13 Comments
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Webb Bierbrier's avatar

Thank you for the informative article. As someone who has Osteopenia, my doctor advised I stop taking Calcium and remain on Vitamin D and increase my strength training -- which is exactly what I did. AND my numbers improved from my last bone density. As a positive ager whose platform is focused on moving strong, these tips are very helpful. @webbieofwonder

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Marie Duffy's avatar

Kathy that’s hot phew 😰 here in the Uk not to cold or rainy at the moment so I 🙏🏼 it carries on that way. xx

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Marie Duffy's avatar

I’m lucky after the breast cancer Oncologist put me on vitamin D. Love to everyone and thank you for the information xx

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wren's avatar

Any advice for sufferers of senile purpura?

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Healthy Seniors's avatar

That’s a great question, Wren — senile purpura (those easy purple bruises that show up on thin, sun-damaged skin) is really common as we age. While it’s mostly harmless, there are a few things that can help reduce how often it happens:

Keep skin well-moisturized, since dryness makes it more fragile.

Protect arms and hands from the sun with long sleeves or light SPF.

Eat foods rich in vitamin C and protein to support collagen and healing.

If you take blood thinners or aspirin, ask your doctor if they could be contributing.

It can take time for the spots to fade, but gentle care really helps. Thanks for bringing this up — it’s something many readers quietly deal with.

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Jackie Fish's avatar

As I age the senile purpura has developed a life of its own. I take daily steroids also edoxaban blood thinners and I resemble a badly beaten woman. I constantly need to explain.

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Healthy Seniors's avatar

That sounds so relatable, Jackie - medications like steroids and blood thinners can make the skin even more fragile. Some readers have mentioned that gentle long sleeves or soft protective fabrics help reduce bumps and questions, but it’s mostly about comfort and protecting the skin. Thank you for sharing so openly — it’s an important reminder of what so many quietly manage every day.

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Kathy Sales's avatar

Ten to twenty minutes of the midday sun? You must not be from Texas. That would be brutal and painful as hot as it gets here.

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Healthy Seniors's avatar

Ha! Fair point, Kathy — the Texas sun is no joke! ☀️🔥 You’re absolutely right — in that kind of heat, early morning or late afternoon sunshine is a much safer bet. The key is a little light, not a sunburn! Thanks for the reminder from the Lone Star State. 😄

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Joseph Boslego's avatar

Thats right

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W.M.Wisniewski MD, MHPE's avatar

Interesting. I definitely support natural ways of increasing your vitamin D. There are mixed opinions in medical community about Vitamin D testing and supplementing though. I encourage reading this commentary from Family Medicine Journal for those who want to dig into this issue more; https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2018/0215/p226.html

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Joseph Boslego's avatar

Vitamin D, very essential to keep the bone healthy, even after 60,

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Steve Boronski's avatar

Worrying about too much sun in Europe is daft. The sun is not dangerous it is essential for healthy living, maybe on the equator in mid summer it can be slightly damaging but nowhere in Europe, certainly not Northern Europe.

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