Why Does Skin Bruise Easily As We Age

As a person ages, they tend to bruise more easily. People tend to bruise more easily as they age because blood vessels become weaker and the skin thins. Easy bruising may also run in families, so people whose relatives bruise easily may notice that they do as well.

Easy bruising is common with age. Although most bruises are harmless and go away without treatment, easy bruising can sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem. Most bruises form when small blood vessels (capillaries) near the skin’s surface are broken by the impact of a blow or injury — often on the arms or legs.

Topical and systemic corticosteroids — which can be used to treat various conditions, including allergies, asthma and eczema — cause your skin to thin, making it easier to bruise. Certain dietary supplements, such as ginkgo, also can increase your bruising risk due to a blood-thinning effect.

Also, your blood vessels get more fragile. Both of these things mean you get more bruises. If you take aspirin or a blood thinner, don’t be surprised by the occasional black-and-blue mark. Some supplements, like fish oil and ginkgo, can do it too. Steroids like prednisone can also cause easy bruising, because they thin the skin.