This loss of fat also means a person has less natural insulation. An older person is at greater risk for a low body temperature, or hypothermia , when exposed to cold. The combined effects of skin aging can cause increased bruising and skin tears, even from minor injuries. Older people are also prone to getting damage to skin that receives a high amount of pressure for long periods of time. Wounds in older people may heal 4 to 5 times more slowly than in younger people.
Skin disorders are also more likely with age.
Environmental factors and inherited factors are a frequent cause of skin changes. The sun is a major culprit in causing skin damage, though many other diseases can also cause skin changes. Sun damage can be easily seen in a person by comparing sun-exposed skin with areas that do not get sunlight. Unexposed skin tends to be very elastic and smooth. Skin that has had a lot of exposure to the sun is dry, wrinkled, and sagging.