What causes bruises that won’t fade. How long should a bruise typically last. When should you be concerned about a persistent bruise. What treatments can help fade bruises faster. Which medications and conditions can lead to easy bruising.

Understanding Bruises: Types and Formation

A bruise, also known as a contusion, is a common injury that occurs when small blood vessels beneath the skin’s surface break, causing blood to leak into surrounding tissues. While bruises are generally harmless and heal on their own, persistent bruising can sometimes indicate underlying health issues.

There are several types of bruises:

• Ecchymosis: A flat bruise
• Hematoma: A raised bruise with swelling
• Petechiae: Tiny purple or red spots that resemble a bruise when clustered
• Purpura: Bruise-like marks that occur without injury, often due to blood-clotting disorders

How do bruises form?

Bruises form when an impact or injury causes blood vessels to rupture. As blood leaks into the surrounding tissues, it creates the characteristic discoloration we associate with bruises. Blood platelets then form a clot to stop the bleeding, initiating the healing process.

Common Causes of Bruising

Most bruises result from everyday accidents and activities. Some common causes include:

• Falls
• Bumping into objects
• Dropping heavy items on extremities
• Muscle strains or sprains
• Bone fractures

As we age, our skin becomes thinner and we lose fat beneath the skin, making us more susceptible to bruising. Certain medications can also increase the likelihood of bruising, such as:

• Antibiotics
• Antiplatelet agents
• Aspirin
• Blood thinners (anticoagulants)
• Certain dietary supplements (e.g., ginkgo)
• Topical and systemic corticosteroids

Medical Conditions Associated with Increased Bruising

While most bruises are harmless, some medical conditions can lead to increased bruising or bruises that won’t fade. These include:

• Vitamin deficiencies (B-12, C, K, or folic acid)
• Hemophilia
• Leukemia
• Liver disease
• Sepsis or other infections
• Thrombocytopenia
• Vasculitis
• Von Willebrand disease

Can nutrient deficiencies cause persistent bruising?

Yes, deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals can contribute to easy bruising and slower healing. Vitamin C, for example, plays a crucial role in collagen production, which helps strengthen blood vessels. A lack of vitamin K can affect blood clotting, potentially leading to more frequent and longer-lasting bruises.

The Bruise Healing Process: Colors and Timeline

A typical bruise takes about two to three weeks to heal completely. During this time, it goes through several color changes that reflect the healing process:

1. Red (immediately after injury): Blood begins to pool beneath the skin
2. Black, blue, or purple (within 24 hours): More blood accumulates in the area
3. Yellow or green (2-3 days): The body starts reabsorbing the blood
4. Light brown (10-14 days): The bruise begins to fade

It’s worth noting that bruises may clear from the center outward, and the healing process can vary from person to person. Those with darker skin tones may experience darker bruising.

Why do bruises change color as they heal?

The color changes in a bruise reflect the breakdown of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. As the body breaks down and reabsorbs the leaked blood, different pigments are produced, resulting in the characteristic color transitions from dark purple to green to yellow.

When to Be Concerned About a Bruise That Won’t Fade

While most bruises heal within two weeks, some may persist longer or indicate an underlying health issue. Here are some situations that warrant medical attention:

Frequent bruising

Easy or frequent bruising could indicate low or abnormal blood platelets or blood-clotting problems. This may be due to an underlying condition or a side effect of medication. If you suspect a prescribed medication is causing excessive bruising, consult your doctor before discontinuing use.

Bruises that won’t heal on legs

Persistent bruising or petechiae on the legs or calves may be due to a platelet shortage. Conditions that can cause this include:

• Pregnancy
• Certain types of anemia
• Enlarged spleen
• Heavy alcohol use
• Bacteria in the blood
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Viral infections (e.g., hepatitis C, HIV)
• Leukemia
• Lupus
• Myelodysplastic syndromes

Chest bruises that won’t go away

A persistent chest bruise could indicate:

• Fractured or broken ribs
• Fractured sternum
• Injury to the chest wall

Chest bruising can take up to six weeks to heal and may be accompanied by pain and discomfort. Always consult a doctor after a chest injury to rule out complications such as infection or breathing difficulties.

