Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAgingVitamin K DeficiencyIron Deficiency AnemiaPlatelet DisordersHemophiliaVon Willebrand DiseaseEhlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)Cushing’s SyndromeMast Cell DisordersMedicationsHerbs and SupplementsPreventionDiagnosisWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Aging
Vitamin K Deficiency
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Platelet Disorders
Hemophilia
Von Willebrand Disease
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
Cushing’s Syndrome
Mast Cell Disorders
Medications
Herbs and Supplements
Prevention
Diagnosis
When to Seek Medical Care
When you bruise easily, it can sometimes seem just as easy to identify the cause, such as advancing age or a blood thinner medication you’re taking. But some people who develop large bruises, multiple bruises at the same time, or bruises (also calledcontusions) that happen without a known cause, may have an underlying medical condition.
Some of these conditions, likeleukemia, can be serious. In other cases, the bruising can be a symptom of easily treated nutrient deficiencies. It’s also possible that bruising can be a sign of abuse. It’s important to see a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and treatment, even if the bruises typically go away in a week or two.
Jena Ardell / Getty Images
Bruising occurs more readily as a person ages, making age the most common cause of easy bruising.Agingskin becomes progressively thinner, making blood vessels more prone to injury.
Medications commonly prescribed to older adults, such asblood thinners, also contribute to easy bruising. Older adults also can be especially vulnerable to physical abuse.
Bruising as a Sign of AbuseFrequent bruises can be a sign of physical abuse, whether in a child or an older person.Either the abuser or the person being abused may say that visible injuries are simply due to easy bruising.
Bruising as a Sign of Abuse
Frequent bruises can be a sign of physical abuse, whether in a child or an older person.Either the abuser or the person being abused may say that visible injuries are simply due to easy bruising.
Avitamin Kdeficiency can lead to easy bruising. This vitamin plays an important role in blood clotting. A deficiency is rare but can occur in newborns, who are typically given a vitamin K injection at birth to prevent a deficiency.
A vitamin K deficiency is seen in multiple conditions including:
Vitamin K is found in foods like soybeans,greens(spinach, kale, collards, etc.), and organ meats. Supplements can also be a source of vitamin K.
Iron deficiency anemiais a frequent cause of easy bruising. This anemia can result from a variety of circumstances, including inadequate iron in your diet or chronic bleeding.Some conditions, such as pregnancy or breastfeeding, can temporarily increase the need for dietary iron.
In addition to bruising, symptoms of iron deficiency anemia can include:
Easy bruising can indicate low iron levels but there are a number of other potential causes. Your healthcare provider can discuss the potential benefits ofiron supplementswith you.
Your body’s ability to form a proper clot can be affected if you don’t have enough platelets (low platelet count) or they aren’t functioning properly. This may result in bleeding and easy bruising.
Low Platelet Count (Thrombocytopenia)
There are numerous causes of alow platelet countdue to health conditions including:
Even a vitamin B12 deficiency can contribute to low platelet counts.
Even with a normal number of platelets, bleeding may occur if these cells don’t function properly.Platelet disordersinterfere with the body’s ability to properly clot blood because there is a lack of proteins in the blood (clotting factors) that help platelets form blood clots.
Symptoms of Platelet Disorders
Symptoms can include:
Hemophiliais a rare genetic bleeding disorder that causes the body to be unable to produce one of the specific clotting factors crucial for clotting. Bleeding continues longer after an injury because the blood cannot clotted properly. When a blood vessel injury occurs uncontrolled bleeding and bruising results.
There are two types of hemophilia:type A(a factor VIII deficiency) andtype B(a factor IX deficiency).
Symptoms of both types include:
The Severity of Hemophilia SymptomsThe symptoms of hemophilia can be mild or severe, depending on how much clotting factor is present in the affected person’s blood. Depending on the severity and type of hemophilia, bleeding may occur spontaneously (without injury) or after trauma or surgery.
The Severity of Hemophilia Symptoms
The symptoms of hemophilia can be mild or severe, depending on how much clotting factor is present in the affected person’s blood. Depending on the severity and type of hemophilia, bleeding may occur spontaneously (without injury) or after trauma or surgery.
Von Willebrand disease (VWD)is a bleeding disorder that occurs when a protein called von Willebrand factor in the blood is lacking or not working properly.VWD is nearly always inherited and lifelong. Even though most people with VWD are born with the condition, it often remains undiagnosed until adulthood, as symptoms tend to be mild.
There are three types of von Willebrand disease. Type 1 is the mildest, type 2, and type 3 which is the most severe.
The most common symptoms of von Willebrand disease in decreasing frequency include:
Ehlers-Danlossyndrome (EDS)refers to a group of geneticconnective tissue disordersthat affects one in 5,000 people worldwide.
EDS is classified into 13subtypes, each with a specific set of symptoms, and each affecting a different part of the body. EDS is typically diagnosed at birth or in early childhood, however, it is possible to develop symptoms as a young adult.
