What Your Bruises Are Telling You About Your Health
BE CAREFUL, if you get these bruises on your body, it means you have…
Have you ever noticed that you bruise easily? You know what we mean: those black and blue marks that look unsightly, and even after time turns them yellow, they aren’t any prettier. Not only do they look scary, but in some instances, they can also be painful. And sometimes they’re a cause for concern because they may mean that you have an underlying medical problem, and it could be serious.
In today’s article, we’re going to share some of the reasons why bruising occurs and offer some tips to address the issue, hopefully allowing you to prevent future bruising or figure out why your body is sending you this signal that something might be amiss.
Oh, and here’s a hint about one possible cause: let’s just say you can add bruises as one more potential thing that may result from a lack of specific vitamins. More to follow on that.
### Definition of Bruising
Ecchymosis. That’s the medical term for bruising. It sounds as icky (that’s a non-medical term) as your bruises may look.
A bruise is what happens when small blood vessels burst underneath your skin’s surface, causing the blood to spill out from the capillaries and form a puddle just underneath the skin (as opposed to when you cut yourself and the blood pours out). There are many reasons why bruises happen, but some of the medical conditions associated with bruising may not necessarily cause the actual bruise but may make you more vulnerable to bruising.
Bruising also generally occurs when there’s been some acute trauma to your skin. You accidentally bumped into your coffee table or walked into a wall or banged your arm against your nightstand, maybe even while you were sleeping. Or perhaps you’ve had your blood drawn and it’s left a bruise, likely because your veins weren’t prominent that day.
Whether you remember what happened or not, you’ll remember what a bruise looks like. Generally, a dark mark, like red, black, or blue. Over the next several days, you’ll see the colors change, kind of like the trees changing in the fall, but not as pretty. Going to purple or red, then green or yellow means the blood is being reabsorbed by your body and that the bruise is healing, until eventually there’s no tell-tale sign left.
### More About Bruises
Usually, bruises show up on your arms or legs and they are not generally a cause for concern. However, if your bruises appear on your stomach, buttocks, genitals, ears, or the back of your hands, or if they occur more frequently, don’t improve or change colors within a few days, or last longer than two weeks or so, it’s advisable to talk to your doctor.
### Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Bruising?
We’ve written before about some of the problems you might encounter if you’re low in certain vitamins, such as vitamin D. If you’re not getting enough vitamin D or some of the B vitamins, you may be making yourself more susceptible to bruising.
Here are two more vitamin insufficiencies that could lead to frequent bruises:
### Vitamin C Deficiency
When you’re not getting enough vitamin C in your diet, from the foods you eat (e.g., citrus fruit, tomatoes, broccoli, etc.) to the dietary supplements you take, you may be low on this vitamin—especially if you’re a smoker.
Collagen is a protein that keeps your blood vessels healthy; vitamin C helps your body produce collagen. Without enough vitamin C, you may not have enough collagen. Without the right amount of collagen, your blood vessels may become more fragile—all of which means you’re more likely to bruise easily or more frequently.
### Vitamin K Deficiency
Vitamin K may not be the vitamin that’s most top-of-mind. But if you’re vitamin K-deficient, your blood might be slower to clot, leading to too many bruises. Vitamin K also strengthens capillary walls, and stronger capillary walls mean they’re less likely to break and leave you with bruises.
### Exploring Symptoms of Vitamin K2 Deficiency
### Other Dietary Supplements
Other over-the-counter dietary supplements, in addition to vitamins C, K, D, and some of the Bs, can lead to frequent bruising. Some botanical supplements, including ginkgo, ginseng, ginger, and garlic, can act as natural blood thinners. That can be beneficial, but it may also make it more difficult for your blood to clot, leading to easier bruising after an acute trauma to your skin (and potential other problems).
Even omega-3 fatty acids, saw palmetto, or vitamin E can contribute to bruising, due to their potential effects on blood platelets.