Bruising and Cancer: When to Seek Medical Attention

In rare cases, persistent bruising can be a sign of more serious conditions, including certain types of cancer.

Can leukemia cause bruising that won’t heal?

Yes, frequent bruising or bruises that won’t heal can be a symptom of leukemia. Other signs to watch for include:

• Fatigue
• Pale skin
• Frequent bleeding

Is there a link between breast cancer and bruising?

Inflammatory breast cancer can sometimes resemble bruising on the breast. The affected area may feel tender and warm, and unlike other types of breast cancer, it may not involve lumps. If you notice these symptoms, consult your doctor promptly.

It’s important to note that cancer treatments themselves can sometimes lead to bruising and bleeding problems due to:

• Antibiotics
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Poor nutrition
• Radiation to blood-forming bones

Treatment Options for Persistent Bruises

While most bruises heal on their own, there are several treatments that can help speed up the healing process or alleviate discomfort:

Home remedies

• Apply a cold compress immediately after injury to reduce swelling
• Elevate the affected area to minimize blood flow and reduce bruising
• Use arnica gel or cream, which may help reduce inflammation and bruising
• Apply a warm compress after 48 hours to promote blood circulation and healing

Medical treatments

For persistent or concerning bruises, a doctor may recommend:

• Blood tests to check platelet levels or measure blood-clotting time
• Adjusting medications that may be contributing to easy bruising
• Treatment for underlying conditions causing frequent or persistent bruising
• In severe cases, platelet transfusions or other medical interventions may be necessary

Can dietary changes help prevent bruising?

Maintaining a balanced diet rich in vitamins C and K can support healthy blood vessels and proper clotting. Foods high in these vitamins include:

• Citrus fruits
• Leafy green vegetables
• Berries
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts

Prevention Strategies for Reducing Bruising

While it’s impossible to prevent all bruising, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk:

• Wear protective gear during sports and physical activities
• Remove tripping hazards from your home
• Ensure adequate lighting to prevent accidental bumps and falls
• Maintain a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals
• Stay hydrated to support overall skin health
• Exercise regularly to improve circulation and strengthen blood vessels

How can you protect aging skin from bruising?

As we age, our skin becomes more susceptible to bruising. To protect aging skin:

• Use sunscreen regularly to prevent further skin thinning
• Moisturize daily to maintain skin elasticity
• Consider taking vitamin supplements under a doctor’s guidance
• Be mindful of potential hazards and take extra care to avoid bumps and falls

By understanding the causes of bruising, recognizing when a bruise may be cause for concern, and taking steps to prevent and treat bruises, you can better manage this common occurrence. Remember, while most bruises are harmless, persistent or unexplained bruising should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional to rule out underlying health issues.

Causes, Concerns, Treatment & More

A bruise, or contusion, is an injury to skin or tissues just under your skin. Everyone bruises occasionally. There’s usually no reason for concern.

Keep reading to learn more about what causes bruising, the color-coded healing process, and warning signs that you need to see a doctor.

You get a bruise when a small blood vessel just under the skin’s surface breaks. The skin isn’t broken, so blood leaks into tissues. Blood platelets then form a clot to plug the leak.

Here are the different types of bruises:

• Ecchymosis is a flat bruise.
• Hematoma is a raised bruise with swelling.
• Petechiae are tiny purple or red spots that look like a bruise when clustered together.
• Purpura occur without injury, likely due to a blood-clotting disorder.

Everyday things that cause bruising include:

• falling
• bumping into something
• dropping something on your hand or foot
• muscle strain, sprain, or bone fracture

As you age, you tend to have thinner skin and less fat under the skin. This can make you bruise more easily.

