Which statement best describes aging skin vulnerability?

• A. The elasticity of the skin decreases with age.
• B. The collagen content of the skin increases with age.
• C. The underlying muscle and tissues become thinner with age.
• D. The older adult's skin can be easily torn in response to mechanical trauma.

Answer: (A)

Aging reduces the skin’s elasticity—the ability to snap back after stretching. As we age, elastin fibers in the dermis degrade and collagen becomes weaker and less organized, plus moisture content drops. These changes lessen the skin’s recoil, so it becomes looser, more wrinkled, and more vulnerable to injury from mechanical forces. Therefore, describing aging skin vulnerability as a loss of elasticity best captures the fundamental mechanical change involved. While thinner skin or tearing can occur, they are consequences of the reduced elasticity rather than the primary descriptor.