Question: I'm an active 61-year-old woman. I seem to bruise more easily than I did in my younger years. Should I be concerned?
Answer: Bruises occur when tiny blood vessels just below the skin rupture and blood leaks into surrounding tissue. The cause is usually an accidental, minor blow that often goes unnoticed at the time.With age, people are more prone to a type of bruising called senile purpura, a Latin term that means "old" and "purple." The skin, and the tissues that support blood vessels beneath the skin, tend to thin after age 50, making the vessels more vulnerable to rupture. Senile purpura typically appears as clusters of irregularly shaped, vividly purple patches along the forearms and the backs of the hands, although they may appear on any part of the body that is bumped. Normally such bruises fade somewhat after a couple of weeks.
Despite the way they look, bruises are rarely cause for concern. The amount of blood that leaks into the surrounding tissue is negligible, and no treatment is necessary. You can, however, reduce the pain and swelling of a large bruise by covering it for ten minutes or more with a cloth soaked in cold water.
Warning signals of a more serious problem, such as leukemia, thrombocytopenia (a deficiency of platelets - blood cells needed for clotting) or excessive dosages of commonly prescribed anti-clotting medication, include bruises that linger for more than a couple of weeks, multiple small bruises that develop for no apparent reason, or severe bruising as a result of only a minor injury. If any of these signs occur, consult your doctor.
Question: I am a youthful grandmother of 68. I watch my diet and exercise often. Recently, my nails have given me problems. I have my nails manicured regularly. What should I do?
Answer: Like other parts of the body, fingernails show normal signs of aging including vertical ridges and slower nail growth. According to Nadine Tosk of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, older people's fingernails grow an average of less than one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch per month. Growth rates slow down even more during the winter.
Nails protect the nerves at the tips of the fingers and toes from injury. They enhance the sense of touch and aid in picking up objects. Nails, like hair, are composed of protein and provide physicians with another diagnostic tool to explore underlying medical conditions.
You don't say what types of nail problems you are experiencing. Having your nails manicured too often may contribute to nail problems, as can frequent cutting of the cuticle, particularly with metal tools. If the cuticle is cut or separated from the fingernail, it can expose the skin under the nail to bacteria, fungi and viruses and lead to infection.
Sometimes women who wear acrylic nails get a fungus infection when the fake nail is left in place too long and moisture gets under it. Signs of infection include inflammation, abnormal thickening, growth or loosening of the nail, and discoloration. Both nail injury and infections can cause discoloration. Most infections are treated with oral medication or topical treatments.
A number of nail conditions, however, may indicate more serious problems. For example, clubbing, when the nail curves around the top of the fingertip, may be a sign of cirrhosis (abnormal liver functioning), tuberculosis or emphysema.
You should consult your physician to determine the nature of your problem and the proper course of treatment. Also, stop having manicures until you see your physician.
Send questions about growing older to On Aging, P.O. Box 84256, Los Angeles, CA 90073. Questions of general interest will be answered in the column; individual answers cannot be provided.