Certain medications can make it easier to bruise, too, such as:

• antibiotics
• antiplatelet agents
• aspirin (Bayer, Bufferin)
• blood thinners (anticoagulants)
• certain dietary supplements, such as ginkgo
• topical and systemic corticosteroids

Some conditions that can lead to bruising are:

• deficiency of vitamins B-12, C, K, or folic acid
• hemophilia
• leukemia
• liver disease
• sepsis or other infections
• thrombocytopenia
• vasculitis
• von Willebrand disease

It takes a few weeks for a bruise to completely disappear. The color transition looks something like this:

• Red. Immediately following trauma, you’ll probably notice a red mark that becomes more apparent as blood begins to leak.
• Black, blue, or purple. Within 24 hours or so, the bruise turns black, blue, or dark purple as more blood pools in the area.
• Yellow or green. Within 2 to 3 days, your body starts reabsorbing the blood. There’s a greater concentration of yellow or green.
• Light brown. By day 10 to 14, the bruise fades to light brown before disappearing completely.

A bruise may clear in the center before the outer edges. The coloring and healing process vary from person to person. If you have darker skin, you may also have darker bruises.

If there’s no sign of improvement after 2 weeks, it could be a sign of an underlying health condition. The location of the bruising, plus other symptoms, can provide your doctor with diagnostic clues.

A bruise changes color and shrinks as it heals. If this doesn’t happen within 2 weeks, there may be something else going on.

Frequent bruising

Easy or frequent bruising could be the result of low or abnormal blood platelets or blood-clotting problems. This could be due to an underlying condition.

It could also be a side effect of medication. For example, anticoagulants, antiplatelets, and aspirin interfere with blood clotting. Corticosteroids can thin the skin. Even dietary supplements, such as gingko, can thin your blood.

If you suspect a prescribed medication is the cause, don’t stop taking it. Instead, ask your doctor if there’s an alternative medication.

Your doctor can also order blood tests to check platelet levels or measure your blood-clotting time.

Bruise that won’t go away on leg

If you have petechiae or bruising on the legs or calves that won’t heal, it could be due to a shortage of platelets. Some conditions that can cause this are:

• pregnancy
• certain types of anemia
• enlarged spleen
• heavy alcohol use
• bacteria in the blood
• hemolytic uremic syndrome
• hepatitis C, HIV, or other viruses
• leukemia
• lupus
• myelodysplastic syndromes

Certain medications can also affect platelet counts, such as:

• anticonvulsants
• chemotherapy drugs
• heparin
• quinine
• sulfa-containing antibiotics

Bruise that won’t go away on chest

A chest bruise that won’t go away could be due to:

• fractured or broken ribs
• fractured sternum
• injury to the chest wall

Chest bruising can take up to 6 weeks to heal. You may also have some pain and discomfort.

Always see your doctor after a chest injury. Complications can include infection and difficulty breathing.

Is it cancer?

Frequent bruising or bruising that won’t heal can be a sign of leukemia. Other symptoms of leukemia include:

• fatigue
• pale skin
• frequent bleeding

Inflammatory breast cancer can look like bruising on the breast. Your breast may also feel tender and warm. Inflammatory breast cancer may not involve lumps like other types of breast cancer.

If you have signs and symptoms of leukemia or inflammatory breast cancer, see your doctor right away.

You can also develop bruising and bleeding problems during cancer treatment due to:

• antibiotics
• chemotherapy drugs
• poor nutrition
• radiation to blood-forming bones

You probably don’t need to see a doctor for an everyday bruise. Of course, seek immediate treatment if it’s possible that you’ve fractured a bone. An X-ray can confirm or rule this out.

Also see your doctor for these symptoms:

• painful swelling around the bruise
• continuing pain 3 days after a minor injury
• tendency to bruise for no apparent reason
• history of significant bleeding
• abnormal bleeding from the gums or nose
• fatigue, pale skin, loss of appetite, or unexplained weight loss

Be prepared to provide your personal and family health history as well as a list of medications and dietary supplements.

Blood tests can check platelet levels and measure blood-clotting time. Depending on your symptoms, you may also need an X-ray or other imaging tests to check for fractured bones. Initial tests plus a physical exam will inform the next steps.

