What Is Senile Purpura?

Senile purpura, also known as senile scurvy, senile artificial purpura, solar purpura, actinic purpura, is caused by the elderly with chronic symptoms of chronic recurrent skin disease due to the increase in fragility of the skin and subcutaneous tissue vessels. . The disease is more common in middle-aged and older people aged 50 to 60 years, with more women than men. The disease is mostly caused by senile degenerative changes and long-term exposure. The skin lesions of the patient are asymptomatic, long-lasting, and may have pigmentation after regression.

Basic Information

nickname: Senile scurvy, senile artificial purpura
Visiting department: dermatology
Common causes: Senile degenerative changes and long-term exposure to sunlight

Common symptoms: Dark purple bruises or petechiae on exposed areas of the skin
Contagious: no

Causes of senile purpura

The skin of senile purpura suffers from senile degenerative changes and long-term exposure to sunlight at exposed parts. The subcutaneous fat atrophy, the skin becomes thinner and looser, the skin's buffer protection function is reduced, the surrounding small blood vessels lose support and lack elasticity, so a slight external force is Can lead to rupture of blood vessels, extravasation of red blood cells, formation of purpura; the phagocytosis of phagocytic cells in tissues decreases, making blood absorption slow, causing hemosiderin-containing deposits at the extravasation of red blood cells, so the purpura subsides slowly and pigmentation may occur after the resolution.

Clinical manifestations of senile purpura

Senile purpura occurs frequently in exposed and vulnerable areas, such as the back of the hand, the forearm extension, the upper chest V-shaped area, the calf, the forehead, etc. Occasionally occurs on the face, and can occur symmetrically in the contact area between the glasses and the back of the nose It can also occur naturally after minor trauma and compression. The skin lesions are linear or geometrical figures with dark purple stains or spots, with clear boundaries, and may be accompanied by epidermal damage. There is no swelling, increased skin temperature, pain and other inflammatory reactions in the lesion area, and the patient has no conscious symptoms. Skin lesions rarely change color, can last for several weeks or longer, leave pigmentation after remission, can relapse or appear in other parts.

Senile purpura examination

1. Physical examination The skin area in the lesion area is thin and atrophic, lacks elasticity, and the hair is thin.
2. Vein band experiment The vein vein test was positive in elderly patients with purpura.

Diagnosis of senile purpura

The patient's medical history was collected, and the disease was suggested according to the age of the patient, the location of the skin lesion, and the history of minor trauma. The skin was degenerative in the lesion area, and the blood pressure belt test was positive.

Differential diagnosis of senile purpura

1. Erysipelas erysipes skin is red, and the light weight will fade, the heavy pressure will not fade, local skin may have swelling and burning sensation, the whole body manifests fever, and the blood white blood cells increase.
2. Vitamin C deficiency: Improper diet can be found in the history collection of patients with vitamin C deficiency. Plasma vitamin C determination and white blood cell vitamin C content measurement are lower than normal values. X-ray examination shows long epiphyseal hyperplasia of epiphyseal discs to both sides. Raised, side spurs that are characteristic of vitamin C deficiency.
3. Hemophilia Patients with a history of hemophilia suggest a long-term bleeding tendency. A family history can also be found. The clotting time can be prolonged. The beam arm test is negative. The prothrombin consumption test and the white clay clay thromboplastin time are shortened.
4. Glucocorticoid purpura Patients with glucocorticoid purpura have a long history of glucocorticoid application, and the two can be identified.