As the skin ages, changes obviously occur in our outward appearance - we all will have some gray hairs, some wrinkles and lessening of skin smoothness.

Unfortunately, some individuals experience a more extreme and perhaps more displeasing type of skin appearance change.

Purpura - a sometimes severe condition resulting from the rupture of tiny capillaries deep in the skin. These ruptures cause leaking of blood in the deeper layer of the skin - causing red or purple bruises - most often seen on the back of hands and forearms. The thinning of older skin due to lessening of natural fats will traditionally result in very fragile, transparent "onionskin" or "crepepaper" look. Due to this thinning epidermis, some individuals may even become victim to painful skin tearing. At times the condition is so advanced that bruising and tearing will occur without any real outward cause or injury. The condition seems particularly linked to those who have spent many hours in the outdoors due to career, hobby or lifestyle.