If you have swelling or pain during the healing process, you can give the RICE method a try:

• Rest the bruised area.
• Ice the bruise for 10 to 20 minutes. Repeat a few times per day for up to 48 hours. Don’t place the ice directly on your skin. Wrap it in a towel first.
• Compress the area if there’s swelling, but take care not to cut off your circulation.
• Elevate the injury to ease pain and swelling.

Aspirin can cause more bleeding, so choose acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain. You can also try a few home remedies:

• Aloe vera. Pure aloe vera applied directly to the skin has been shown to help with pain and inflammation.
• Arnica ointment or gel. A 2010 study found that this herb could reduce inflammation and swelling when applied a few times daily.
• Vitamin K cream. A small 2002 study found that this cream could reduce the severity of bruising when used at least twice per day.

If your injury isn’t serious, or there’s no underlying disease, no medical treatment is necessary.

Bruises aren’t usually serious, and they often clear up without treatment. If you have a bruise that doesn’t go away after 2 weeks, you bruise for no apparent reason, or you have additional symptoms, see your doctor for diagnosis. The sooner you get treatment, the sooner you’ll start feeling better.

Causes, Concerns, Treatment & More

A bruise, or contusion, is an injury to skin or tissues just under your skin. Everyone bruises occasionally. There’s usually no reason for concern.

Keep reading to learn more about what causes bruising, the color-coded healing process, and warning signs that you need to see a doctor.

You get a bruise when a small blood vessel just under the skin’s surface breaks. The skin isn’t broken, so blood leaks into tissues. Blood platelets then form a clot to plug the leak.

Here are the different types of bruises:

• Ecchymosis is a flat bruise.
• Hematoma is a raised bruise with swelling.
• Petechiae are tiny purple or red spots that look like a bruise when clustered together.
• Purpura occur without injury, likely due to a blood-clotting disorder.

Everyday things that cause bruising include:

• falling
• bumping into something
• dropping something on your hand or foot
• muscle strain, sprain, or bone fracture

As you age, you tend to have thinner skin and less fat under the skin. This can make you bruise more easily.

Certain medications can make it easier to bruise, too, such as:

• antibiotics
• antiplatelet agents
• aspirin (Bayer, Bufferin)
• blood thinners (anticoagulants)
• certain dietary supplements, such as ginkgo
• topical and systemic corticosteroids

Some conditions that can lead to bruising are:

• deficiency of vitamins B-12, C, K, or folic acid
• hemophilia
• leukemia
• liver disease
• sepsis or other infections
• thrombocytopenia
• vasculitis
• von Willebrand disease

It takes a few weeks for a bruise to completely disappear. The color transition looks something like this:

• Red. Immediately following trauma, you’ll probably notice a red mark that becomes more apparent as blood begins to leak.
• Black, blue, or purple. Within 24 hours or so, the bruise turns black, blue, or dark purple as more blood pools in the area.
• Yellow or green. Within 2 to 3 days, your body starts reabsorbing the blood. There’s a greater concentration of yellow or green.
• Light brown. By day 10 to 14, the bruise fades to light brown before disappearing completely.

A bruise may clear in the center before the outer edges. The coloring and healing process vary from person to person. If you have darker skin, you may also have darker bruises.

If there’s no sign of improvement after 2 weeks, it could be a sign of an underlying health condition. The location of the bruising, plus other symptoms, can provide your doctor with diagnostic clues.

A bruise changes color and shrinks as it heals. If this doesn’t happen within 2 weeks, there may be something else going on.

Frequent bruising

Easy or frequent bruising could be the result of low or abnormal blood platelets or blood-clotting problems. This could be due to an underlying condition.

It could also be a side effect of medication. For example, anticoagulants, antiplatelets, and aspirin interfere with blood clotting. Corticosteroids can thin the skin. Even dietary supplements, such as gingko, can thin your blood.

If you suspect a prescribed medication is the cause, don’t stop taking it. Instead, ask your doctor if there’s an alternative medication.

Your doctor can also order blood tests to check platelet levels or measure your blood-clotting time.

