Do You Get Bruises Easily? Here Are 7 Things That Might Be to Blame

We all get bumps and bruises from time to time and have to nurse ourselves back to 100%. Waiting for a bruise to heal can seem like forever, but depending on the severity of the injury, that’s how it goes.

However, sometimes there can by a mystifying element to bruising – as in you happen to notice one but can’t pinpoint its source. Not a good feeling! Other times, you may feel like all you did was wear the wrong pair of shoes and the purple bruises on your feet are weird.

Generally, bruises occur when the blood vessels under the skin rupture. The discoloration seen from bruises occurs when blood seeps into tissues under the skin. They usually heal after a couple of weeks depending on their location in the body, but a severe injury or condition may cause them to linger.

Treating bruises with ice or heat over the course of their duration can speed up healing, but what’s up with those situations when you either can’t remember how you got one or the smallest bump turns you purple?

There are reasons behind you bruising so easily and this video from Wochit shares seven possible causes for your bruise-sensitive skin. If you’re stumped about why you’re so prone to contusions, take note!

  1. Medications

    The use of corticosteroids can cause the skin to become thinner over time, making you more vulnerable to bruises. This applies whether the steroids are taken internally, through an inhaler, or used topically (such as in an eczema cream). If you believe this is the case for you, speak with your doctor before continuing the medication.

  2. Vitamin Deficiency

    Insufficient amounts of vitamin K, iron, or vitamin C in your system can lead to easy bruising. Vitamin C helps the skin to protect itself from damage and can speed up the healing process. Vitamin K allows the blood to clot easily, whereas a deficiency contributes to thinner blood and bruising.

  3. Genes

    Sometimes, whether you bruise easily comes down to it running in your family. However, there could be other genetic factors at play.

    A platelet or other blood disorder can impact the function of your blood, which in turn can affect if or how your blood clots, and how collagens and proteins are synthesized. The appearance of a bruise can actually be a warning sign of the blood disorder itself. If you notice bruising without an apparent cause or injury, visit your doctor for an evaluation.

  4. Liver Disease

    A liver that isn’t functioning properly may have low platelet counts (a component in clotting), causing you to see an increase in the frequency of bruises. The liver is responsible for producing some of the factors necessary for clotting. Easy bruising and other symptoms like fatigue or itchy skin can be a sign that you may have liver disease.

Watch the video below to learn more about the underlying causes of easy bruising. It is possible that you may have a serious condition that requires treatment by a physician, so be sure to follow up if your bruising seems frequent or has a pattern.

Do you bruise easily? Is it because of one of these sources? Were you aware of the connection between bruising and these factors?