According to the Mayo Clinic, skin becomes thinner with age, resulting in a smaller barrier between skin and the blood vessels that burst to cause bruising. Skin also loses some of its fatty layer as the body ages, and this fatty layer cushions blood vessels, allowing them to absorb impact rather than burst.

What causes older people’s skin to bruise easily?

Bruises in elderly people frequently occur because their skin has become thinner with age. The tissues that support the underlying blood vessels have become more fragile. Bruises are also more common in those taking medicine to thin the blood.

What would cause bruises to appear without injury?

Unexplained bruising on the legs can occur in both adults and children due to a variety of factors, including injury, age, an underlying health condition, or even things like medication. For example, in adults, bruising can occur more easily as we age due to thinning of the skin.

How do you stop old age bruising?

If the skin does get injured, apply cold compresses and keep the area elevated. Then, apply warm compresses to increase circulation to speed up healing of the bruise. Over-the-counter medications, such as Vitamin K creams, may help bruises fade away quicker.

Why do old people’s skin turn purple?

Over time, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays weakens the connective tissues that hold the blood vessels in their place. This weakness makes the blood vessels fragile, which means that even after a minor bump, red blood cells can leak into the deeper layers of the skin, causing the distinctive purpura to appear.

What are you lacking if you bruise easily?

Low on Vitamin C This essential vitamin helps make collagen, an important protein that keeps your blood vessels healthy. If you don’t get enough vitamin C in your diet, you may notice that you bruise easily.

What medications can cause unexplained bruising?

Why do I bruise or bleed easily? Some medicines can cause easy bruising and bleeding. Examples are aspirin, pain medicines like ibuprofen (Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), and blood thinners. If you take one of these medicines, talk to your doctor to see if you should keep taking the medicine.

Can High BP cause bruising?

Your symptoms can be present in a wide variety of medical conditions, including high blood pressure, stress reactions, and reactions to medications. You should not discontinue a prescription medication without first contacting your doctor.

Can arthritis cause bruising?

Bruising Easily – Rheumatoid arthritis is insidious. It not only has the potential for inflammation throughout the body, but it can also lower the blood platelet count. Blood platelets are what cause the blood to clot.

What medications cause skin to thin?

Some people may experience thin skin with long-term use of certain medications:

• topical and oral corticosteroids.
• over-the-counter aspirin.
• prescription blood thinners.
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve)

Do elderly bruise easily?

Share this article: As they age, seniors experience physical changes inside and out. Aging skin bruises easily, which can be sensitive and painful. Bruises, also called contusions, occur when trauma damages or ruptures tiny blood vessels beneath the skin.

Can heart problems cause bruising?

Prof Berry says the tiny blood vessels in the heart muscle tissue itself can also get blocked, and this makes them leaky. He says nearly half of heart attack patients probably have some bleeding or bruising of the heart – although not all of them will develop heart failure.

Can senile purpura be cured?

In most cases, there is no treatment required for senile purpura. However, some people dislike the appearance of the bruises and seek treatment. Your doctor can prescribe topical retinoids that thicken your skin to prevent further skin aging.

At what age are you considered elderly?

Some authors define the age from 65 to 74 as pre-old age, while those aged over 75 are considered old. Similarly, one study differentiates the young-old from 60 to 69, the middle old from 70 to 79, and very old 80 years of age and older.