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Causes and Symptoms of Easy Bruising

by | Jul 18, 2024 | Info | 0 comments

Bruising Easily Overview

Minor bruises often heal in a few days. Some people bruise more easily than others, and the bruising can take longer to heal. Causes include age, medications, and vasculitis.

A fall, blow, or other impact that exerts sudden high pressure on the skin can cause a bruise. Very forceful blows can damage bones, causing deep bleeding and bruises that take several weeks to heal.

Some people bruise more easily than others. They may notice bruises but not know why they occurred. They may also develop large bruises after minor injuries or have bruises that take many weeks to heal.

Factors that increase the risk include:

  • Having a condition that affects blood clotting 
  • Older age
  • Using medications such as blood thinners

What is a Bruise?

A bruise develops when blood vessels sustain damage and blood leaks into tissues under the skin. This causes the characteristic black or purple color of a bruise.

On dark skin, bruising may appear red or purple, or it may show as a darker area than the surrounding skin, depending on the person’s skin tone.

In time, body tissues absorb the blood, and the color fades.

Causes of Easy Bruising

Numerous factors can cause a person to bruise more easily. Following are some of the common causes for bruising easily.

1. Age and Genetic Factors

People tend to bruise more easily with age because blood vessels weaken and the skin thins.

Easy bruising may also run in families, so individuals whose relatives bruise easily may notice that they do too.

2. Medications

Blood-thinning medications may cause a person to bleed and bruise more.

Some popular blood thinners include:

  • Apixaban (Eliquis)
  • Dabigatran(Pradaxa)
  • Heparin
  • Ibuprofen (Advil)
  • Aspirin (Bayer)
  • Naproxen (Aleve)
  • Rivaroxaban(Xarelto)
  • Warfarin (Coumadin)

Some other medications may weaken or change the behavior of blood vessels, worsen inflammation, or otherwise increase the risk of bleeding. They can include the following:

Patients taking medication who notice an increase in bleeding or bruising should consider asking a doctor whether their medication can cause bleeding. They may wish to discuss the risks and benefits of continuing treatment.

3. Liver disease

Cirrhosis and other conditions can affect liver function. Liver disease can affect blood clotting, increasing the risk of bleeding and easy bruising.

Other symptoms of liver disease include:

Alcohol is a major contributing factor to liver disease, but the condition can also result from cancer and other health issues.

Learn more about the symptoms of liver disease.

4. Bleeding disorders

Many genetic conditions can affect blood clotting.

Von Willebrand disease, the most prevalent bleeding disorder, affects about 1% of the population. A person with this condition has little or no von Willebrand protein, which is important for blood clotting. Synthetic hormone treatment can improve blood clotting in people with the condition.

Hemophilia involves low levels of blood clotting factor VIII (Hemophilia A) or factor IX (Hemophilia B). Both proteins are important for blood clotting. Synthetic versions of these clotting factors can help treat hemophilia and reduce the risk of serious bleeding and bruising.

A person with a genetic bleeding disorder has a higher risk of bruising and excessive, possibly life threatening bleeding. The bruises will look like regular bruises, but they can be larger.

The symptoms will be present from birth and can affect babies and young children.

5. Vitamin deficiencies

Certain vitamins enable the body to heal and the blood to clot.

Low vitamin C levels can cause a condition called scurvy. The body uses vitamin C to create collagen, an essential part of the structure of blood vessels. In scurvy, the blood vessels weaken, resulting in:

  • Bleeding gums
  • Easy bruising
  • Wounds that do not heal

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 with low vitamin K levels may also notice a sudden increase in bruising.

A doctor can perform tests to see whether a person has a vitamin deficiency. In some cases, supplements or a change in diet can help. In other cases, an underlying health condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may need addressing.

6. Vasculitis

Vasculitis  refers to a group of conditions that cause inflamed blood vessels.

Symptoms include:

  • Increased bleeding and bruising
  • Shortness of breath
  • Numbness in the limbs
  • Skin lumps
  • Purple spots on the skin, known as petechiae
  • Ulcers

On dark skin, petechiae may not always show up, which means a doctor could miss them. They may be visible in areas with less melanin, such as the forearms.

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.

7. Senile purpura

Senile purpura is common among older adults, affecting 12% of people over 50 years old and up to 30% of those ages 75 and over. It causes dark purple bruise-like lesions on the skin and is most likely to develop on the arms and hands.

Purpura is more common in people with light skin, but anyone can develop it. On dark skin tones, purpura may appear purple or as darker skin. The skin around may be thinner and less elastic.

The lesions often appear after an injury to the skin but last longer than bruises and can be much larger. Sometimes, the skin remains brown after the lesion heals.

Ways of reducing the risk of bruising include:

  • Being aware that corticosteroids and blood-thinning drugs can worsen symptoms
  • Protecting the skin from sunlight
  • Taking care to avoid injuries

Senile purpura does not have links with any serious health condition, but it may increase the risk of skin tears.

8. Cancer

Rarely, an increase in bleeding and bruising may be a sign of leukemia. This is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells.

There are different types of leukemia, and symptoms vary.

Often, there are no symptoms in the early stages, but a person may notice:

Petechiae may not be visible on dark skin, but a person may see them on areas with lower levels of melanin, such as the forearms.

Anyone who experiences these symptoms should seek prompt medical advice, as early treatment is often effective.

Signs of Easy Bruising

Some signs that an individual bruises more easily than an average person include:

  • Developing very large, painful bruises after minor injuries
  • Frequently developing bruises that take many weeks to heal
  • Having many bruises without remembering their cause

Seeking Medical Help

People should consult a doctor about easy bruising if:

  • Bruising occurs more often or more severely than before
  • When they have other symptoms, such as fever, low energy, or skin changes
  • They are taking medication and begin bruising more easily
  • Bruises are slow to heal
  • If they notice petechiae, small red spots resembling a rash under the skin
  • They develop purpura,  purple patches under the skin

A person should seek emergency help if a large bruise develops after a trauma, especially if they also have lightheadedness or dizziness. These could be signs of internal bleeding.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some questions people often ask about easy bruising.

Do older adults bruise more easily?

Older adults often bruise more easily because the skin becomes less flexible with age, and there is less fat to protect the blood vessels. Sun exposure can also increase the risk.

Does diabetes affect bruising?

In people with diabetes, wounds, including bruises, can take longer to heal.

What is the treatment for a bruise?

Bruises usually heal without treatment, but raising the bruised part and applying ice covered in a cloth may help reduce swelling.

Learn more about home rermedies for bruises.

What am I lacking if I bruise easily?

Low vitamin C levels can cause scurvy, which in turn can cause easy bruising. Low vitamin K levels can cause bruising more easily. This is because vitamin K helps the body form clots to stop bleeding.

Does low iron make you bruise easily?

Bruising easily is not a common symptom of low iron levels. Symptoms of iron deficiency typically include tiredness, fatigue, shortness of breath, paleness, and heart palpitations.

Summary

Easy bruising can be a sign of an underlying condition and a higher risk of bleeding overall. Risk factors for easy bruising include older age and taking blood-thinning medications.

Anyone who notices they are bruising more often or more easily than usual should seek medical advice to rule out other health issues or seek treatment as appropriate.

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