07 Feb 11 Common Causes for Why You Bruise Easily

After your injury, put an ice pack on it every once in a while for the first hours. Wrap the ice pack before you put it on so you don’t freeze your skin, and don’t Sober living house leave it on for more than 15 minutes at a time. Ecchymosis (pronounced eh-kuh-mow-sis) is the medical term for a bruise. An ecchymosis is bigger around than 1 centimeter, which is about as big around as a triple-A battery. Minor accidents — running into furniture, falling, dropping something on your leg, hand or foot — are the most common cause of bruising.

Alcohol Bruises FAQ

If a loved one has a bruise that can’t be explained, particularly in an unusual location such as on the face, be aware of the possibility of abuse. That vasodilation also happens to be responsible for the flushed sensation of heat you sometimes get in your face when you drink. Shine365 is your source for healthy living information from Marshfield Clinic Health System. Every day you’ll find helpful ideas and advice on a wide variety of health topics to help you and your family live well.

How bruises develop

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) refers to a group of genetic connective tissue disorders that affects one in 5,000 people worldwide. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. It’s much less common, but severe and unexplainable bruising can be a sign of a blood cancer, such as leukemia. Below, a highlight reel of possible reasons behind your bruises to help you — with an assist from your doctor — get to the bottom of why you’re always black and blue. Blood-thinning medications may cause a person to bleed and bruise more.

responses to “6 signs unexplained bruising may be worrisome”

• Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a bleeding disorder that occurs when a protein called von Willebrand factor in the blood is lacking or not working properly.
• For example, computed tomography (CT) of the head should be done in people with severe headaches, head injuries, or impairment of consciousness.
• Long-term alcohol misuse can lead to numerous health problems.
• While vitamin C deficiency can also cause an increase in bruising, it’s uncommon in the U.S. thanks to diets filled with fruits and veggies.
• Following many years of sun exposure, sun-damaged skin can become thinner and blood vessel walls weaker, leading to more frequent and darker bruising, Dr. Johnston says.
• Their thinning skin often has less fat underneath to cushion the blood vessels.

According to Scott Swartzwelder, Ph.D. (coauthor of Buzzed), consistent vasodilation caused by drinking alcohol leads to more blood flowing through your blood vessels. This condition occurs naturally in our bodies in response to various stimuli. However, excessive vasodilation caused by external factors, like drinking alcohol, can be problematic. If you notice a change in where or how often you’re bruising, consider talking with a health care professional. “If bruising becomes really common, if it’s not provoked, or if there’s a change in your bruising patterns, get it checked out,” López says.

How to Prevent Alcohol-induced Bruising?

You might also get bruises more often if you have issues with your platelets or those cells involved in the blood vessel healing process. Platelets are crucial for clotting (stopping a bleed), says Dr. Vyas. Newborns often does alcohol make you bruise easily 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.

• People taking medication who notice an increase in bleeding or bruising should consider asking a doctor whether their medication can cause bleeding.
• The inflammatory disease process (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and the like) can lead to a low platelet count and affect how well your blood clots following an injury.
• Platelets help the blood clot, so a low level of them can cause easy bruising.
• Furthermore, if alcohol bruises are a result of liver damage, you likely have alcoholic liver disease, which causes severe dysfunction in the liver.
• Occasional drinking of fewer than two glasses per day is acceptable, but it’s best to familiarize yourself with signs of alcohol addiction and to prevent developing an alcohol use disorder.
• Because of this fact, a person with an alcohol use disorder may have several failed attempts to stop drinking.

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Hemophilia is a rare genetic bleeding disorder that causes the body to be unable to produce one of the specific clotting factors crucial for clotting. Bleeding continues longer after an injury because the blood cannot clotted properly. When a blood vessel injury occurs uncontrolled bleeding and bruising results. When you bruise easily, it can sometimes seem just as easy to identify the cause, such as advancing age or a blood thinner medication you’re taking.