Bruises are a skin injury, which appears in an area of discolored skin on the body, usually caused by an impact or blow rupturing underlying blood vessels. They result in what we think of as a blue and black mark. Over time, this diminishes through shades of green or yellow– usually around 2 weeks. Bruises often feel swollen or tender at first.
Reasons You May Bruise Easily
These are the most common reasons why a person can bruise easily:
- Age
As we get older, the skin loses part of the protective fatty layer, which provides cushioning against falls and bumps. The skin also becomes quite tiny and the production of collagen reduces. This means that it usually takes lesser force to cause bruises than it did when you were little younger. A vascular condition known as purpuric dermatosis is a common for older people and one of the main reasons for easy bruising. It causes thousands of little bruises, usually on the shins. These bruises are a result of blood leaking out of minor capillaries.
- Blood Disorders
Certain blood disorders, as leukemia and hemophilia, can cause inexplicable bruising, usually because the blood fails to clot correctly. If you have frequent and severe unexplained bruising, you should visit a physician to rule out such ailments, particularly if it seemed to come on very suddenly.
- Diabetes
People who have diabetes can develop some dark skin discolorations, mostly in parts where skin touches other skin very frequently. These stains can be often mistaken for bruises, but in fact, they are due to insulin resistance.
- Excessive Straining
If you engage in the vigorous exercise of sports, you may be exposed to small traumas and bumps that cause bruise but not remember the actual impact.
- Pale Skin
Pale skin cannot make you more prone to bruising, but it can make some bruises you do get more visible than they can be on someone with more dark skin.
- Certain Medications
Medicines as aspirin, antiplatelet agents, and anticoagulant medications reduce the blood’s clotting abilities and make bruising even more likely. Drugs including prednisone, aspirin, oral contraceptive, prednisolone, and others can also weaken your blood vessel that increases the chances of bruises.
- Family History
In case you have close family members who tend to bruise very easily, there is a great chance you will, too (though there are usually things you can do to overcome this possible genetic tendency).
- Sun Damage
Although our body requires regular sun exposure in order to produce Vitamin D, excessive exposure to the sun, especially the type that can cause burning, may cause your skin to lose its resilience and pliability. Plus, this can make bruising easier and even more noticeable.
With Healthy Diet to Healthy Skin
Eating a healthy diet that focuses on whole organic foods is a number one strategy for aiding your body detox naturally while providing the necessary nutrients the skin needs in order to thrive. There are certain foods that are particularly effective at promoting good-looking, clear and healthy skin, including:
- Omega-3 fatty acids that you can mostly find in fish, such as salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, albacore tuna, and lake trout;
- Vegetables, preferably fresh and organic and fresh vegetable juice are great for your skin. Research have proven that consuming foods with deeply colored (red) pigments have amazing abilities to make your face actually be and look healthier (than being dark).
- Fermented vegetables that help promote the development of beneficial intestinal bacteria and help in digestion and immune balance.
- Astaxanthin (a powerful antioxidant) that offer effective protection against damages of the sun, when used as a daily supplement.
Conclusion:
Normally, your bruises will fade away in 9 -15 days without any particular treatment. Although bruises eventually leave on their own, you should take steps to encourage faster fading and reduce the pain. First, decrease blood flow to the affected area with some ice and compression in order to minimize discoloration of the skin. If you are prone to bruises for some of the mentioned reasons, you should try to lead a healthy diet and eat more fresh vegetables and fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. There are many natural remedies that can help you speed up the healing process of the bruises.