Bruise that won’t go away on leg

If you have petechiae or bruising on the legs or calves that won’t heal, it could be due to a shortage of platelets. Some conditions that can cause this are:

• pregnancy
• certain types of anemia
• enlarged spleen
• heavy alcohol use
• bacteria in the blood
• hemolytic uremic syndrome
• hepatitis C, HIV, or other viruses
• leukemia
• lupus
• myelodysplastic syndromes

Certain medications can also affect platelet counts, such as:

• anticonvulsants
• chemotherapy drugs
• heparin
• quinine
• sulfa-containing antibiotics

Bruise that won’t go away on chest

A chest bruise that won’t go away could be due to:

• fractured or broken ribs
• fractured sternum
• injury to the chest wall

Chest bruising can take up to 6 weeks to heal. You may also have some pain and discomfort.

Always see your doctor after a chest injury. Complications can include infection and difficulty breathing.

Is it cancer?

Frequent bruising or bruising that won’t heal can be a sign of leukemia. Other symptoms of leukemia include:

• fatigue
• pale skin
• frequent bleeding

Inflammatory breast cancer can look like bruising on the breast. Your breast may also feel tender and warm. Inflammatory breast cancer may not involve lumps like other types of breast cancer.

If you have signs and symptoms of leukemia or inflammatory breast cancer, see your doctor right away.

You can also develop bruising and bleeding problems during cancer treatment due to:

• antibiotics
• chemotherapy drugs
• poor nutrition
• radiation to blood-forming bones

You probably don’t need to see a doctor for an everyday bruise. Of course, seek immediate treatment if it’s possible that you’ve fractured a bone. An X-ray can confirm or rule this out.

Also see your doctor for these symptoms:

• painful swelling around the bruise
• continuing pain 3 days after a minor injury
• tendency to bruise for no apparent reason
• history of significant bleeding
• abnormal bleeding from the gums or nose
• fatigue, pale skin, loss of appetite, or unexplained weight loss

Be prepared to provide your personal and family health history as well as a list of medications and dietary supplements.

Blood tests can check platelet levels and measure blood-clotting time. Depending on your symptoms, you may also need an X-ray or other imaging tests to check for fractured bones. Initial tests plus a physical exam will inform the next steps.

If you have swelling or pain during the healing process, you can give the RICE method a try:

• Rest the bruised area.
• Ice the bruise for 10 to 20 minutes. Repeat a few times per day for up to 48 hours. Don’t place the ice directly on your skin. Wrap it in a towel first.
• Compress the area if there’s swelling, but take care not to cut off your circulation.
• Elevate the injury to ease pain and swelling.

Aspirin can cause more bleeding, so choose acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain. You can also try a few home remedies:

• Aloe vera. Pure aloe vera applied directly to the skin has been shown to help with pain and inflammation.
• Arnica ointment or gel. A 2010 study found that this herb could reduce inflammation and swelling when applied a few times daily.
• Vitamin K cream. A small 2002 study found that this cream could reduce the severity of bruising when used at least twice per day.

If your injury isn’t serious, or there’s no underlying disease, no medical treatment is necessary.

Bruises aren’t usually serious, and they often clear up without treatment. If you have a bruise that doesn’t go away after 2 weeks, you bruise for no apparent reason, or you have additional symptoms, see your doctor for diagnosis. The sooner you get treatment, the sooner you’ll start feeling better.

step-by-step instructions with expert advice

Hitting a coffee table, slipping on ice… We all know how bruises form and bruises are formed. What causes bruises and how to eliminate them faster?

A bruise is an injury to the small blood vessels under the skin. If the skin itself is not damaged, blood accumulates under it and begins to clot, appearing as colored spots. Along with bruises, bruises of soft tissues, muscles and bones are possible. The more serious the injury, the more bruising at the site of injury. Bruises are usually more swollen and painful to the touch than minor bruises on the skin.

