9 Reasons You Bruise So Easily

Whether you’re a competitive soccer player or a weekend warrior, you’re bound to get bumps and bruises if you come into contact with other athletes or gear at the gym. It’s not a big deal unless “you’re worried about how your legs look while you’re out on the beach,” Dr. Ragni reasons. “But if you don’t really care, I don’t think it’s going to hurt you to have a bruise here or there.”

Minor bruises don’t require treatment. For significant bruising due to a fall, jam, or blow, try the classic RICE method: rest, ice, compression (by wrapping the injury), and elevation (lifting the injury to a level above the heart). This will help reduce bleeding, pain, and swelling.

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Older folks’ bodies don’t bounce back from injury like those of younger adults, so even a minor bump or grab on the arm can leave a bruise.

“As we age, our skin and blood vessels become more fragile; we lose collagen, elastin, and some of the subcutaneous fat that cushions and protects our small blood vessels,” explains Suzanne Friedler, MD, a dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology PC in Manhattan.

For a fresh injury, try the RICE method. “It may initially help a bruise from worsening, but it rarely has a benefit on a bruise after the first 24 hours,” Dr. Friedler says. “After that time, heat can sometimes help the bruise clear up faster.”

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Many years of sun exposure can weaken blood vessel walls, contributing to a type of bruising in older adults known as “actinic purpura” or “senile purpura”–unsightly purple patches that occur on the backs of the hands and forearms without much of a bump or injury. (Aging and use of certain medications can also cause these bruises.)

The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology says topical creams containing retinol or alpha-hydroxy acid may be useful in reducing the appearance of these bruises, while wearing long sleeves and avoiding trauma to the hands and arms may help prevent bruising in the first place. And, it’s another reason to become a lifelong user of sun protection!

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Do you have asthma, COPD, eczema, or rheumatoid arthritis? Easy bruising may be a sign that you’re taking corticosteroids, a common treatment for these and other diseases.

Whether you’re using an inhaler, taking pills, or applying a topical version of these powerful anti-inflammatory drugs, bruising is a common side effect. Long-term use, especially at more potent doses, can cause skin thinning.

If bruising is an issue, talk to your doctor about whether to stick with your medication regimen or switch to another drug.

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If bruises seem to appear for no reason, it could signal you were born with a platelet disorder. Platelets are crucial because they help form clots to slow or halt bleeding.

“You can either have an insufficient number of platelets, or your platelets don’t work normally,” Dr. Ragni says.

It’s rare, but pregnant women may develop thrombocytopenia, a low platelet condition, and one of the first signs can be a bruise. “That’s the sort of thing a hematologist could help you sort out,” she says.

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Bruising in and of itself may not be a big deal. But when it’s accompanied by other symptoms, like nosebleeds, heavy periods, or excessive bleeding after surgery, then you might suspect something more than just accidental bruising. “It’s the company it keeps, the frequency that it occurs, even the severity by which it occurs,” Dr. Ragni explains.

The most common bleeding disorder, called von Willebrand disease, is a genetic condition caused by a missing or defective clotting protein, according to the National Hemophilia Foundation. It affects up to 1% of the population.

People with bleeding disorders require specialized treatment, beginning with a thorough evaluation by a hematologist.

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If your liver is diseased or damaged, there may be fewer platelets circulating in your blood than you need for normal blood clotting, and that can cause you to bruise easily, Dr. Ragni says.

Many things can cause liver damage, from hepatitis C infection to alcohol-related liver disease.

You could even have a liver disease and a bleeding disorder. “You want to have a very thorough evaluation to make sure you’re not just attributing [bruising] to drinking and liver disease when it may be something else entirely,” Dr. Ragni says.

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