What causes elderly skin bruising?

Why is bruising common in older adults?

As we age, our skin becomes thinner, which means it loses its elasticity and the protective fatty layer that helps protect blood vessels.

Hence, the reason why bruising is common in older adults. If you experience a bump or rub your skin, older individuals are more susceptible to getting a bruise and will most likely take longer to heal.

So, prevention is essential. This can be done by taking steps to avoid trips and falls. For example, ensuring your home is well-lit, free from clutter and furniture is appropriately arranged. Here’s a little more information on what you can do to help prevent and treat bruising.

What contributes to bruising in the elderly?

Many of us tend to get bruises from bumping into objects, but other factors can contribute to bruising. Here are a few that you should be aware of.

Medication

According to Healthline, “Some types of medication can interfere with your body’s ability to form clots, which can increase your risk of bruising easily.” These include steroids, ibuprofen and blood thinners such as aspirin. If you are taking medication and feel it is causing you to bruise easily, contact your doctor.

Vitamin deficiency

Bruising can be a symptom of vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C produces collagen and without this, it can cause your blood vessels to become weak and lead to bruising. Also, a lack of vitamin K can lead to bruising easily and excess bleeding. Your doctor can refer you for a blood test to see if you have any deficiencies.

Trip hazards

Trip hazards such as as clutter on the floor and poor lighting can cause you to slip or fall, resulting in bruises. Other hazards include wooden flooring, stairways, loose carpets and rugs. So make sure hallways are clear. Plus, having handrails fitted in the bathroom and stairways can prevent you from falling.

Medical conditions

Bruising easily can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. So it is important to seek medical advice from a healthcare professional. Conditions that can cause bruising include liver disease, chronic inflammatory diseases such as lupus and some types of cancer including leukemia.

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How to prevent or treat bruises?

At Helping Hands, we believe that prevention is always the best treatment. But that's not always the case. Here's a little more advice on preventing and treating bruises.

Prevention

There are plenty of ways you can prevent bruises, read below to find out more.

Remove trip hazards

Make sure walkways are clutter-free, ensuring there are no loose rugs or wires lying around. Poor lighting can be a hazard, too, so ensure rooms are well-lit, especially stairways. Install hand rails for support.

Get in your vitamins

Try and eat foods that are enriched with vitamin C. These include citrus fruits and vegetables. It’s also essential to get a good source of vitamin K. Foods that contain vitamin K are green leafy vegetables, broccoli, soft cheese, soya beans and cashews. It is important to note that Vit K rich foods should be avoided for individuals taking Warfarin as it will affect the way the medication works. Make sure you consult the patient information leaflet of the medication or seek advice from the prescriber. You can also take supplements, however speak to your doctor before purchasing.

Review medication

Checking the patient information leaflet should give advice of common side effects such as bruising. The side effect of bruising may not be able to be mitigated if alternative medication is not appropriate or available. It may be best to contact your doctor for further information.

Be aware of your surroundings

Having good lighting at home and in the garden is essential. It will make it easier to access your surroundings. It may also be worth getting your vision checked regularly. So make sure you visit your opticians.

Treatment

Treating bruises can be painful, so take the following steps to help with the healing process.

Cold compress

Applying an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas, can help reduce the swelling. Make sure you don't apply the ice directly to the skin; wrap the ice pack with a flannel before applying.

Raise the bruised area

If you are able to elevate the affected part of the body, this will also help reduce the pain and swelling.

Pain relief medication

A bruise may take a while to heal and with that comes pain. Taking medication like paracetamol can help with pain relief and make the process a bit more manageable.

Seek medical advice

If you feel you are bruising more easily or they aren’t healing properly, contact your GP immediately.

How Helping Hands can help with elderly care

At Helping Hands, we are recognised as the UK’s most widely trusted home care provider. After all, we have been providing care at home since 1989.

men and women who provide live in care sitting on the sofa and smiling

Our expertly trained carers deliver elderly care on a visiting care and live-in care basis. So, you can opt to have care from as little as 30 minutes a week up to 24 hours a day. They can help manage household duties, prepare tea, pick up the dry cleaning, do grocery shopping and even feed the goldfish. Our carers can also support with mobility and keep your home clutter free to prevent you from falling. Whatever you need, our carers will be able to fulfil your requirements through our person-centred care.

Plus, we are regulated and monitored by the Care Quality Commission and Care Inspectorate Wales. So you can have peace of mind knowing you’ll receive a well-led, responsive and compassionate care service you truly deserve.