You may not know, but bruises have their own classification. Two main types can be distinguished:

• Ecchymosis. Such a bruise is formed when blood from ruptured blood vessels seeps into the upper layers of the skin. A bruise under the eye is a typical example.
• Hematomas. They develop when blood thickens and forms a lump under the skin. The site of injury may be swollen and painful. Head injuries often cause hematomas because the scalp contains many blood vessels that are prone to rupture. A typical example is a bump on the forehead.

By the way, any injury to the head or near the eye can be serious and should be seen by a doctor.

A bruise is usually the result of an external force, such as being struck by something, but there are other causes, including certain medical conditions, such as kidney or liver damage. Bruising can be caused by medical procedures or medications, including the anticoagulant warfarin. Bruising also contributes to the thinning of the skin associated with aging.

Most bruises are minor and heal within a couple of weeks. Do not be intimidated by the many shades of bruising that may appear during its transformation. This is part of the healing process – the body breaks down the blood into its constituents. Here’s what to expect:

• after an injury, a bruise is usually red or purple;
• within a few days, this area may turn black, blue or purple;
• after 5-10 days the bruise is likely to become yellowish or greenish;
• after 10-14 days, it will reach the final stage of healing – the bruise usually turns brown and brightens until it completely disappears.

But two weeks is a long time! Especially if there is a bruise on the face. To speed up healing, minimize swelling, discoloration and pain, you need to do a few simple manipulations immediately after the injury:

1. Apply a cold compress to the injury site, for example, any frozen product wrapped in a towel, but no more than 20 minutes (a cold compress left for a long time can cause frostbite). Then take it off and put it back on after 30 minutes. Do this as often as possible for two days.

2. After two days, apply a heating pad or warm compress to the bruised area. For leg or arm injuries, raise the limb above the level of the heart so that blood and fluids do not accumulate in the injured area.

3. Use over-the-counter pain relievers.

4. Lightly massage the affected area to improve blood flow.

These steps will help reduce the bruise, but it will still show up. How long it takes to heal depends entirely on the sensitivity of your skin. But there are home remedies that are safe to treat and can help get rid of bruises faster.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce pain. Aloe vera gel applied to the site of the bruise speeds up the healing process. It also helps reduce blood clotting.

Pineapple

This fruit contains bromelain, which is a mixture of enzymes and has anti-inflammatory properties. Bromelain helps heal bruising and swelling when applied to the skin. Eating fresh pineapple also helps to get rid of the bruise faster. But if you are allergic to pineapple, you should not use this option.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory properties and helps with swelling. Mix it with water in a ratio of 2:1, soak a clean cloth in the solution and apply it to the bruise for 10-15 minutes.

Lavender oil

This oil is suitable for all skin types and can be safely used directly on the affected area. Take cold water and add 2-3 drops of lavender oil to it. Dampen a clean cloth with water and wipe the bruised area.

Bruise Diet

Some foods also affect how long bruises take to heal. They will help strengthen blood vessels and reduce the severity of bruising. If you are injured, include in your diet:

• citrus fruits – oranges, tangerines and lemons;
• foods rich in vitamin K – spinach, broccoli, lettuce, soybeans, strawberries and blueberries;
• fruits with natural quercetin – apples, onions, cherries and leafy green vegetables;
• lean protein – fish, poultry, tofu, and lean meats.

Popular Questions and Answers

We asked a hematologist Ksenia Bocharova, a hematologist, about the treatment of bruises.

How long can a bruise last?

A bruise is a type of hematoma. In the first hours, we see nothing but a slight swelling and slight redness at the site of injury. The bruise itself begins to develop after a day. On average, any bruise appears and disappears in about two weeks.

Why is a bruise dangerous?

The bruise itself is not dangerous. And it can’t be treated at all. If the bruise is on the face, it can simply be masked, for example, with foundation.

When should you see a doctor about a bruise?

If a person immediately develops bruises at the slightest touch to hard objects (wardrobe, chair), you need to see a doctor. Most likely we are talking about some kind of hematological disease – thrombophilia, thrombocytopathy, pathology of the vascular wall. Such symptoms should not be ignored.

Bruising may occur after taking anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents. They increase the tendency to bruise, especially when overdosed. In this case, it is also worth visiting a doctor and discussing treatment with him.

