Why do I bruise so easily at 70?
By Margaret Hale, Reunoa EditorialLast updated
The short answer
At 70, bruising easily is very common: skin has thinned and lost fat padding, sun damage has weakened the support around small vessels, healing has slowed, and many people take blood thinners, aspirin or steroids. Flat purple patches on the forearms (senile purpura) are typical. Bruises in unusual places, very large ones or bruising with other bleeding should be checked.
Many people tell us the same story: "I never bruised in my life, and now at 70 I look like I've been in a fight." It isn't your imagination, and it isn't usually a sign of illness.
What's different at 70
| Change | Effect on bruising |
|---|---|
| Skin thinner, less fat padding [1] | Vessels less protected |
| Decades of sun break down collagen [2] | Vessels tear from tiny forces |
| Slower healing [4] | Bruises linger 2–4 weeks |
| More medicines (blood thinners, aspirin, steroids) [6] | Bigger, more frequent bruises |
| Balance, eyesight, more knocks | More bumps, many unnoticed |
By 70, a large share of people have at least some senile purpura — flat, dark-purple patches on the forearms and backs of hands. It affects more than 10% of people over 50, and becomes more common with age [3].
What's typical at 70
- Bruises on forearms, hands and shins from minor knocks
- Not remembering what caused them — common in older adults [5]
- Flat purple patches on sun-exposed forearms
- Brown marks where bruises used to be
- More bruising if you take a blood thinner or daily aspirin
In our anonymous survey of more than 7,600 adults aged 55+ in the US, easy bruising and slow-fading bruises were among the most common skin concerns — see the Fragile Skin Report 2027 [8].
What isn't typical
Why it can seem to happen overnight
Skin thinning builds up over decades, but people often notice bruising suddenly. Common triggers that tip the balance:
- starting a blood thinner, aspirin or clopidogrel after a heart or stroke event
- a course of prednisone or regular use of a steroid inhaler or strong steroid cream
- a dry winter or more frequent hand washing
- an illness or hospital stay with weight loss, poor appetite and IV lines or blood draws
- new mobility aids — walkers and wheelchair arms are classic bump points
If bruising increased right after one of these, mention it to your doctor. It's usually explainable — and sometimes adjustable.
A routine that helps at 70
- Moisturize forearms, hands and shins twice daily — the same routine halved skin tears in older adults in a randomized trial [7].
- Sunscreen on forearms and hands, every day.
- Light long sleeves for gardening, housework and with pets.
- Make your home bump-proof — pad corners, add lights, clear floors.
- Yearly medication review — bring all pills and supplements.
- Keep taking blood thinners exactly as prescribed.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to bruise easily at 70?
Yes. Thinner, sun-damaged skin, slower healing and common medicines make easy bruising very common at 70, especially on the forearms, hands and shins.
Why do I suddenly bruise at 70 when I never did before?
Skin changes build up slowly, then cross a threshold where small knocks start to show. Starting a blood thinner, aspirin or steroid often makes the change seem sudden.
Can I do anything to bruise less at 70?
Yes: moisturize twice daily, protect skin from sun and knocks, review medicines with your doctor and make your home safer. Topical products for fragile skin can be added.
Should I see a doctor for bruising at 70?
Mention it at your next check-up. See a doctor sooner for bruises in unusual places, very large bruises or bruising with other symptoms.
Sources
- Aging changes in skin — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
- Rittié L, Fisher GJ Natural and sun-induced aging of human skin. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, 2015. PubMed 25561721
- Senile purpura — DermNet (New Zealand).
- Gosain A, DiPietro LA Aging and wound healing. World Journal of Surgery, 2004. PubMed 14961191
- Mosqueda L, Burnight K, Liao S The life cycle of bruises in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2005. PubMed 16078959
- Blood Thinners — MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
- Carville K, et al. The effectiveness of a twice-daily skin-moisturising regimen for reducing the incidence of skin tears. International Wound Journal, 2014. PubMed 25040325
- Fragile Skin Report 2027 — aggregated, anonymous answers from the Reunoa skin quiz — Reunoa Editorial (learn.reunoa.com).
General information, not medical advice. Written by the Reunoa editorial team; Reunoa makes Bruise Defense & Repair Serum. See our editorial policy for how we pick sources and keep product mentions fair.