Why Do I Bruise So Easily? 14 Possible Causes

From vitamin deficiencies to serious health issues

Medically reviewed by Sunitha Posina, MDFact checked by Anna Harris

At one point or another, you've probably woken up with a mysterious bruise on your leg or arm. Or maybe as soon as you bump into a door or the corner of your desk, you get a bruise immediately. Or maybe, you're getting a ton of bruises out of nowhere for no discernible reason. Well, there are multiple reasons why you bruise so easily—and we got the experts to explain how age, medical conditions, and potentially your diet can cause you to bruise.

Meet Our Expert

• Dr. Michelle Lee is a Los Angeles-based board-certified plastic surgeon.

• Dr. Anthony Kouri? is an orthopedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins,

• Vanessa Coppola, FNP-BC is a board-certified nurse practitioner and aesthetic specialist.

• Dr. Ehsan Ali is a Los Angeles-based board-certified physician.

• Dr. Sunitha Posina, M.D., is a New York-based board-certified internist.

What Is a Bruise?

Bruises form when blood vessels beneath the skin rupture and the blood leaks into the surrounding area. Usually, this is caused by some form of trauma like falling, bumping into a door, or experiencing a blow while playing sports.

Medication

Various medicines make people more sensitive to bruising. According to Dr. Anthony Kouri?—an orthopedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins??—aspirin and other blood thinners such as warfarin, heparin, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran interfere with blood clotting and can lead you to bruise easily (as can herbal supplements like ginkgo biloba and ginseng). Additionally, steroids like prednisone and hydrocortisone can thin your skin and may lead you to bruise easily. If you’re concerned that your medications are contributing to bruising, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor.

Aging

It’s normal to bruise more easily as you get older, given that your skin will thin and lose elasticity. The fatty layer that provides some protection against bruising also thins with aging.

"The blood vessels near the skin surface are less protected from bumps and are more likely to get injured and form a bruise," says Dr. Michelle Lee, a Los Angeles-based, board-certified plastic surgeon. Most often, these bruises will be on the hands, legs, forearms, and feet.

Your Diet

Lee says one of the most common reasons people bruise easily is the food they eat. We’re not talking about junk food here, either. "Healthy food such as garlic, ginger, ginkgo, green tea, salmon, and turmeric all can thin the blood and make you more prone to bruising," Lee says. "This is the reason why I ask all of my patients to stop eating these foods two to three weeks before surgery to decrease the risk of bruising."

Vitamin Deficiencies

Sometimes bruising occurs due to vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin C is essential to healing and collagen formation, and when you’re not getting enough of it, you may start to bruise easily.

"Weak collagen causes the blood vessel walls to break more easily, causing easy bruising," Kouri says. Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting, so a vitamin K deficiency can also contribute to bruising. Among all the issues that cause people to bruise easily, this one isn’t all that common. Kouri says vitamin K deficiency is rare in adults and more common among infants. That said, it’s still important to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet containing plenty of vitamin C, vitamin K, and other important nutrients.

Bleeding Disorders

A number of different genetic disorders might affect blood clotting and lead you to bruise more easily than usual, Kouri explains, adding that these blood disorders can also cause serious internal bleeding. Typically, people with bleeding disorders will experience other symptoms in addition to bruising, such as nosebleeds and bleeding from the gums.

One of the most common bleeding disorders is Von Willebrand Disease, which affects about one percent of the population. For people with Von Willebrand Disease, the Von Willebrand protein, which is important for blood clotting, is either missing or defective. Another bleeding disease that sometimes contributes to bruising is hemophilia.

Low Platelet Count

Platelets are small blood cells that join together to form blood clots and help your body minimize bleeding after an injury or trauma. If your platelet count is low or your platelets aren't working properly, you may bruise easily, Ali explains. Doctors can check your platelet levels using a simple blood test. 

