Why do I bruise so easily?
Ask the doctor
Q. I bruise easily. Why might this be? Is something lacking in my diet, or could there be another kind of problem?
A. As people age, they often notice bruises on their arms or legs without any identifiable reason. It’s almost always related to thinning of the skin and increasing fragility of the tiny blood vessels in the outer layer of skin.
Usually there isn’t much you can do to change that situation. Some medications (especially corticosteroids like prednisone) can make the skin and blood vessels more fragile. Aspirin and other drugs that interfere with blood clotting can make bruises larger and more noticeable. Less commonly, excessive bruising may develop due to a blood disorder, such as thrombocytopenia (low platelets).
On rare occasions, vitamin and mineral deficiencies cause skin bruising. The most famous is scurvy, caused by vitamin C deficiency. Bruising can also be a manifestation of zinc or vitamin B deficiency. If you are concerned that your diet may not be ideal, or if you have a condition that may reduce your ability to absorb certain nutrients, talk to your doctor about tests that can identify a nutrient deficiency.
Red or purple spots on the skin are not always bruises. For example, painful red spots on the legs may be due to vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels). If you notice these kinds of spots, contact your doctor.
Image: © Penpak Ngamsathain/Getty Images
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