What Causes Us to Bruise More Easily as We Age?

Do you remember when you could study all day and hang out with your friends until the next morning?  How about pulling all-nighters, and still being ready to head out for some fun on the weekends?  When we are young, our bodies recover much more quickly from the damage that we do it, and one thing that you might have been noticing is that you are now seeing a lot more bruising.  The truth is that we are subject to bruising more as we get older, and when those bruises do appear, they are no longer going away quite as fast.

One reason why you might bruise more as you age is that you are losing part of the fat layer that lies just beneath your skin.  This results in skin that has a rather papery look to it, and it is quite simply going to be less protective if you fall or bump yourself.  Similarly, you will find that the tissue supporting your blood vessels is going to be weakening, which makes them more prone to incidental damage.  As we age, the blood vessels themselves will also become more fragile, and it will be a situation that you should be aware of.  When the blood vessels underneath your skin rupture because of blunt contact, blood can pool under the skin, which results in a bruise forming. 

When you are examining the process of why you might bruise more as you age, remember that there can often be other factors involved as well.  Having spent a great deal of time in the sun might be a contributing factor, as will use of things like blood thinners, whether in the form of over the counter aspirin or corticosteroid drugs.  Some people will also find that dietary supplements like vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, garlic, and ginseng can make them more prone to easy bruising.

Also remember that bruising can be a sign of some of the more serious problems that can occur as we age.  If you truly feel as though you are bruising for no reason, you should take your questions to your doctor.  You may need to be screened for illnesses that range from diabetes to blood related diseases.  If you have noticed more bruising after you take a new medication or a supplement, you will also need to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.  Remember that no matter why it is happening, bruising is your body evidencing some form of damage, and this is not a situation that you should take lightly.

Try to keep up with your bruises.  Stay in touch with where they occur, as well as when they occur.  Are the bruises sore to the touch, and how long are they taking to vanish?  Evaluate the medications that you have been taking to help with your bruising, and determine what else you can do to help heal them?  Your bruising may very well be a problematic situation, but this problem can absolutely be solved with the proper research.

About the author: 

Carolyn Cooper is recognized as a well known expert on bruising causes through a combination of her educational experience in nutrition and her real life expertise with nutritional supplements for athletes, ranging from children to the professional ranks. You can get a free Special Report on bruising causes and see what she's done to get you beyond the nightmares of easy bruising and help you prevent bruising altogether.