Table of contents:
- Is that a bruise?
- Symptoms of bruising to watch out for
- What causes bruises?
- 1. Doing activities that are too strenuous
- 2. Consumption of certain drugs
- 3. Old age
- 4. Lack of blood clotting factors
- 5. Lack of platelets in the blood
- 6. Deficiency of certain vitamins
- How to treat bruises?
Bruises are a condition that can happen to everyone. Either because your leg hit a hard object, or fell while walking. However, sometimes bruises can appear without a definite reason. To find out what causes bruises and how to deal with them, see the full explanation below.
Is that a bruise?
Bruises or bruises are discolored areas of the skin that occur as a result of the rupture of small blood vessels under the skin. The condition of the rupture of blood vessels can result from traumatic injury.
Trauma can be caused by an incision or impact injury to certain parts of the body. This results in bursting of the capillaries, aka tiny blood vessels.
The rupture of blood vessels occurs only on the inside of the skin. Because the skin is not injured, the blood that comes out of the vessels will accumulate under the surface of the skin. As a result, red, purple, or blue bruises appear on the skin.
Other symptoms that accompany this condition are swelling, the skin feels soft, and appears painful. That is why, some people may feel pain when the bruised area is touched. However, it is not uncommon for you to feel nothing when this condition appears.
Over time, these blue or red patches will turn green, brown, or yellowish in color.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are a number of different types of bruising, depending on the shape and cause:
- Hematoma: This condition is slightly different from a regular bruise due to swelling and pain. A hematoma occurs after an injury or impact on the skin. However, sometimes this condition can also occur without a cause.
- Purpura: This condition usually occurs when there is light bleeding under the skin.
- Petechiae: This condition is characterized by small red dots on the skin.
- Senile Purpura: This type of bruise occurs due to thinning, drier, and prone skin due to the aging process.
- Black eye: Exposure to hard objects, especially in the eye area, can cause bruising in one or both eyes, which is known as a black eye.
Symptoms of bruising to watch out for
Some people bruise more easily than other people in general. The following are some of the symptoms of bruising to look out for if you are prone to bruising:
- The bruise is swollen and painful even after a minor injury
- The size of the bruise is very large
- There are a lot of bruises and you don't know why
- Bruises take longer to fade
- Bleeding that is longer than normal after injury or injury
If you experience the symptoms above, consult a doctor immediately to find out the exact cause of the bruising that appears.
What causes bruises?
Most bruising conditions are usually the result of injury or being hit by a hard blunt object. However, it is possible that there are other health conditions that can trigger the appearance of bruises on your skin.
Some of the conditions that can cause you to suddenly have bruises include:
1. Doing activities that are too strenuous
Physical activity that is too extreme or strenuous can cause injury. These injuries can result in fractures, sprains, dislocations, torn muscles, and muscle swelling, which can lead to bruising.
If the bruise is caused by a sprain, you will experience additional symptoms such as swelling, pain, discoloration of the skin, and a feeling of stiffness in the ankles.
This condition is more common in people who are active in strenuous physical activities, such as lifting weights, running, self-defense, and so on. Driving too fast also increases the risk of accidents, so that injuries can occur.
2. Consumption of certain drugs
In addition, several types of drugs can trigger this condition, especially blood thinners and corticosteroids.
Some herbal supplements, such as fish oil, also have a blood thinning effect, so bruising can appear. You may also develop this condition after getting injections or wearing clothes that are too tight.
People who take certain medications are more prone to developing this condition. These drugs include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
In addition, blood thinners such as warfarin, clopidogrel, and heparin also affect the appearance of bruises. Steroids (prednisone) and other drugs used to treat cancer also affect a person's risk of developing this condition.
3. Old age
Older people have thinner skin with age. This condition causes the blood vessels under the skin to be susceptible to damage.
Therefore, if you are in the elderly range, your risk of experiencing this condition is higher, especially for senile purpura type bruises.
4. Lack of blood clotting factors
Another cause of the body bruising more easily is a lack of blood clotting factors, which are proteins that play a role in the blood clotting process. Usually, this condition is found in patients with blood clotting disorders.
Some diseases caused by blood clotting factors that can cause bruising without cause include Von Willebrand's disease and hemophilia.
Von Willebrand belief occurs when the body lacks levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF), which is useful in blood clotting. As a result, your body will be more prone to bruising, nosebleeds, and excessive bleeding when injured.
5. Lack of platelets in the blood
If your body is low on platelets, bruises are also more likely to appear. The reason is, platelets are one of the components in the blood that work together with clotting proteins to clot blood properly.
Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which the number of platelets in your blood is too low. In severe cases, this platelet abnormality causes a red, purple, or blue rash or patches, which are accompanied by red spots, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, vomiting blood, and excessive bleeding during menstruation.
Some of the health conditions and diseases that cause bruising due to decreased platelets include:
- immune thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP)
- certain cancers, such as lymphoma or leukemia
6. Deficiency of certain vitamins
A body that is deficient or deficient in vitamins is also more prone to bleeding disorders and can lead to bruising.
One of the vitamins most needed to maintain blood function is vitamin K. Vitamin K has an important role in the process of blood clotting. Low levels of vitamin K in the body make it easier for bruises to appear.
How to treat bruises?
This condition is actually quite easy to diagnose. Doctors only need to look directly at the part of the skin that has changed color.
If your doctor thinks that the bruise is not too severe, you can perform simple home remedies to help get rid of it.
However, in some cases, the bruise requires further examination to determine what is the main cause, such as a fracture or certain blood disorders.
If there is a possibility of injury or fracture, the doctor will recommend X-rays of the affected area.
If these conditions often occur without a specific cause, the doctor may order a complete blood test to find out if there are bleeding disorders in the body.
Well, if the doctor already knows what the main cause of the bruise is, you will be given the appropriate treatment. However, usually a bruised skin will heal on its own, especially if it occurs as a result of an injury or minor accident.
In addition, your doctor may give you additional medication to help fade the bruise. The following are the treatment options available:
- use of medicines for bruises, such as thrombophobic ointment
- pain relievers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
During the healing process, the affected skin may periodically change color, ranging from blue or red, to yellow, brown, green, until it completely disappears.
If the bruise doesn't go away after a few weeks, or comes back for no apparent reason, consult a doctor immediately. These conditions may require more intensive medical treatment.
