Q. I’ve been getting bruises lately and I can’t remember
hurting myself. Should I see a doctor?
A. The tendency to bruise easily is
common when you age. It’s especially common among women.
A bruise, also known as a contusion, occurs
when the tiny blood vessels under your skin break after being struck. When you
bruise, the blood leaks under the skin and leaves a black-and-blue mark. The
harder the impact, the bigger the bruise. As the blood is reabsorbed by your
body, the bruise goes away.
You can enhance healing by elevating the
injury and applying a cold pack for 30 minutes at a time for a day or so after
you are injured. After there is no swelling, a warm compress can accelerate
reabsorption.
Blood-thinning medications can contribute to
bruising. So you might bruise more easily if you take Plavix or Coumadin.
Aspirin will have a similar effect. The thinners allow more blood to pool under
your skin. So, if you’re taking one of these drugs, what seems like a harmless
bump against a coffee table could lead to a nasty bruise.
Some dietary supplements can thin your
blood, too. Be careful if you are consuming more than normal amounts of fish
oil, ginkgo, ginger and garlic.
It’s easier to bruise if your skin is thin.
With age, your skin becomes thinner and loses some of the fat that protects
your blood vessels. Corticosteroids are known to make your skin thinner, so
these drugs can make you more bruise-prone
Aging capillaries contribute to bruising,
too. Over time, the tissues supporting these vessels weaken, and capillary
walls become more fragile and prone to rupture.
There is a special type of bruising known as
Bateman’s purpura, which usually is seen on the back of the hands and forearms.
Unlike everyday bruises, the bruises you get with Bateman’s purpura are not
tender and last longer. They start out red and become purple. They darken and
then, in time, fade. They can last for weeks.
This condition, also known as actinic
purpura, is usually seen in seniors. It is caused by blood-vessel walls that
have been weakened by years of exposure to the sun. In addition, the skin is
sun-damaged and thin.
A daily application of alphahydroxyl acid
lotions to the skin have been shown to increase skin thickness up to 15 percent
in patients with sun-damaged, thin skin. This occurs through the stimulation of
collagen production, the skin’s natural support protein. For women, the hormone
progesterone in lotion may also help.
Most bruises are not a cause for concern,
but you should have bruising checked by a doctor, if you are experiencing the
following: unusually large or painful bruises, bruises that seem to have no
cause, abnormal bleeding elsewhere or sudden bruising after beginning a
medication.
These symptoms may mean you don’t have
enough platelets in your blood. Platelets help your blood to clot.
You can take steps to prevent bruising from
falls and collisions. Here are some:
• Always hold the handrails on stairways.
• Don’t stand on a chair to get to something.
• Clear floors where you walk.
• Mount grab bars near toilets, tubs and showers.
• Place non-skid mats, strips, or carpet on all surfaces
that may get wet.
• Put night lights and light switches close to your bed.
• Tack down all carpets and area rugs.
• Close cabinet doors and drawers so you won’t run into
them.
• Be especially careful around pets.
If you have a question, please write
to
fred@healthygeezer.com
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Reserved © 2009 by Fred Cicetti