Instead, you may feel a bump under your skin and it may be tender. As the bruise develops, the skin over your bruise may look dark brown or black. In general, people with darker skin and hair will have darker-colored bruises. People with medium skin tones may see more red and yellow color in their bruises than people with lighter or darker skin tones. Your body uses vitamin K to help your blood form clots to stop bleeding. People with low levels of vitamin K may notice easy bruising.
- I came across this service because it is more convenient to get virtual help.
- FYI, people with heavy periods and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding are more prone to an iron deficiency, according to the American Society of Hematology.
- Also, tell your provider about any supplements you’re taking — especially if you’re taking them while on a blood-thinning drug.
- A doctor can perform tests to see whether a person has a vitamin deficiency.
- Furthermore, in extreme cases, bruises from drinking can be a sign of liver damage, which can be dangerous.
- If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.
- Put simply, a bruise is a collection of blood underneath the skin, says Tania Elliott, M.D., a clinical instructor of medicine at NYU Langone Health.
Physical Signs You’re Drinking Too Much
If you, your mom, and your sister all turn black and blue from the tiniest bump, it may be a family thing. Some people just have more fragile blood vessels, and that makes them more likely to bruise, especially on their upper arms, thighs, or butt. Blood thinners such as warfarin, heparin, and aspirin can cause you to bleed and get bruises more often. Steroids and some does alcohol make you bruise easier cancer drugs (chemotherapy and targeted therapy) may also lower your platelet levels, which can cause you to bleed and get bruises more than you usually do. Right after a tattoo, it’s normal for your skin around your tattoo to be red, irritated, swollen, warm, and sometimes bruised. These skin reactions are part of the healing process and usually last about 3-7 days.
- Even if you aren’t experiencing severe health problems like cirrhosis from alcohol, seeking early treatment can prevent an alcohol use disorder from progressing and causing severe complications.
- If you have cirrhosis from alcohol liver damage, you’re also more likely to bleed and bruise easily.
- It increases the risk of various types of cancer, as well as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
- Their thinning skin often has less fat underneath to cushion the blood vessels.
The Blood Thinning Properties of Alcohol
On average, members see a 30% reduction in alcohol consumption in 3 months, leading to improved sleep, diet, and overall wellbeing. While there is no direct relationship between alcohol and hair loss, heavy drinking may lead to other issues that thin out your locks. Hence, drinking alcohol makes it harder for your immune system to gear up and mount a defense response against invading pathogens and viruses. As a result, you may find yourself having frequent sore throat pains, catching colds and infections more often. Research studies on the association between weight gain and alcohol consumption have ended in conflicting results.
What are the most common causes of myocardial infarction (heart attack)?
- When blood vessels are dilated, you’re more likely to experience a bruise after bumping into something.
- If alcohol begins to interfere with daily functioning, but you have been unsuccessful with giving up drinking, seeking treatment can help you to stay committed to recovery.
- The links above will provide you with more detailed information on these medical conditions to help you inform yourself about the causes and available treatments for these conditions.
- It’s tough to judge the seriousness of a bruise using the color.
If your bruise doesn’t improve within two weeks, or if you start to notice frequent, unexplained bruises—whether you’re drunk or sober—call your doctor. And when the blood vessels underneath your skin break, it causes blood to leak out. There’s some research that suggests red wine might be the best choice for people who want to drink occasionally. In fact, Pabla says, some small studies have found that 1 to 3 grams of red wine per week might improve inflammation in the gut. In contrast, another study found that people who drank beer “had significantly worse endoscopic disease,” he says.
A deficiency is rare but can occur in newborns, who are typically given a vitamin K injection at birth to prevent a deficiency. In most of these cases, your doctor will likely run tests to determine why you’re bruising so easily, such as tests that measure how quickly your blood clots or determine your blood platelet levels. Von Willebrand disease and hemophilia, for instance, are blood disorders caused by missing or defective clotting proteins (von Willebrand factor and factor VIII, respectively), putting you more at risk for bruising. “Any medications that have a blood-thinning effect or reduce your blood’s ability to create clots will trigger bigger bruises after experiencing impact on the body,” Dr. Johnston says. It’s also very rare, but sometimes, a bruise on your breast may be a sign of a breast infection (mastitis) or inflammatory breast cancer.
Types of Bruises
The Causes of Bruising Easily: Anemia, Vitamin Deficiency, and More
