Bruising easily can be alarming, especially if you’re experiencing it for the first time recently.
Although as many as 55% of healthy people experience easy bruising with no underlying health conditions, various reasons could cause easy bruising that you should know about.
If you notice a bruise with no recollection of how you got it or tend to see bruises on your skin regularly without a particular cause, you may be someone there may be a medical reason for it.
Let’s discuss what could be causing you to bruise so easily.
What is a bruise?
By definition, a bruise is a common skin injury resulting in skin discoloration. Bruising is referred to medically as ecchymosis. Bruises can appear on any part of the body but are most often found on the upper and lower extremities.
For most, bruises are caused by a direct injury from an object, animal, or person. The impact causes blood vessels to become damaged, resulting in blood collecting near the skin’s surface. This results in the black and blue mark you notice on your skin.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of a bruise is skin discoloration. Bruises often start as a reddish mark on the skin. After a few hours, they turn dark blue or black and change color throughout the healing process, going from brown to yellow until they disappear once the skin heals.
Other symptoms can include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Tenderness
Because symptoms are often minimal, at-home treatment involves icing the affected area, elevation, rest and compression.
Why do I bruise easily?
Bruising is expected from time to time. Bruising frequently may not be.
If you notice that you’re bruising more easily than usual, there are various reasons this may be happening. The most common reasons for easy bruising include:
- Heavy weightlifting
- Vigorous exercise
- Thinning skin
- Genetics
- Medications
- Age
- Sun damage
- Heavy alcohol use
- Vitamin deficiencies
In rare cases, bruises may be caused by a more serious, underlying health condition.
What health conditions are linked to easy bruising?
Although bruising is typically not something to worry about, there may be instances where medical attention is needed, especially if you bruise easily or frequently.
The most common health-related reasons for easy bruising include:
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Vitamin K deficiency
- Blood disorders such as Von Willebrand Disease or hemophilia
- Blood clotting disorders
- Platelet function defects
- Malnutrition
- Cushing’s Syndrome
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
- Leukemia
- Cirrhosis
- Aplastic anemia
Aside from underlying health conditions, frequent bruising may be a sign of domestic violence, elder abuse or child abuse. If you believe someone you love is experiencing abuse, contact your local public safety officials.
When should I visit urgent care for easy bruising?
If you believe that you’re bruising easily due to an underlying health condition, are experiencing intense pain, swelling or tenderness, or your bruises do not improve over 2 weeks or disappear entirely in 4 weeks, or new, frequent bruises are causing excessive worry, we are here to help.
Getwell Urgent Care is open daily every day of the year; simply walk in to receive treatment for your bruises sooner. Don’t continue to live with easy bruising; get a diagnosis you can count on today.