Ask: Please help me with my ugly lower legs. I get brown-red bruises that seem to spread, for no apparent reason. I am 82 and a fit cyclist. I want to keep wearing skirts and shorts!
Answer:This is ‘senile purpura’ (apologies for the term): age-related thinning of the skin and weakening of the blood vessels combined with loss of subcutaneous fat.
Any treatment will only cause more bruising, but it is important to keep the tissues strong by stimulating circulation, lymphatic drainage and fluid.
Keep up an active lifestyle, put your feet up regularly, drink plenty of water and moisturise your skin: I love Vaseline Intensive Care Body Lotion (£5.99, boots.com).
Tweakments expert Inge Van Lotringen (pictured) recommends body makeup to make bruises on the legs less noticeable
Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Leg Make-up (pictured) costs £16.99 and is available in Boots
Unfortunately, you can’t hide bruises, but you can make them a lot less visible with body makeup.
Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Leg Make-up (£16.99, boots.com) is a classic for good reason: the fragrance-free lotion (available in four shades) spreads easily, but doesn’t come off until you rinse it off.
It doesn’t completely cover the spots and bruises, but it does make them less painful and has a slight sheen.