Dark purple patches of skin on the elderly.

[bumface]

Hello,
I look after an elderly lady who is prone to dark purple patches of skin. They don't bother her much and she doesn't want me to make a fuss, but I just want to see if there is anything I can do to help, or at the least stop it getting worse.

They tend to be on the front of her lower calves and arms. It's just her calves at the moment though. She has cream to put on her skin to stop it drying out. I am getting her some trainer socks that wont dig in the the purple bits (even though she says her socks don't bother her). I try to encourage her to wiggle her toes and sit with her legs up from time to time.

Is there anything else?
I will mention it to the Dr. next time we see her too.

Thanks.

[HouseOfBamboo]

If the marks are from minor bruising then arnica cream might help?

[25goingon95]

I think this is caused by broken blood vessels under the skin, because the skin gets thinner as we get older it only takes a little bump against a chair or table etc to cause a big purple bruise (not usually sore though) Im a carer for the elderly too and all of my clients get these from time to time.

[CMOTdibbler]

Its bruising - as you get older your skin and the peripheral blood vessels get terribly fragile and they get huge bruises from the tiniest knocks. My poor dad looks like he's been in a punchup

[ggirl]

yes it's called senile purpura , and essentially bruising but not caused by trauma
no treatment is usually necessary you just need to be vigilant about getting knocked and causing skin tears and not using abrasive cleansers/towels/dressingsetc

[bumface]

Thank you all. You have set my mind at rest.

[mal1611]

I'm an old Vet with dark purple patches on my hands and [yes] they are prone to bleeding. I can't understand why there's no medication to help with this condition ?