Common symptoms of EDS include:
Other symptoms of Cushing’s include:
People diagnosed with a mast cell disorder also may bruise easily.These immune system disorders, with subtypes that range from the comparatively mild to life-threatening, are genetic and rare.
Withmastocytosis, too many mast cells (a type of white blood cell) grow in the body. The main types include systemic conditions that affect the body, and cutaneous conditions that affect only the skin.
Indolent mastocytosis, a systemic type, is the most common and least severe. The other types can be more severe and include:
Mast cell activation syndromealso can occur, with related symptoms and conditions that include irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, allergic responses, and other variants.
Medications That Can Cause Easy Bruising
Easy bruising can be a side effect of certain medications, such as:
Do Not Stop MedicationsIf you are experiencing easy bruising as a side effect of medication, do not stop taking it without talking to your healthcare provider. In some cases, the risks associated with not taking a medication are more serious than the side effects it causes.
Do Not Stop Medications
If you are experiencing easy bruising as a side effect of medication, do not stop taking it without talking to your healthcare provider. In some cases, the risks associated with not taking a medication are more serious than the side effects it causes.
Herbs and Supplements That Can Cause Easy Bruising
Some herbs and supplements can cause you to bleed more easily, either when used alone or in combination with other medications. It’s possible that this can cause you to bruise more easily as a result of platelet function and other changes.
These herbs and supplements include:
You can take steps to prevent falls and remove hazards that might cause a bruise:
If a medication is the likely cause of easy bruising, your healthcare provider can reevaluate the benefits versus the risks of continuing to take it. Do not stop a medication or change a dosage unless under the advice of a healthcare provider.
To determine the cause of easy bruising, your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and review your symptoms, medical history, and any medications you are taking.
Testing may be necessary, including:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Talk to a healthcare provider if you notice frequent bruising—especially if there doesn’t appear to be an obvious cause. Other signs that you should get treatment for easy bruising include:
Summary
Easy bruising can cause large bruises in multiple areas of the body, often at the same time. The most common causes are aging or a medication side effect. Bruising also can occur due to bleeding disorders or other rare medical conditions. Frequent bruising may also be a sign of physical abuse.
Genetic conditions that cause you to bruise easily are often diagnosed with blood tests. In addition to easy bruising, bleeding disorders can cause frequent nosebleeds, heavy periods, and bleeding that does not stop after 10 minutes. Your healthcare provider can discuss treatment options.
23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Easy Bruising and Bleeding.San Diego State University.Markers of physical abuse.Stanford Medicine.Child abuse: bruising.National Institutes of Health.Vitamin K.Estes-Doetsch H, Roberts K, Newkirk M, Parker A.Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency among adults with chronic pancreatitis: Is routine monitoring necessary for all patients?Nutr Clin Pract. 2024 Feb;39(1):129-140. doi:10.1002/ncp.11082Deloughery TG.Iron deficiency anemia.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):319-332. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.004Mahadea D, Adamczewska E, Ratajczak AE, et al.Iron Deficiency Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases-A Narrative Review.Nutrients. 2021;13(11):4008. Published 2021 Nov 10. doi:10.3390/nu13114008MedlinePlus.Thrombocytopenia.MedlinePlus.Congenital platelet function defects.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What are bleeding disorders?American Society of Hematology.Bleeding disorders.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is hemophilia?MedlinePlus.Hemophilia.Weyand AC, Flood VH.Von Willebrand disease: current status of diagnosis and management.Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2021;35(6):1085-1101. doi:10.1016/j.hoc.2021.07.004MedlinePlus.Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Cushing’s syndrome.Seidel H, Hertfelder HJ, Oldenburg J, Kruppenbacher JP, Afrin LB, Molderings GJ.Effects of Primary Mast Cell Disease on Hemostasis and Erythropoiesis.Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Aug 20;22(16):8960. doi:10.3390/ijms22168960MedlinePlus.Systemic mastocytosis.Harvard Health Publishing.Are you taking too much anti-inflammatory medication?University of Iowa Health Care.Possible warfarin side effects and signs of a blood clot.Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center.Prednisone.Abebe W.Review of herbal medications with the potential to cause bleeding: dental implications, and risk prediction and prevention avenues.EPMA J. 2019 Jan 8;10(1):51-64. doi:10.1007/s13167-018-0158-2National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bleeding disorders diagnosis.
