Why You Bruise Easily
By Sara Butler
Have you ever woken up with a nasty bruise and had no idea where on earth it came from? When you bump into something hard enough, the force will cause the blood vessels under your skin to break and leak blood. That creates a bruise. But sometimes you don’t hit yourself on something and still, you get a bruise. How does that happen? Here are a few of the reasons why you may bruise easily and what you can do about it.
Too Much Sun
Believe it or not, too much sun may make your skin more susceptible to bruising. That’s because the rays of the sun can damage the collagen in your skin. Collagen is the spongy tissue that acts as a cushion to support the network of blood vessels that work their way through the skin. Without enough cushion, the blood vessels can rupture easier and lead to bruises.
You may not worship the sun, but it doesn’t take all that much time to damage skin’s collagen. Just one vacation without sunblock can do the trick. So always make sure to wear sunscreen when you’re outside and reapply it regularly.
You’re Older
Another thing that breaks down the collagen in the skin is aging. It gets thinner as you get older and that leads to increased bruising. While collagen breaks down due to age at different rates for everyone, fair-skinned people seem to be more susceptible to it. There’s no real way to prevent this, but adding the previously discussed sunscreen to your routine can help ward it off for a while
Some Medications
Any medication that thins your blood can put you at greater risk of bruising. If you take something for a heart problem or defect, you may notice increased bruising. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also thin the blood just enough to increase the ease with which you bruise. Avoid using them for longer than a week at a time unless you’re expressly told to do so by your doctor.
Your Diet isn’t Well-Rounded
Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B12 are all important to blood clotting. If you don’t get enough of any of them, then a small accident can turn into a nasty bruise. Nutritional deficiencies can cause this issue. Also be on the lookout for nosebleeds, bleeding gums, slow wound healing, and fatigue. They could be a big indication that you’re not getting enough of a varied diet. And if you’re vegan or vegetarian, it puts you at risk for Vitamin B12 deficiency, so be on the lookout for signs such as tingling in the hands and feet, fatigue, and weakness along with bruising.
If you're bruising easily, then you need to understand why. Discuss it with your chiropractor at your next visit to The Joint Chiropractic!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Sterling, Va.