It is important that the doctor see a patient who bruises spontaneously. For example, he lies, sits, does nothing, and then once – a hemorrhage appears before his eyes. These can be cases of a rare pathology, for example, hemophilia, when, with the slightest injury, large bruises, large bruises appear on the body, tense and painful, which compress the surrounding tissues.

Is it possible to get rid of a bruise using traditional methods?

Yes, there are folk remedies that speed up the development of a bruise, and there are three of them in color:

● purple-blue;
● blue-red;
● yellow-green.

Of the medicines available at the pharmacy, these are ointments containing heparin. They accelerate the development of a bruise, and these three stages will not pass in two weeks, but a little faster.

Is it possible to get rid of a bruise in one day?

Three stages have not been canceled, and the bruise will go through them anyway. And, unfortunately, it is impossible to get rid of a bruise in one day, you can only speed up the process a little so that the stages change each other faster, the bruise turns yellow-green and disappears.

Causes of sudden bruising in the elderly

This problem is a symptom of a malfunction of the cardiovascular system. Therefore, it is not the elimination of bruises that is required, but the diagnosis of the state of the body, followed by the appointment of the correct treatment.

Where did the bruise for no reason on the skin of an elderly person come from?

If it is not the first time you have noticed bruises on an elderly person from your family, you should seriously think about it. Sometimes relatives attribute this to the clumsiness that has appeared, believing that he simply hits objects. And since some people become secretive in old age and try not to attract too much attention, “not to be a burden,” they don’t complain about such a problem – they just keep silent.

In the normal state of the body, a bruise on the skin of a person is formed when bruises, injuries, very strong pressure or pressing on a skin area. At this moment, the capillaries break, and the blood that comes out of them gradually becomes bluish, yellowish or purple from the destruction of hemoglobin. Such cases are not a problem: the bruise will gradually disappear on its own, you can also speed up this process with the help of pharmacy products. If an elderly person has a hematoma without injuries and bruises, or simply from touch, this is a reason to visit a doctor.

Causes of bruising

There are several possible causes of such bruising in “aged” people:

1. Failure of the cardiovascular system. In this case, as a rule, hematomas occur against the background of already existing diseases, for example, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, hypertension. Sudden causeless bruising may indicate that the condition of the body is deteriorating.
2. Rendu-Osler disease, one of the symptoms of which is a decrease in the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels. They burst easily, which is why hematomas occur.
3. Hormonal disorders.
4. Blood diseases.
5. Oncology.
6. Avitaminosis.
7. The use of drugs that affect blood clotting.
8. Varicose veins.
9. Insufficient number of platelets in the blood.

Among the relatively harmless causes is the natural thinning of the fat layer and skin with age. Nature’s inherent protection against impact becomes less effective.

There are some other reasons, such as poor blood clotting, but in this case, the appearance of sudden hematomas is not related to age and usually haunts a person for life. If 9 appear0143 blue spots on the skin of an elderly person , it is important to find out exactly why.

Why is it so important to diagnose the functioning of the body when bruising occurs?

Of particular danger is the first of the listed reasons – disturbances in the work of the cardiovascular system. There are many diseases of this type, and some of them may be asymptomatic. There is another situation: an elderly person, seeing that many of his peers suffer from cardiovascular diseases, believes that pain in the chest area is something normal for his age, and is in no hurry to see a doctor.

In fact, all these diseases tend to progress, and many of them lead to death if left untreated. Blue spots on the skin may indicate that the walls of blood vessels are thinning and losing elasticity. Any pressure surges are reflected by the appearance of hematomas.

However, many older people have deposits in the form of atherosclerotic plaques. They exacerbate the situation by a sharp change in the speed of blood flow. The gaps are getting bigger. Vessels over time can become thinner not only in the arms or legs. Ultimately, the problem gets wider: possible stroke of the brain or myocardial infarction .

It is important to protect the elderly against this. Modern medicine opens up great opportunities for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases or the correction of the patient’s condition.