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The White House has insisted dramatic bruising seen on Donald Trump’s hand was caused by him shaking hands with people, but an NHS skin specialist says this is unlikely
An NHS skin expert has cast scorn on the White House ’s claims Donald Trump ’s heavy bruising was caused by handshakes, and says a recent medical procedure is more likely.
The blotch on the US president’s hand has been seen several times in recent months, mostly recently as he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington DC. To allay fears of the 78-year-old’s health, the Oval Office insisted the bruising was caused by the sheer number of handshakes the president receives on a daily basis.
However a skin specialist has denied this is likely to be the case, unless the grip had been so tight it would have been painful for Trump. Dr Anatalia Moore, from Dr Anatalia Aesthetics who is also an NHS GP, told the Mirror : “It is unlikely a hand shake, unless done with such a grip that could cause pain, would cause a bruise.
“A deeper bruise on the hand in an older patient or someone of Donald Trump’s age would make me think firstly they had required some medical support that involved placement of a cannula, better known as a drip, into the hand. So it indicates they could have had a medical procedure or hospital stay recently.
“However for many patients into their 70s, particularly if they are not what we call a ‘fit 70’; simply a knock on a door frame could also cause a significant bruise. Our limbs, hands included, are what tend to get knocked more easily as balance and coordination also deteriorate as we get older.
“Initially a bruise will appear dark and purple red, the bigger the collection of blood under the skin the larger the bruise and the deeper its hue. The body then clears away the blood and repairs the damage and in doing so converts the red blood cells into easily transportable waste products; this is what contributes to the colour change in bruising.
“As the bruise heals we then see a green yellow colour appear. As we age, this healing process is slowed down, leading to bigger bruises happening that take longer to heal.”
Trump’s bruising was earlier seen on the campaign trail as he fought for the Republican ticket on his way back to the White House. It seems deeply discoloured and usually seen on the back of his right hand.
It was seen when he met President Macron and before this he seemed to be wearing a thin layer of make up on the limb, presumably to hide the unsightly blotch on his skin.
Dr Moore added the bruise could also have been caused by “wear and tear” people’s bodies go through as they age. She said: “We all know very spritely 70 year olds and people much younger who appear more aged. This comes down to wear and tear that we all accumulate through healthy or unhealthy habits and other underlying health conditions.
“For example, a lifetime of excess leads to a much higher likelihood of heart issues which would lead to need for blood thinners, and even simply a faster underlying rate of aging which leads to weaker blood vessels and slower healing.”
