You’re silently doing your chores when you notice it: a purplish patch on your arm. Oddly enough, you don’t remember getting hurt in that area. Looking closely, it seems like you bruise more easily than other people, and it’s now worrying you. What causes easy bruising, and when should you seek medical help for it? Find out here.
How do bruises happen?
Before we talk about the possible causes of easy bruising, let’s first have an overview of what a bruise is.
A bruise or what we commonly call “pasa” is a patch on the skin that happens when tiny blood vessels on the skin burst. The blood vessels then leak blood into the tissues under the skin, resulting in discoloration that may appear swollen at first and feel tender.
People with fair complexion often develop purplish or bluish patches. Those with darker complexion tend to have black, brown, or dark purple bruises.
Please note that bruising commonly happens after an injury or trauma, but some people are more likely to bruise than others.
Case in point: seniors tend to bruise more easily because their blood vessels are weaker and their skin, thinner. Additionally, easy bruising can also run in families.
What causes easy bruising?
Now, what if you’re fairly young but still feel as though you bruise easily? What causes your easy bruising?
Reports say there are several possible reasons behind easy bruising; they include:
Some medications
Medications that thin the blood can make a person bruise and bleed more easily. Examples of these drugs include aspirin and warfarin.
Some herbal medicines and antidepressants may also increase a person’s risk of bleeding and bruising.
If you’re taking some medicines, ask your doctor if it could be causing your bruises, so you can discuss alternatives or other interventions.
Excessive alcohol consumption and liver disease
If you’re a heavy drinker, your liver may be sustaining some damages that lead to easy bruising and bleeding.
You see, the liver produces proteins that help in blood clotting, a process where blood cells clump together to prevent excessive bleeding. Worsening liver disease may prompt the organ to stop producing the proteins, leading to an increased risk of bleeding and bruising.
What causes easy bruising: Vitamin deficiency
Sometimes a deficiency in certain vitamins also causes easy bruising.
For instance, people with deficiency in vitamin C may develop scurvy, a disease that causes bleeding gums, easy bruising, and wounds that don’t heal. Likewise, a severe deficiency in vitamin K may also prevent blood clotting, resulting in increased bruising and bleeding.
