If you notice that you bruise easily after one night of drinking, it may not indicate anything serious. Drug rehabilitation But if you bruise more easily all the time after chronic heavy drinking, it may be a sign of significant health concern. If you’re on a blood-thinning medication to treat heart arrhythmia or blood clots, that’s a simple explanation for unexplained bruising, says Dr. Fisher. But you may also be taking other drugs that have a blood-thinning effect without even realizing it, like ibuprofen or aspirin. These reduce your blood’s ability to clot properly, so bleeding due to capillary (blood vessel) damage may go on for longer than usual, allowing blood to leak and form a bruise. Some bleeding disorders can cause easy bruising, and those that seem speckled with purple splotches on a regular basis may think they are experiencing symptoms of a disorder like this.
When You Should See a Doctor About Bruising Easily
- We can’t then get frustrated with those people because we built out a cultural norm around it,” he says.
- People with diabetes are more likely to experience both general skin issues, such as dry skin and fungal infections, and more specific conditions, such as “shin spots” or diabetic dermopathy.
- Most bruises form when small blood vessels (capillaries) near the skin’s surface are broken by the impact of a blow or injury — often on the arms or legs.
It can be hard to think through an alcoholism problem on your own, but with the help of a therapist and addiction treatment professionals, you can gain control. Alcohol can change circuitry in the brain, and those changes can make it difficult for you to curb an alcohol habit. You may attempt to commit to cut back on your drinking but may find that you can’t resist the temptation to drink for more than a day or two. The brain changes brought about by alcohol could make clear thinking difficult, and that could make it hard for you to stick to your commitments even if you want does drinking make you bruise easier to do so. All of these impairments can lead to more morning after bruises, but they can also make driving extremely dangerous.
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Petechiae may not be visible on dark skin, but a person may see them on areas with lower levels of melanin, such as the forearms. The symptoms will be present from birth and can affect babies and young children. “It’s addictive for people … and then it’s causing problems. We can’t then get frustrated with those people because we built out a cultural norm around it,” he says.
Diabetes and Easy Bruising
- But if you experience excessive bruising, you should have a doctor evaluate you to rule out causes such as medication, illness and bleeding disorders.
- Most people who drink heavily will progress through the stages of liver damage described above over time.
- These are what produce normal blood coagulation, this he said can lead to large bruises from small bumps.
- Even small amounts of alcohol can affect your cognitive functioning enough to make driving dangerous.
If you’re a woman, you’ve probably experienced the joy of spying a particularly colorful contusion on your arm or leg while having zero clues about how it got there. You are more likely to bruise than your male counterparts. You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Type 1 is the mildest, type 2, and type 3 which is the most severe. Even a vitamin B12 deficiency can contribute to low platelet counts.
- One of the minor side effects of diabetes — both type 1 and type 2 — is a tendency for bruises to form easily and heal slowly.
- Almost any medication has the potential to change the way platelets work in the body, López says.
- That discoloration sitting beneath the surface of your skin might prompt you to ask for help so that you can stop drinking for good.
- Because bones weaken over time, the risk of getting one of these injuries increases as you age.
- By the time your BAC reaches 0.2, you may need help walking.
- Symptoms of iron deficiency typically include tiredness, fatigue, shortness of breath, paleness, and heart palpitations.
The Severity of Hemophilia Symptoms
Even harmless skin issues are often considered warning signs that hyperglycemia needs to be addressed before it leads to more serious problems, such as heart or kidney health complications. To find the cause of your bruising, your health care provider will likely do a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. Your provider might also check your blood platelet levels or do tests that measure the time it takes your blood to clot.