Genetics

Notice that your parents and siblings bruise easily, too? Sometimes a tendency to bruise runs in families, and women tend to bruise more easily than men. Fair skin can also make bruises more obvious. For most people in this situation who don't have any other symptoms, bruising easily isn’t problematic or tied to any serious health issues.

Intense Workouts

Sometimes bruises seem to appear out of nowhere after weightlifting or any other intense workout. Coppola says very high impact weight lifting, aerobics, or running can cause increased intravascular pressure and shearing forces against muscle tissues that may cause tears and result in a bruise. However, it is not typical and highly unusual.

"If an individual frequently suffered from bruises as a result of intense exercise, this should be evaluated promptly by a health care provider to rule out any other underlying causes," Coppola says.

Too Much Time in the Sun

Too much sun exposure can damage and weaken your skin, as well as weaken the walls of your blood vessels, leaving you more susceptible to bruising. These bruises from sun damage usually don’t cause any pain or soreness.

Leukemia

Among the more serious causes of bruising is leukemia—a cancer of the blood cells. Typically, platelets help your body minimize bleeding, but you’ll be more susceptible to bruising if your platelet count is low due to leukemia. Only a doctor can diagnose leukemia, so set up an appointment if you have concerns.

Liver Disease

Liver disease is another serious health issue (that can only be diagnosed by a doctor) that can lead you to bruise easily. The liver produces important proteins that help our bodies minimize bleeding, so if you’re experiencing health problems with your liver, you may bruise more easily than usual.

“Any disruption of the normal liver function lowers these protein levels,” says Dr. Ehsan Ali, a Los Angeles-based board-certified physician.

Sometimes bruising is nothing to worry about, but other times it’s a sign that something is going on in your body. If you’ve been bruising more than usual and have any concerns about your health, it’s always a good idea to speak with your physician. They’re the experts in figuring out what’s happening in your body and know what signs to look for to determine if your bruising is fairly normal or something to be worried about.

Diabetes

It is important to note diabetes itself is not a direct cause of bruising. However, it can make one more susceptible to bruising. "Diabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are high, and if not managed well, persistent elevated blood sugars can damage your blood vessels as it travels through the veins and arteries," Dr. Posnia says. "As a result, [individuals are] more prone to bruising easily and poor wound healing, given their poor circulation."

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

"Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is known as a group of genetic connective tissue disease disorders that are characterized by delicate and fragile skin tissue, hypermobile joints, and excessive extensibility of the skin," Coppola says. "As a result of the manifestation of EDS,  individuals that suffer from this genetic disorder are more prone to easy bruising due to their delicate skin tissue and connective tissue disorder."

She recommends individuals who suffer from EDS take precautions in their day-to-day life to help protect their skin and joints from injuries. Precautionary measures can include "engaging in a low-impact muscle strengthening program, participating in joint sparing activities such as swimming, and using protective pads or bandages over easily contacted and exposed areas such as elbows and knees. Individuals with EDS should avoid medications that increase the risk of bruising such as aspirin or NSAIDS unless specifically directed by their health care provider."

Cushing Syndrome

Various medicines make people more sensitive to bruising. According to Dr. Anthony Kouri?—an orthopedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins??—aspirin and other blood thinners such as warfarin, heparin, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran interfere with blood clotting and can lead you to bruise easily (as can herbal supplements like ginkgo biloba and ginseng). Additionally, steroids like prednisone and hydrocortisone can thin your skin and may lead you to bruise easily. If you’re concerned that your medications are contributing to bruising, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor.

Research indicates Cushing Syndrome is caused by prolonged exposure to high circulating levels of cortisol. "Excess cortisol can lead to increased bruising," Dr. Posnia says.

Too Little Vitamin C

Vitamin C not only helps boost your immune system, but it increases collagen production in the skin. Collagen is not only helpful for keeping your skin plump and supple, but it's also responsible for keeping your blood vessels strong. If your noticing that you're bruising easily and you don't have any underlying health issues, a lack of vitamin C might be the reason—bruising is one of the main indicators of a vitamin C deficiency .

Read the original article on Byrdie.