Do you know of people who seem to keep getting bruised on the arms (or anywhere else on the body, for that matter) and never have a solid reason to point out why it is happening? While this might seem rather harmless, the fact is that it could be an indication of a serious underlying condition. That is why it becomes important to know the reason(s) behind the same. In this following article, we will try and focus on the factors of why people bruise easily.
Bruises come about when blood vessels present under the skin rupture, usually due to trauma. This causes for the discoloration of skin and the appearance of reddish marks on the skin surface. These marks will change colors from reddish-brown to purplish-black as the days go by and the bruise will normally fade in about 2-3 weeks time. The area surrounding the bruise might be painful to touch if it has been caused by trauma. Yet, if there is no clear reason that can be pointed to, which might have led to the bruises and they seem to appear nonetheless, the reasons behind the same need to be studied.
First of all, these bruises do not appear ‘for no reason at all’. There are specific reasons for why they come about and of these, there could be numerous. In the following article, we will try to take you through the reasons behind those unexplained bruises on arms (or anywhere else on the body). It is important to know why these bruises come about because they could well be an indication of a serious underlying medical condition. Continue reading to know more about the same.
| Sensitive Skin | Some people have very sensitive skin and even a slight indentation to the skin can cause the blood vessels to rupture, thus leading to bruises. There is not much that can be done in this case. |
| Exercises | Heavy exercising can put a lot of pressure on the body, causing the blood vessels to rupture and leading to bruising. A well-planned and balanced exercise schedule can prevent this from happening. |
| Contusion | Contusions occur when the blood vessels are damaged, resulting in discoloration. These could happen quite easily when you are tossing and turning in bed and you hit against a bed post or even while doing any other activity. |
| Anemia | Anemia leads to lowered hemoglobin levels and that is seen to be one of the main causes for bruising easily. |
| Allergies | Allergies could come about due to many reasons and cause for bruising of skin. Some of these include allergies to certain cosmetic products that we use (creams, perfumes etc), the material of clothes, the food that we eat, the medication taken, insect bites etc. |
| Leukemia | Leukemia is cancer of the blood and bruising easily is one of the main symptoms of this condition. This condition causes the platelet count to drop considerably, which then leads to easy bruising. |
| Von Willebrand Disease | This is a condition which prevents the blood from clotting easily. Bruising is one of the most common symptoms of this disorder. |
| Blood Disorders | There are several blood disorders like hemophilia and others that cause the blood to leak easily and result in bruising. |
| Abnormal Platelet Functioning | Normal platelet functioning is important for the body. When the body does not produce enough platelets, or those that are produced don’t function well, it could cause bruising. Similarly, like leukemia, there are certain other chronic diseases that cause the platelet count to drop in the body and make the body susceptible to easy bruising. |
| Sun Exposure | Sun exposure can cause the skin to lose the fatty layers that are present and act as natural protectors against sun damage. Once that cushion is lost, it exposes the blood vessels to sun damage and causes bruising. |
| Aging | With aging the capillary walls becomes more and more fragile. So also, the tissues that surround the blood vessels weaken – thus making older people more susceptible to easy bruising. |
| Food Deficiencies | Food deficiencies like in the case of Vitamins (C, K, B12), iron and/or folic acid is also known to cause bruises on arms. |
- Steroids
(Prednisone, Hydrocortisone, Dexamethasone) - Painkillers
(Ibuprophen, Aspirin Naproxin) - Anticoagulants
(Heparin and Warfarin)
- Antidepressants
- Asthma medicines
- Birth control pills
The problem with perceiving these seemingly harmless bruises is that one tends to ignore them as a common occurrence and resorts to merely administering bruise treatment to it. And while it might be true that there need be no reason to read too much into it, it is always better to be aware of one’s own body. If you suspect that there is a frequency of bruises on arms for no apparent reason, and if it is accompanied by other unexplained symptoms like fever, then it is always a good idea to get it checked by a doctor.
