Losing Weight And Bruises On Legs

This article was medically reviewed by Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and member of the Medical Review Board on July 11, 2019

We’ve all been there—a shin to a coffee table or a trip on the sidewalk can leave you with a black-and-blue or two. But what is a bruise, exactly? “A bruise is a reflection of minor injury to the blood vessels under the surface of the skin. If these vessels are damaged, a small amount of blood can leak out, giving the classic blue, black, or purple discoloration, ” says Cory Fisher, DO, family medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic.

But what if you seem to be bruising easily, developing bruises on your legs, arms, and other parts of your body from even just a slight bump, or seemingly out of nowhere? Should you be worried? Keep reading to find out what could be causing your unexplained bruising—and how to heal a bruise faster.

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Some dietary supplements may contribute to unexplained bruising, including feverfew, garlic, ginger, gingko, ginseng, omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), saw palmetto, and vitamin E, due to their potential effects on blood platelets. This is a good reminder to talk to your doctor before you take

Supplement for any reason—not only can they can interact with other meds you’ve been prescribed, but they also aren’t FDA-regulated, so you may not be swallowing exactly what you expect.

Unfair, but true: Women tend to bruise more easily than men. Guys have thicker skin, and they also have more collagen, which holds blood vessels more securely in skin and protects them from trauma.

Reasons Why You Bruise Easily

Estrogen also plays a role in bruising easily, since the hormone can prevent blood vessel walls from building. And it also acts as a vasodilator, which means it opens up blood vessels. If trauma happens, more blood can slip out before it’s able to clot.

Easy bruising is “incredibly common in the 60+ population, ” says Gary Goldenberg, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. “It takes a lot less trauma to create a bruise than it ever did before in your life.”

Why? “Skin gets thinner as you age, and blood vessels get more friable, ” both which make you more prone to bruising easily, says Dr. Fisher. “With thinning skin, you lose fat and collagen that previously protected your blood vessels. And your blood vessels also lose elasticity, making them more prone to break.”

Bruising In Children (ages One To Five)

If you’re on a blood-thinning medication to treat heart arrhythmia or blood clots, that’s a simple explanation for unexplained bruising, says Dr. Fisher. But you may also be taking other drugs that have a blood-thinning effect without even realizing it, like ibuprofen or aspirin. These reduce your blood’s ability to clot properly, so bleeding due to capillary (blood vessel) damage may go on for longer than usual, allowing blood to leak and form a bruise.

Hemophilia and von Willebrand disease are both blood disorders that can cause easy bruising, says Dr. Fisher. Hemophilia is a rare condition that affects the blood’s ability to clot, putting someone at risk for severe bleeding from just a slight injury. Von Willebrand disease is a milder and somewhat more-common clotting disorder often characterized by bleeding during dental work, long-lasting nosebleeds, blood in urine or stool, and heavy periods.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (aka SSRIs) are a common class of antidepressants that have impacts beyond the brain. “Some of the most well-studied include SSRIs, like fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, and bupropion, can interact with platelets, which are an important part of the clotting process, ” says Dr. Fisher.

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Corticosteroids—topical or systemic medications used to treat various health conditions—can make you bruise easily because they can cause the skin to become thinner. These drugs are often used to relieve swelling, redness, itching, and other allergic-type symptoms. Most commonly, topical corticosteroids are prescribed for skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, while oral corticosteroids may be recommended for things like asthma, allergies, and other inflammatory conditions.

Deficiencies in vitamins C and K can cause unexplained bruising—but if you live in a developed nation and have regular access to healthy food, then it’s highly unlikely this one applies to you. These deficiencies typically occur only in severely undernourished populations, explains Dr. Fisher.

Vitamin C, in particular, is important in wound healing and the production of collagen, an important structural component of skin. Without enough of it, your blood vessels are out in the open and more likely to rupture.

Bruising Easily: Causes, Treatment, When To Get Care

Iron deficiency anemia is more common, and can also cause easy bruising, since your body requires iron to make hemoglobin, which helps circulate oxygen throughout your body. Other symptoms to watch for include dry and cracked lips, odd food cravings, and brittle nails.

First, the bad news: It can take up to two weeks for a bruise to heal, and there’s not a whole lot you can do to make them disappear faster. “As the body absorbs this lost blood, it goes through a few phases. After just a few days, the blue/black/purple discoloration and any swelling will typically improve and the color changes to green or yellow, ” says Dr. Fischer. “It may then look light brown before healing completely.”

You can speed healing, however, right after you’ve thwacked your knee or bumped your elbow. Grab an ice pack—like this reusable one from Amazon or simply a bag of frozen peas—and hold it on the affected area for 10 minutes a few times a day. This will constrict the blood vessels, in turn slowing the spread of the purple discoloration in the first place.

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And if your bruises seem to be especially gnarly? See your doctor if your bruises are prolonged, very painful, limit movement, come on suddenly, or occur frequently. Developing a severe, swollen bruise after having surgery should also warrant an appointment ASAP.

Emily Shiffer is a former digital web producer for Men’s Health and , and is currently a freelancer writer specializing in health, weight loss, and fitness. She is currently based in Pennsylvania and loves all things antiques, cilantro, and American history.

Nina Elias is a Syracuse University graduate (Go Orange!) with a love for natural beauty, Broadway, brain health, and the eternal search for the perfect bedroom paint color. She resides in beautiful Bethlehem, PA.

Signs And Symptoms Of Abnormal Bruising In Children

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Can You Get Norovirus Twice? Cher Defies Age on Her 77th Birthday The 8 Best Memory Foam Mattress Toppers The Difference Between Allergies and Pink EyeSporadic bruising usually isn’t cause for worry. Keeping an eye out for other unusual symptoms may help you determine if there’s an underlying cause.

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Intense exercise can leave you with more than just sore muscles. If you’ve recently overdone it at the gym, you may develop bruises around the affected muscles.

When you strain a muscle, you injure muscle tissue deep under the skin. This can cause blood vessels to burst and leak blood into the surrounding area. If you’re bleeding more than normal for some reason, the blood will pool under your skin and cause a bruise.

If you suspect that your bruising is a result of OTC or prescription medication use, see a doctor. They can advise you on any next steps.

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Vitamins perform many important functions in your blood. They aid in the formation of red blood cells, help maintain mineral levels, and lower your cholesterol.

Vitamin C, for example, supports your immune system and aids in wound healing. If you aren’t getting enough vitamin C, your skin may begin to bruise easily, resulting in “random” bruising.

You may begin to bruise easily if you aren’t getting enough iron. That’s because your body needs iron to keep your blood cells healthy.

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If your blood cells aren’t healthy, your body won’t be able to get the oxygen that it needs to function. This may make your skin more susceptible to bruising.

Although rare in healthy adults, vitamin K deficiencies can slow the rate at which blood clots. When blood doesn’t clot quickly, more of it pools beneath the skin and forms a bruise.

If you suspect that your bruising is a result of deficiency, see a healthcare provider. They may prescribe iron tablets or other medication — as well as help you modify your diet — to meet your nutritional needs.

Abnormal Bruising In Children: Signs, Causes And Treatments

See a doctor or other healthcare provider if you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms alongside bruising. They can make a diagnosis, if needed, and advise you on next steps.

If diabetes has already been diagnosed, your bruising may simply be a result of slow wound healing. It may also result from pricking the skin to test your blood sugar or injecting insulin.

People with von Willebrand disease are born with the condition, but may not develop symptoms until later in life. This bleeding disorder is a lifelong condition.

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When blood isn’t clotting like it should, bleeding can be