Senile purpura is benign, easy bruising that affects older adults. It’s sometimes called actinic purpura. This occurs because the skin and the blood vessels become more fragile as we age, making it easier for our skin to bruise from minor trauma.Feb 9, 2021

• Bruising of the hands and arms may result from a condition called actinic purpura, also known as Bateman purpura. It involves flat, purple blotches that darken before gradually fading. Actinic purpura occurs due to sun damage that weakens the blood vessels and appears most often in elderly and light-skinned individuals.

‘Those nasty looking purple “bruises” on your elderly mother’s or grandfather’s arms are not as harmful as they look. But they can easily resemble marks from elder abuse. Don’t be alarmed if these purple marks begin showing up on their skin; it’s common among the very elderly.

What causes bruising in elderly?

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 causes purpura in the elderly?

Senile purpura causes ecchymoses and results from increased vessel fragility due to connective tissue damage to the dermis caused by chronic sun exposure, aging , and drugs. (See also Overview of Vascular Bleeding Disorders.) Purpura refers to purplish cutaneous or mucosal lesions caused by hemorrhage.

What causes bruises to appear without injury?

People who have fair skin often bruise easily. Drinking alcohol can make you more prone to easy bruising and bumping into things. Bruising occasionally indicates a more serious medical condition. Vitamin C or K deficiency, bleeding disorders such as hemophilia or Von Willebrand disease, or cancer can cause bruising .

What happens when a bruise turns purple?

Within a day or so of impact, your bruise will darken to blue or purple . This is caused by both low oxygen supplies and swelling at the bruising site. As a result, hemoglobin, which is typically red, begins a gradual change to blue. This darkening can last through the fifth day after injury.

What helps with bruising in elderly?

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.

What bruises should you worry about?

A person should seek medical attention any time they have the following symptoms or issues associated with bruising : a suspected broken bone. loss of function of a joint, limb or muscle. increasing pain.

What do Leukemia bruises look like?

Small red spots (petechiae) As well as medium-to-large bruises , you might notice “rashes” appearing on your skin. Small, pinhead-sized red spots on the skin (called “petechiae”) may be a sign of leukaemia . These small red spots are actually very small bruises that cluster so that they look like a rash.

What causes dark purple bruises on arms?

Dermatologists call it ‘actinic purpura’, ‘solar purpura’ or ‘Bateman’s purpura’. These flat blotches start out red, then turn purple , darken a bit further and eventually fade. They differ from normal bruises in several ways. First, usually there wasn’t much of a knock or injury to cause them.

Does low iron cause bruising?

You may begin to bruise easily if you aren’t getting enough iron . That’s because your body needs iron to keep your blood cells healthy. If your blood cells aren’t healthy, your body won’t be able to get the oxygen that it needs to function. This may make your skin more susceptible to bruising .

Can low vitamin D cause bruising?

Your cuts or bruises take forever to heal. Impaired wound healing can be a sign that you’re deficient in vitamin D .

What causes purple bruises on hands?

Purpura occurs when small blood vessels burst, causing blood to pool under the skin. This can create purple spots on the skin that range in size from small dots to large patches. Purpura spots are generally benign, but may indicate a more serious medical condition, such as a blood clotting disorder.

Is a purple bruise bad?

Don’t be alarmed by the myriad of colors your bruise might display along the way. It’s part of the healing process as the body breaks down blood and other fluids under the skin. Here’s what you can expect: After an injury occurs, a bruise will usually be red or purple in color.

How do you cover purple bruises?

“If it’s purple toned, use a yellow concealer to cover . If it’s more red, then use green, if it’s healing and has turned yellowish, use peach,” Trotter said. “Once you’ve blocked out the purple or red tones, you’re not done yet You need to cover with a concealer that matches your skin tone!

Should you massage a bruise?

You may want to massage the sore spot when you ‘re resting, but it’s a bad idea. That can make the injured spot worse. You may break more blood vessels under the skin and make the bruised area larger.