Darkened hand may be key to understanding Elizabeth II’s death

In the last public appearance of queen elizabeth II, died last Thursday (8), they called the attention dark spots in the region of the hands of the monarch. At the time, on Tuesday (6), she had met with the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss.

The detail about the queen’s hands became even more evident after the sovereign’s death, whose official cause was not disclosed.

Causes of spots on the body

Blemishes on the body are associated with different health conditions, including bruising, which is the accumulation of blood outside the blood vessels. The problem affects people of all ages and can happen anywhere on the body. The main causes are injuries or trauma, which cause spots of different shades such as red, blue, purple or even black.

The geriatrician Andrey Socolovithc, from the Hospital Sírio-Libanês, in São Paulo, explains that the manifestation of bruises is common among elderly people.

“Purple lesions are very common on the skin of the elderly, this happens because aging makes the skin thinner and the vessels more fragile. All this causes an increased chance of these vessels to rupture. Often, the person does not realize where they bumped or hit and, when looking at some part of the body, they notice these purplish spots ”, she says.

According to the specialist, bruises can also be caused by procedures such as collecting samples for laboratory tests and infusing drugs directly into the vein. “During these procedures, there is a risk of tearing the veins and causing an extravasation of blood in the skin”, he explains.

The doctor says that, in most cases, the bruises disappear with time. “But the elderly should pay attention: when these spots are extensive or associated with another sign of bleeding, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible,” he says.

Diagnosis

The dermatologist Patricia Holderbaum, from the Brazilian Society of Dermatology – Rio Grande do Sul Section (SBD-RS), says that the correct diagnosis allows determining whether they are harmless spots or if they need treatment.

“At Age spots often appear after age 40 on the hands, arms and neck and are characterized by their brownish color, rounded edges and varied sizes”, he explains. “Some systemic diseases and skin cancers behave like blemishes. Hence the importance of treating your spots with a dermatologist. He will do an anamnesis and detailed clinical and dermoscopic examination and will know if it is a harmless stain or something we should be concerned about”, he adds.

SBD-RS dermatologist Carolina Barone explains that visible bleeding into the skin or mucosa caused by the extravasation of red blood cells from inside the blood vessels, can cause spots known as “purpura”.

“They are not usually palpable and, when pressed, they do not turn pale. This fact differentiates them from other vascular lesions. They serve as an alert for a possible underlying disease that should be evaluated by the dermatologist, as they may be a manifestation of a potentially serious health problem”, explains Carolina.

The dermatologist says that the lesions are reddish or purplish in color. The spots are usually painless and vary in size from millimeters to centimeters.

“Regarding the causes for its formation, we have the rupture of capillaries, which are very thin blood vessels, due to trauma or cutaneous fragility, which is more common in the elderly. When the cause is platelets, it may be due to their reduced number, as bone marrow disorders or chemotherapy or to their deficient function, secondary to genetic causes, medication use, or certain diseases “.

Dermatologist Bomi Hong explains that the use of medication is also associated with the formation of spots. “The use of antiaggregants and anticoagulants facilitates the formation of hematomas. As well as changes in platelets, such as a drop in the number of platelets, which can be due to the use of medications or the presence of cancer,” she explains.

For experts, however, only complete clinical findings would allow defining the exact cause of death of Queen Elizabeth II. “It is impossible to associate the presence of purplish spots in isolation with any cause of death”, says Socolovithc.

“It is difficult to associate the symptom with the possible cause of death because this purplish coloration can be due to these numerous causes”, says Bomi.