Bruises occur when blood vessels under the skin break due to injury. Factors that can cause easy bruising include thin skin, fragile capillaries, genetic disorders, and blood disorders. See a healthcare professional if you bruise frequently or have unusual bruising. Applying ice can limit bleeding and reduce swelling.
Everyone gets bruises from time to time. If someone constantly bumps into furniture or is involved in heavy contact sports, bruises are to be expected. Some people bruise easily, and other people can be affected without obvious bruising. Factors that could explain why you bruise easily include the amount of fat covering your body, fragile capillaries, thin or inelastic skin, genetic disorders, and blood disorders. Anyone who bruises frequently should see a healthcare professional who can test for potentially dangerous medical conditions.
How bruises happen
Bruises occur when blood vessels under the skin break or burst as a result of a bump or injury. When damaged, capillaries leak blood under the skin, resulting in purplish or red bruises. The colors of the bruise will change as the swelling subsides and the bruise fades.
A bruise can occur well below the skin surface. Deeper bruises can affect tissue and organs. While you won’t be able to see these bruises, they can still swell and cause pain. A physician should be consulted for any internal injury or pain.
Reasons for easy bruising Easy
If you don’t have an adequate layer of body fat, bruises will sometimes appear with the slightest bump. This is one reason why some elderly people and children bruise easily. They may not have adequate fat in their arms and legs and may bruise easily in those areas. Some people, especially the elderly, have more fragile capillaries or skin that is thinner than normal or has lost some of its elasticity. Both of these factors can lead to easier bruising.
Another reason some people contract easily is a rare genetic disorder called von Willebrand disease, which prevents blood from clotting properly. This disorder affects at least 1% of all people. Symptoms of von Willebrand disease include excessive bleeding, especially in the nose and gums. The condition can also cause sufferers to bruise easily, usually in unusual places. Symptoms of von Willebrand disease can be very mild, so they often go undetected. Von Willebrand disease is treated with a drug called desmopressin.
Treatment
The bruises are not abnormal. In some cases, you may bruise easily from time to time for no apparent reason. The colors of a bruise can sometimes look scary and usually depend on the severity of the injury. If you experience bruising that looks unusual, see a doctor. Bruising can sometimes be a symptom of other diseases, such as an irregularity in the liver or blood clotting mechanism.
If you bruise easily from accidental or sports-related injuries, it’s best to limit the amount of bleeding that occurs. This can be achieved by simply applying an ice pack to the area. If you don’t have ice available, you can take an item from the freezer, such as a bag of frozen vegetables, and apply it to the bruise.
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