Anyone noticed that their skin seems ‘thinner’ ?

MayBee70

My skin is so thin that it hurts to wear a bra. Even though I wear really soft non wired ones. Wore one today as I had to go shopping and my skin is really sore and itchy. I can wear a very soft Sloggi bra. It’s a good job that I don’t actually have to wear one.

I had this as part of the side effects of a bad reaction to the third and fourth Covid vaccination/boosters.
Itchy skin is listed in the warnings in the leaflet I was given at the time, though it's one of the less common ones.

I used to wake myself up at night having scratched the skin on my legs until it bled. I couldn't wear a bra at all and had to wear my t-shirt inside out because the seams rubbed and irritated, even now wearing a bra can be touch and go.

My GP prescribed prednisolone which calmed it down, but as soon as I stopped taking it the irritation came back.
I took an antihistamine at night, which helped, changed to a non bio laundry powder and stopped using fabric conditioner.
I changed to the Aveeno baby bath/shower gel and use the Aveeno body lotion for very dry skin.
Other moisturisers I tried made it worse.
It's taken a lot of trial and error but it's helping.

I don't know if any of that sounds familiar? You have my sympathies!

Thanks Oopsdaisy - I also take steroid inhalers. I didn’t realise it causes thinning of the skin. My hands are oldy, but rest of me, not too bad 😂

It’s just the aging process, I am 77 and notice how thin my skin is, even on my leg, just got to be careful

My skin is so thin that it hurts to wear a bra. Even though I wear really soft non wired ones. Wore one today as I had to go shopping and my skin is really sore and itchy. I can wear a very soft Sloggi bra. It’s a good job that I don’t actually have to wear one.

My feet aren't too bad but my hands are SO old looking in spite of the creams I smooth into them. Hey ho! That's ageing for me

crazyH

Oopsadaisy1 - do you mean you take steroid inhalers or steroid tablets ?

Steroid inhalers, but every few months Steroid tablets to combat frequent Asthma exacerbations.

If you are on blood thinners like me you get covered in bruises.
When was a child I had a great aunt ( my grandmother's sister) ho used to visit a lot. She was very thin and I can remember using her why she had leaves on her hands!.This was thought to be very comical.I now know it was her veins showing up and I have got them now.

Good tip, Greyisnotmycolour. Is there one you would recommend.

I hate my old looking hands, my late mother had lovely young looking hands.

Yes, and ditto to all of the above.

There were pictures of Angelina Jolie at the Venice Film festival last week and while she looked radiant her arms were covered in blue, prominent veins.

My hands seem to be the thinnest part of me now. Skin definitely feels thinner.

Oopsadaisy1 - do you mean you take steroid inhalers or steroid tablets ?

IOMGran

If you take any steroids it makes it a lot worse. I take oral steroids for asthma and in my 60s my skin is very thin and easily bruised or cut. I generally have a few red marks on one arm or the other, just the forearms.

I also take Steroids for Asthma

I don't have this at ,70 but my mil who is 94 has paper thin skin that tears and bruised easily.

So pleased I've read this , I met up with some old work colleagues last night, I spent ages hair make up , outfit, and the first thing one said is " ouch what have you done to your arms" red blobs everywhere from various tasks gardening even carrying a bag on my arm

It depends a lot on the person as well, skin does get thinner with age but at nearly 80 mine hasn’t really changed neither mum or dad had any skin problems so I think there is luck in the genes too
I also think medication makes things worse I take very little one low tablet a day to keep my BP steady

I have always bruised easily but now I'm on clopidogrel (a blood thinner) I look like a battered wife. I usually wear long sleeved tops to protect my DH from arrest!

Thank you for this post! On Sunday I changed the sheets on the 2 single adjustable beds which are locked together and put my arm down between them to tuck the sheet round one bed.
I was amazed when I found a nasty graze on the back of my wrist - I had only touched the fabric and seams of the beds.

Now I know it's my age and I am going to have to take even more care!

Years and years of steriods for autoimmune conditions has made my skin so thin and I get lots of bruises sadly

Juicylucy

My mums skin was like tissue paper. I was determined I wouldn’t end up like that so I found out through a dermatologist online that using retinol on your hands arms and legs prevents skin thinning.

Yes, my mother's skin was the same. I'm not convinced that anything really makes much difference and my skin is sensitive so I am not planning to use retinol.

RosiesMaw2

That’s sadly because it is! And we lose collagen as we age. Hands can be a dead giveaway no matter how many “tweakments” some people have.
I have heard of celebs having collagen implants to make their hands look younger (!) although personally regular use of hand cream usually sorts it for me.
It also helps if, like me, you have an adequate layer of fat under your skin - at least that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

I'm certainly not a skinny creature and have more than my fair share of fat under my skin, but it is the fat-free portions of my anatomy that sadly seem to get knocked and damaged - hands and shins. These parts heal more slowly too.
Also even if I do knock a plumper part of my body the skin surface is more fragile and damages more easily.
I've recently been taking glucosamine as I've had joint pain, apparently it can also increase collagen production. I'm hoping to wake up one morning to see that my skin is plump and my creases have gone!

If you take any steroids it makes it a lot worse. I take oral steroids for asthma and in my 60s my skin is very thin and easily bruised or cut. I generally have a few red marks on one arm or the other, just the forearms.

Nandalot A dry oil spray is great on flaky skin, I find it much better than body lotion or moisturiser. It's not as gloopy and smells lovely too. A bottle lasts a long time even when used daily after a shower.

My mums skin was like tissue paper. I was determined I wouldn’t end up like that so I found out through a dermatologist online that using retinol on your hands arms and legs prevents skin thinning.