Why You Bruise More Easily
Some people bruise more easily than others. Here’s why:
* You have type-O blood, which tends to bruise most easily (those with type-A blood typically bruise least), due to the makeup of the blood cells.
* You have high blood pressure, causing more blood to seep out of the broken vessel.
* You take substances regularly that hinder your blood’s ability to clot. Aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, excess vitamin E (the recommended dietary allowance is 15 milligrams daily) and herbs such as ginkgo biloba and Saint Johnswort all thin the blood.
* You have a medical disorder. Everything from deficiencies in nutrients like vitamins C and K to, in rare cases, leukemia can cause alarmingly frequent bruising.
Prevention Of Bruises
You cannot always prevent bruises, but most of the time bruises are not a cause for concern.
* If you take aspirin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or blood-thinning medicines (anticoagulants), keep regular appointments with your health professional so that he or she can monitor your medicine dosages and make any necessary changes or adjustments.
* Eat a variety of foods to avoid dietary deficiencies. Nutritional deficiencies of vitamins C, K, or B12, or folic acid can affect blood clotting. Include a daily selection of:
o Whole-grain and enriched breads, cereals, and grain products.
o Vegetables.
o Fruits.
o Milk, cheese, and yogurt.
o Meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dried beans and peas, and tofu.
* Do not take dietary supplements that may increase bruising, particularly if you take a blood-thinning medicine. Dietary supplements that may increase bruising include fish oil, vitamin E, garlic, ginger, and ginkgo biloba.
Home Treatment For Bruises
If your bruise does not require an evaluation by a health professional, you may be able to use home treatment to help relieve pain, swelling, and stiffness.
* Rest and protect a bruised area.
* Ice will reduce pain and swelling. Apply ice or cold packs immediately to prevent or minimize swelling. Apply the ice or cold pack for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 or more times a day.
o For the first 48 hours after an injury, avoid things that might increase swelling, such as hot showers, hot tubs, hot packs, or alcoholic beverages.
o After 48 to 72 hours, if swelling is gone, apply heat and begin gentle exercise with the aid of moist heat to help restore and maintain flexibility. Some experts recommend alternating between hot and cold treatments.
* Compression, or wrapping the bruised area with an elastic bandage (such as an Ace wrap), will help decrease swelling. Don’t wrap it too tightly, as this can cause more swelling below the affected area. Loosen the bandage if it gets too tight. Signs that the bandage is too tight include numbness, tingling, increased pain, coolness, or swelling in the area below the bandage. Talk to your health professional if you think you need to use a wrap for longer than 48 to 72 hours; a more serious problem may be present.
* Elevate the bruised area on pillows while applying ice and anytime you are sitting or lying down. Try to keep the area at or above the level of your heart to help minimize swelling.
* Gently massage or rub the area to relieve pain and encourage blood flow. Do not massage the bruised area if it causes pain.
* If desired, apply a natural product directly to the bruise.
o Witch hazel may help heal damaged veins.
o Arnica may stimulate healing.
* Do not smoke or use other tobacco products. Smoking slows healing because it decreases blood supply and delays tissue repair.
Blood Spots
Blood spots under the skin may be either purpura or petechiae. Purpura might look like bruises, but they are not caused by an injury as most regular bruises are. Petechiae don’t look like bruises. They are tiny, flat, red or purple spots in the skin, but they are different than the tiny, flat, red spots or birthmarks (hemangiomas) that are present all the time.
Sudden unexplained bruising or blood spots under the skin or a sudden increase in the frequency of bruising may be caused by:
* A medicine, such as aspirin or blood thinners (anticoagulants).
* Infection that causes the buildup of toxin in the blood or tissues (sepsis).
* A bleeding or clotting disorder, such as hemophilia, von Willebrand’s disease, thrombocytopenia, or another less common bleeding or clotting disorder.
* Other diseases that affect clotting. Examples include:
o Chronic inflammatory diseases, such as lupus.
o Liver disease, such as cirrhosis.
o Some types of cancer, such as Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia, or multiple myeloma.
* Inflammation of a blood vessel (vasculitis).
* Malnutrition, such as deficiencies of vitamins B12, C, or K, or folic acid.
Medical treatment for abnormal bruising or blood spots focuses on preventing or stopping bleeding, changing or adjusting a medicine that may be causing the bruising, or treating the medical problem that is causing the bruising.
About Bruises
Most bruises are not a cause for concern and will go away on their own. If you bruise easily, you may not even remember what caused a bruise. Bruising easily does not mean you have a serious health problem, especially if bruising is minimal or only shows up once in a while.
* Older adults often bruise easily from minor injuries, especially injuries to the forearms, hands, legs, and feet. As a person ages, the skin becomes less flexible and thinner because there is less fat under the skin. The cushioning effect of the skin decreases as the fat under the skin decreases. These changes, along with skin damage from exposure to the sun, cause blood vessels to break easily. When blood vessels break, bruising occurs.
* Women bruise more easily than men, especially from minor injuries on the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms.
* A tendency to bruise easily sometimes runs in families.
Occasionally after an injury, blood collects and pools under the skin (hematoma), giving the skin a spongy, rubbery, lumpy feel. A regular bruise is more spread out and may not feel like a firm lump. A hematoma usually is not a cause for concern. It is not the same thing as a blood clot in a vein, and it does not cause blood clots.
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