnetforum-21&pd_rd_r=c42f4de9-6f32-40d4-9ee5-07e01ac898fe

It's odd that it's only the one arm that is affected. Would it be worth checking at your GP surgery just in case?

Thinning skin is normal with ageing but I thought it was all over the body, not just one place.

Did you possibly use a steroid cream on that area at any time? Steroids are the worst offenders for skin tears/flaps. I was win very high dose of steroids for 8 years, have been of for at least 20 years, but they still occur. I eat very healthily.

My skin has been very thin since I was in my 50s and I have scars from tears. It is worse now in my 70s and have had skin infections. The main thing I do is moisture constantly and mostly avoid the sun. I use spf50 sun cream if I am outdoors on sunny days.
I am guessing my arms are worse than elsewhere due to both sun damage and the fact they are more exposed than elsewhere.

Are you sure your skin on your arm is thinning? That the bumps bruises are showing up through perhaps you are having greater depth of bleeding under the skin. Both are condusive to ageing.

When I was having a hip replacement operation, the consultant commented that the skin on my legs was very sensitive, dry and fragile. My forearms are very fragile and the slightest knock causes the skin to tear, leaving an open wound. I do have a fairly healthy diet, take vitamin D supplements but use a steroid inhaler for asthma.

I remember my dad had thin skin too but wasn’t on steroids. We just thought it was due to age. I’ve obviously inherited it from dad, mum’s skin was fine!

It’s the skin on my neck and shoulders that I have a problem with. Over the past few years I seem to get a kind of acne in that area that doesn’t heal well and causes terrible scarring. I am careful to moisturise my legs because I was always aware of older people having problems in that area. Having said that, the various potions that I put on my arthritic knees make my skin sore. As for my thread and varicose veins …

I also have thinning skin just on my arms, so am going to order some of those arm things. Also on a steroid inhaler.

I have the same problem. After my latest skin flap tear (carrying my elderly dog downstairs, caught a sharp edge on the bannister) my friend introduced me to hydrocolloid dressings. Oh my goodness life changer! Because they don’t peel even more skin off if you have to change them and the skin heals underneath them like magic.

Collagen. If not too bad a cream moisturiser, if serious get GP to prescribe tablets

Redcar

When I was having a hip replacement operation, the consultant commented that the skin on my legs was very sensitive, dry and fragile. My forearms are very fragile and the slightest knock causes the skin to tear, leaving an open wound. I do have a fairly healthy diet, take vitamin D supplements but use a steroid inhaler for asthma.

I remember my dad had thin skin too but wasn’t on steroids. We just thought it was due to age. I’ve obviously inherited it from dad, mum’s skin was fine!

I have been on inhaled steroids for asthma since they were introduced. I am now 67. My arm skin is very thin and I often get dark red patches and skin peeling back if I catch it on even a door knob. I use vit A cream every morning and a vit D supplement in the darker months. It's an intractable problem.

Something you have to live with really- annoying but not life threatening.

Mine is on my lower legs. I used to sunbake with my legs outstretched when we first came to Australia when I was young. No sunscreen. I suppose I am paying the price because I also had a skin cancer removed from the same area a few years back.