As we age our skin gets thinner. In fact, you may have even noticed your own skin is just not the same as when you were younger. For one thing, we seem to bruise more easily, and our skin actually appears thinner.

As a live-in carer we are very likely to find this with our clients, many of them who are in their eighties and nineties, and possibly above that. 

The reason for the thinning appearance of skin is due to such things as ultraviolet light from sunlight, and a decrease in oestrogen levels during menopause, among other things.

As we age the cells that make up the layers of our skin shrink and decrease in numbers while the fatty layer right underneath our skin also becomes thinner.

All this leads to skin that bruises with even a small injury. Most live-in carers will have seen a mark on a client’s arm which looks black or blue. This is where the blood has leaked out of the vessels and it will later turn yellow, then green and eventually fade. As we age, this process takes far longer than when we were young.

Can medication cause this?

Yes, certain medication will cause the skin to bruise more easily. These include aspirin, antibiotics and anticoagulants. Corticosteroids will also cause the skin to thin and bruise more easily.

Do men and women’s skin differ?

Again, the answer is yes, because men’s skin is about 20% thicker than women’s skin. This is mostly due to testosterone. Although collagen production slows down in both men and women, the female sex will lose it faster.

An interesting fact here is that while women may bruise easier than men, men take longer to heal which means they will have bruises for longer than ladies skin.

How do we take care of thinning skin?

• Avoid bumping into things. If possible, arrange furniture so your client does not accidentally bump on the way around. It is also a good idea to remove rugs that can cause tripping.
• Wear different clothing. Long trousers and sleeves will reduce the risk of bruising. Even in the summer months you may be able to use light clothing which will protect against bruising.
• Moisturise the skin. This will help to keep the skin from drying out. A dry skin is more likely to bruise and will often break open. 
• Be aware of medications which will cause bruising. Long-term steroids, blood thinners and even natural supplements such as fish oil and vitamin E can make an older person more likely to bruise.

How do we protect injured skin?

Apply a cold compress and keep the area elevated for a while. Then apply warm compresses which will increase the circulation and speed up healing.

Try an OTC medication such as Vitamin C cream as this will help bruising to fade faster. 

Check the Vitamin C intake as a deficiency can be a cause of bruising.

Final thoughts

Bruising in older people is very common and medical treatment is not normally needed. However, it is important to remember that a bruise can take several weeks to fade in an older client. 

If it seems to be taking far longer than a month it is best to be checked out by the doctor.   

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