Viewpoint: My Grandkids Think Thin Skin is In

?The grandkids and I play a little game. It’s called “who has the most new bumps, bruises and abrasions.” Each of the four grandchildren like to point out each “Ouchy” and review the circumstances that led to their injury. The stories are wild and are met with my soft, gentle caring spirit. I quietly say things like, “Put on your shoes and that won’t happen.” Or, “Don’t you know if you hit your head on a post it’s going to hurt?” Sometimes, “If you’d keep your shirt on you wouldn’t get so sunburned.”

??My animosity, I suspect, was somewhat motivated by envy. How come I didn’t have any cool scabs, scrapes or sores? Well, in the words of the great poet Bob Dylan, the times they are a-changing. Of late, I show up with new bruises almost anytime I set foot past the chair in front of my desk. Bruises appear, some replete with blood; and I not only don’t know where I got them, I didn’t feel it when I got them.

??I finally asked the doctor, and he said I was getting thin skinned.

?“Just because I argued about the unholy amount you charged me last time I was in,” I yelled, “doesn’t mean I have a short fuse and am getting cranky!” He calmed me down and explained that as a person ages, or as a result of sun damage, medication, or lifestyle factors, his skin gets thinner.

?By the way, the term “thin skinned” showed up first in 1598.

?He said that generally the thinnest skin is on your hands, but it can become papery thin on arms and legs. And, he said it bruises more easily.

??“Yeah,” I remarked proudly.

??Skin is naturally thinner on some parts of the body. The skin on the eyelids is only 0.5 millimeters (mm) thick, while the skin on the heels can be up to 4 mm thick.

??You can’t reverse the process, but some places I studied said that moisturizing the skin can make it more flexible and less likely to break. Especially if you use products with Vitamin A and Vitamin E.

A person with thin skin may find their skin bruises or damages more easily. Protecting the skin by wearing long sleeves, and long skirts or trousers can help. I’m not doing that in the summer especially the long skirt.

??Eating a balanced diet can help support overall health. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and proteins.

??Drinking enough water helps to keep the skin hydrated. Dry skin can be irritated or damaged more easily and is often less flexible. Plus, if your skin wears clear through, you’ll notice it where you’ve sprung a leak.

?Some articles mentioned sunscreen. Alcohol also dries out the skin, so avoid drinking to excess. Drinking a glass of water in between alcoholic drinks can help a person stay hydrated.

?Skin can start to thin as early as the twenties, when collagen levels first start to decrease. Collagen is the main structural protein found in skin and other connective tissues, widely used in purified form for cosmetic surgical treatments.

??I have to admit, thin skin is not really very high on my things-to-worry-about list. I googled whether anyone had ever died from having thin skin and it looks like you’re pretty safe in that department. I did find out, though, that one of eleven people who get really angry (thin skinned) can have strokes.

?I guess I should be a little more serious about hydrating properly. I do get a lot of vitamins but really didn’t have my skin in mind. I haven’t drunk alcohol since 1989. I may even start putting on a little sunscreen now and then, but I refuse to wear long sleeve shirts in the nice summer weather: how will my grandkids see my cool bruises, abrasions, and bumps?