Skin Bruising In Older Adults

Many years of sun exposure can weaken blood vessel walls, contributing to a type of bruising in older adults known as “actinic purpura” or “senile purpura”–unsightly purple patches that occur on the backs of the hands and forearms without much of a bump or injury. (Aging and use of certain medications can also cause these bruises.)

Why do Elderly People Bruise Easily? There are many causes of skin bruising in the elderly. Thinning of the skin is the number one cause of bruising and skin damage. In some people, the skin becomes so thin that bruising and even small tears occur in the skin, especially on the hands and arms.

A bruise can emerge reddish in color then yellow or green after a few days. Whether yourself or a loved one is bruising up like a peach, Senior Caring is here to answer all questions about bruising. Why is Bruising Common Among Older Adults?

People of all ages get a bruise from time to time. However, as we age, it becomes easier for the skin to bruise as it becomes thin and less fatty. Often, we don’t remember the culprit for those blue and yellow spots, but those bumps sure are a sign that we aren’t as young as we used to be.

Weight may also be a factor in causing bruises or other skin damage. Excess skin, difficulty moving, and overstretched skin are all factors that make aging skin more stressed.

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. an area is affected by a bruise that returns. there is no identifiable cause of the bruising.

Easy bruising can sometimes be a symptom of a disease or health issue. For instance, sepsis (a bacterial infection), chronic inflammatory disease, liver disease and certain types of cancer can all cause you to bruise easily.

There is no special medical treatment for skin bruises. Conservative treatment methods, such as ice packs, heat application, elevation of the affected area and over-the-counter medications are done for relieving the skin bruises.

Easy bruising is common with age. Although most bruises are harmless and go away without treatment, easy bruising can sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem. Most bruises form when small blood vessels (capillaries) near the skin’s surface are broken by the impact of a blow or injury-often on the arms or legs.

Contributing Factors Age. The most common reasons for easy bruising aren’t a major cause for alarm. … Sun Damage. Speaking of which, people with chronic sun damage continually bruise their arms, Kasteler says. … Body Fat. … Blood-Thinners. … Exercise Level. … Alcohol Consumption. … Don’t Be Trippin’-What You Can Do. … Cool down, then heat up. … Pop over-the-counter pain relievers. … Go green. … More items…

Bruises may be serious, and require medical care when bruising: Has not improved at all, or has gotten much worse, after a week. There could be a larger accumulation of blood, called a hematoma, under the skin. In some cases, a hematoma will need medical care or may clear up on its own.

The size of a bruise depends on what caused your injury and the amount of force involved. The more forceful the injury, the greater the amount of bleeding and the larger your bruise will be. The closer to your skin surface the bruise is, the more intense the colors you will see.

Blood Diseases. Multiple blood diseases can cause easy bruising, including hemophilia (inability of blood to clot), blood poisoning, liver disease, kidney disease, or cancer. There should be concerned if the legs (or another part of the body) bruise easily and there are other symptoms or multiple bruises.

Scurvy, a disorder caused by vitamin C deficiency, can cause easy bruising. Scurvy occurs mainly in malnourished adults, particularly alcoholics. Vitamin C helps synthesize collagen, which makes up skin tissue, as well as blood vessels. Fragile blood vessels break easily, causing bleeding.

Bruises without injuries can be caused by thinning of the skin which could be caused by a number of factors. Some medication when taken for too long could lead to bruising without injuries. Aspirin is one such drug. It leads to coagulation changes which then lead to spontaneous hematoma.

In addition to Vitamin C deficiency, insufficient levels of Vitamin K and Vitamin D may also lead to excessive, vitamin deficiency bruising, as they are both essential to the blood coagulation process. Meanwhile, Vitamin B9 and B12 deficiencies can also cause blood vessel damage and increased bruising.