Bruising occurs when blood vessels burst and leak blood under the skin's surface. It's usually the result of an injury to muscle and connective tissue, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Pooled blood forms an ugly blemish that changes color and gradually fades away as the collected blood gets reabsorbed into the body.
Sometimes these black-and-blue marks pop up with little or no provocation, although clinicians say there's usually a perfectly good explanation or a treatable underlying cause. Here are some common reasons that you may be bruising easily—and what you can do about it.
Credit: Getty Images. Older woman with bruised arm. Taking the blood thinner warfarin or using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen can lead to easy bruising, especially in older folks who are frequent users of these medicines. NSAIDs and blood thinners block the normal function of platelets, a component of blood that binds to other clotting factors to stop bleeding, explains Dr.
Ragni, who is also a spokesperson for the American Society of Hematology. While popping a pill now and then probably won't cause a bruising problem, long-term use could be the reason you're bruising easily. Consult your doctor before stopping any medication. Woman using asthma inhaler. Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets illustration close up. Vial of blood after blood test. Easy bruising is a common symptom among people with blood cancer, per the UK charity Leukaemia Care.
Some medicines can cause bruising by decreasing blood clotting. These include over-the-counter medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen , aspirin, and blood thinners.
Antibiotics can also cause clotting issues. Corticosteroids, used for allergies, eczema, and asthma, can cause you to bruise more easily. Some anti-depressants also have blood-thinning properties. Some daily supplements also increase bruising because they thin the blood. These supplements include ginkgo, ginseng, garlic, and fish oil.
Drinking too much alcohol is a risk factor for liver diseases like cirrhosis. As liver disease progresses, the liver stops producing the proteins needed for helping blood clot. Certain vitamins enable the body to heal and the blood to clot. Deficiencies in vitamin C can cause a condition called scurvy. Scurvy causes bleeding gums, wounds that do not heal, and easy bruising. Vitamin K helps the body form clots to stop bleeding. Newborns often have very low levels of vitamin K, which are insufficient to stop bleeding.
Without a vitamin K injection at birth, babies may bruise easily or bleed excessively. Adults who are very deficient in vitamin K may also notice a sudden increase in bruising. Vitamin deficiencies are usually reasonably easy to correct. However, it is important that a doctor diagnoses these deficiencies with a blood test so that they can recommend the appropriate vitamin supplement.
If vitamin supplements do not cure the issue, this may mean that a person has another problem, such as a metabolic or gastrointestinal disorder that makes it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients.
Vasculitis refers to a group of conditions that cause inflamed blood vessels. In addition to increased bleeding and bruising, a person may experience shortness of breath, numbness in the limbs, and ulcers, skin lumps, or purple spots on the skin. The type of treatment depends on the severity of the vasculitis and which area of the body it affects. Several medications, including steroids, may help.
It causes purplish-red bruise-like lesions on the skin and is most likely to affect the arms and hands. In many cases, the lesions follow an injury to the skin. However, they last much longer than bruises and are usually much larger. Sometimes, the skin remains brown even after the lesion heals. Protecting the skin from the sun may reduce the severity of symptoms. People with senile purpura must be mindful of their easy bruising and try to protect the skin from injury.
There is no cure, but a doctor may be able to recommend lifestyle remedies to lessen the frequency and severity of lesions. Accessed Jan. Skin care and aging. National Institute on Aging. Muscle contusion bruise. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Hoffman R, et al. Clinical approach to the patient with bleeding or bruising.
In: Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. Philadelphia, Pa. Easy bruising and bleeding. American Family Physician. Goldman L, et al. Approach to the patient with bleeding and thrombosis. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Paddock M, et al. Bleeding diatheses: Approach to the patient who bleeds or has abnormal coagulation. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice.
Danesh MJ, et al. The role of the dermatologist in detecting elder abuse and neglect. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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