23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Easy Bruising and Bleeding.San Diego State University.Markers of physical abuse.Stanford Medicine.Child abuse: bruising.National Institutes of Health.Vitamin K.Estes-Doetsch H, Roberts K, Newkirk M, Parker A.Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency among adults with chronic pancreatitis: Is routine monitoring necessary for all patients?Nutr Clin Pract. 2024 Feb;39(1):129-140. doi:10.1002/ncp.11082Deloughery TG.Iron deficiency anemia.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):319-332. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.004Mahadea D, Adamczewska E, Ratajczak AE, et al.Iron Deficiency Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases-A Narrative Review.Nutrients. 2021;13(11):4008. Published 2021 Nov 10. doi:10.3390/nu13114008MedlinePlus.Thrombocytopenia.MedlinePlus.Congenital platelet function defects.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What are bleeding disorders?American Society of Hematology.Bleeding disorders.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is hemophilia?MedlinePlus.Hemophilia.Weyand AC, Flood VH.Von Willebrand disease: current status of diagnosis and management.Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2021;35(6):1085-1101. doi:10.1016/j.hoc.2021.07.004MedlinePlus.Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Cushing’s syndrome.Seidel H, Hertfelder HJ, Oldenburg J, Kruppenbacher JP, Afrin LB, Molderings GJ.Effects of Primary Mast Cell Disease on Hemostasis and Erythropoiesis.Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Aug 20;22(16):8960. doi:10.3390/ijms22168960MedlinePlus.Systemic mastocytosis.Harvard Health Publishing.Are you taking too much anti-inflammatory medication?University of Iowa Health Care.Possible warfarin side effects and signs of a blood clot.Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center.Prednisone.Abebe W.Review of herbal medications with the potential to cause bleeding: dental implications, and risk prediction and prevention avenues.EPMA J. 2019 Jan 8;10(1):51-64. doi:10.1007/s13167-018-0158-2National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bleeding disorders diagnosis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Easy Bruising and Bleeding.San Diego State University.Markers of physical abuse.Stanford Medicine.Child abuse: bruising.National Institutes of Health.Vitamin K.Estes-Doetsch H, Roberts K, Newkirk M, Parker A.Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency among adults with chronic pancreatitis: Is routine monitoring necessary for all patients?Nutr Clin Pract. 2024 Feb;39(1):129-140. doi:10.1002/ncp.11082Deloughery TG.Iron deficiency anemia.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):319-332. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.004Mahadea D, Adamczewska E, Ratajczak AE, et al.Iron Deficiency Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases-A Narrative Review.Nutrients. 2021;13(11):4008. Published 2021 Nov 10. doi:10.3390/nu13114008MedlinePlus.Thrombocytopenia.MedlinePlus.Congenital platelet function defects.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What are bleeding disorders?American Society of Hematology.Bleeding disorders.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is hemophilia?MedlinePlus.Hemophilia.Weyand AC, Flood VH.Von Willebrand disease: current status of diagnosis and management.Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2021;35(6):1085-1101. doi:10.1016/j.hoc.2021.07.004MedlinePlus.Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Cushing’s syndrome.Seidel H, Hertfelder HJ, Oldenburg J, Kruppenbacher JP, Afrin LB, Molderings GJ.Effects of Primary Mast Cell Disease on Hemostasis and Erythropoiesis.Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Aug 20;22(16):8960. doi:10.3390/ijms22168960MedlinePlus.Systemic mastocytosis.Harvard Health Publishing.Are you taking too much anti-inflammatory medication?University of Iowa Health Care.Possible warfarin side effects and signs of a blood clot.Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center.Prednisone.Abebe W.Review of herbal medications with the potential to cause bleeding: dental implications, and risk prediction and prevention avenues.EPMA J. 2019 Jan 8;10(1):51-64. doi:10.1007/s13167-018-0158-2National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bleeding disorders diagnosis.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Easy Bruising and Bleeding.
San Diego State University.Markers of physical abuse.
Stanford Medicine.Child abuse: bruising.
National Institutes of Health.Vitamin K.
Estes-Doetsch H, Roberts K, Newkirk M, Parker A.Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency among adults with chronic pancreatitis: Is routine monitoring necessary for all patients?Nutr Clin Pract. 2024 Feb;39(1):129-140. doi:10.1002/ncp.11082
Deloughery TG.Iron deficiency anemia.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):319-332. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.004
Mahadea D, Adamczewska E, Ratajczak AE, et al.Iron Deficiency Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases-A Narrative Review.Nutrients. 2021;13(11):4008. Published 2021 Nov 10. doi:10.3390/nu13114008
MedlinePlus.Thrombocytopenia.
MedlinePlus.Congenital platelet function defects.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What are bleeding disorders?
American Society of Hematology.Bleeding disorders.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is hemophilia?
MedlinePlus.Hemophilia.
Weyand AC, Flood VH.Von Willebrand disease: current status of diagnosis and management.Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2021;35(6):1085-1101. doi:10.1016/j.hoc.2021.07.004
MedlinePlus.Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Cushing’s syndrome.
Seidel H, Hertfelder HJ, Oldenburg J, Kruppenbacher JP, Afrin LB, Molderings GJ.Effects of Primary Mast Cell Disease on Hemostasis and Erythropoiesis.Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Aug 20;22(16):8960. doi:10.3390/ijms22168960
MedlinePlus.Systemic mastocytosis.
Harvard Health Publishing.Are you taking too much anti-inflammatory medication?
University of Iowa Health Care.Possible warfarin side effects and signs of a blood clot.
Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center.Prednisone.
Abebe W.Review of herbal medications with the potential to cause bleeding: dental implications, and risk prediction and prevention avenues.EPMA J. 2019 Jan 8;10(1):51-64. doi:10.1007/s13167-018-0158-2
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bleeding disorders diagnosis.
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