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Step 1
Assess your medicinal intake. Certain blood thinners, as well as aspirin can cause skin to bruise easily.
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Step 2
Take into account your age. Older adults and young children tend to bruise most easily because they have less fat beneath their skin. The fat acts as a layer of padding, so less amounts of body fat mean less protection. Older adults also have thinner, tissue-like skin that is susceptible to damage, particularly on the hands, legs, forearms and feet.
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Step 3
Accept that you got the short end of the stick if you're a woman. Females bruise more easily than men, especially on the upper arms, thighs and rear end.
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Step 4
Thank Grandma Sally. Easy bruising often runs in the family, so if your mother or grandmother can usually be found sporting an array of blue hews, chances are that's where you got it from.
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Step 5
Consider that you may have a vitamin deficiency of B12, K, C and/or Folic acid. Try eating more broccoli, pistachios and blueberries for Vitamin K; broccoli, citrus fruits and strawberries for Vitamin C; meat, fish, eggs and dairy for Vitamin B12; and spinach, fruits and juices for folates (natural Folic acid).
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Step 6
Seek the opinion of your doctor if you feel there is a bigger issue. Bruising is often a side effect and sometimes the first sign of certain diseases, such as lupus, cirrhosis of the liver, Hodgkin's disease, Leukemia and Multiple Myeloma.
Comments
MidniteWriter said
on 6/13/2008 Good advice, check for a vitamin deficiency first or any other health problems.
LittleRedHen said
on 6/11/2008 Useful article and information. Also, excellent follow-up comments from others, too. (Ditto what my fellow red-headed commenter said!)
juju1130 said
on 6/10/2008 I am a redhead and we bruise SO easily, especially as we get older. We also stay longer in recovery after surgery, childbirth, etc. I have asked many physicians why and they respond "You are a redhead!!"
Fike said
on 6/10/2008 Nice article. Be careful about switching your diet ("more broccoli") if you're on a prescribed blood thinner, like Warfarin. People on blood thinners can stroke MORE readily by consuming dark greens because of the chemical interaction between the medication and the vegetable.
amylaine said
on 6/10/2008 I have had this issue for many years have tried everything. Some of these ideas I have not heard off. So I will defiantly talk to my doctor about them. Thanks for sharing. Amylaine.