Texas Health Dallas

Fall 2012

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Bruises: The Bane of Seniors’ Bodies While accidents on the softball field might have led to bruises in your younger days, thinning skin, aging capillaries and even some medications can cause bruises to occur seemingly without reason during your golden years. Bruises — unsightly purple, blue and black marks that develop when burst vessels allow blood to pool under the skin — are common on people of all ages. However, while it might take a pretty hard impact to create a bruise on younger, plumper skin, bruises on older skin might appear out of nowhere and could last for weeks at a time. If you notice your skin is bruising more easily as you get older, it’s probably because of one of these reasons. • Aging capillaries. The walls of your blood vessels become more fragile as you age, meaning they tend to rupture more easily. • Medications. Blood thinners allow more blood to seep out of burst blood vessels, which means you could more easily develop a bruise. • Thinner skin. When you’re younger, a layer of fat acts as a buffer for your blood vessels. As you age, your skin thins out and the vessels aren’t as protected. While increased bruising is typically just part of getting older, it can be a symptom of more serious problems. If your large and painful bruises aren’t healing as well, or if you experience abnormal bleeding on a regular basis, consult a physician for additional guidance.

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