Unexplained bruises are a fairly common condition today, caused by physical injuries during work, exercise or falls.
In some other typical cases, bruising symptoms can be a warning sign of a dangerous disease. Therefore, early detection of the cause and proper treatment are necessary to limit complications affecting health.
What is a bruise?
A bruise is a typical traumatic skin injury caused by a collection of blood in the tissue (possibly due to a rupture of a blood vessel that carries blood between the heart, tissues, and organs of the body).
Regarding the mechanism of bruise formation, blood vessels rupture, causing red blood cells to escape from the vessel walls and degenerate. This leads to the appearance of black, yellow and blue patches on the skin surface, also known as petechiae.
Bruises usually disappear after about 1-2 weeks. If the bruises last for a long time or recur repeatedly, it can be a sign of a dangerous disease and is often confused with other health conditions.
Causes of bruising
Below are details of 6 typical causes of skin bruising.
Lack of nutrients
Nutrient deficiencies , especially vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B12 and vitamin P, are the main causes of unexplained bruising.
- Vitamin C: Plays an important role in promoting cell production.
- Vitamin K: Has blood clotting effects.
- Vitamin B12: Participates in the process of red blood cell production.
- Vitamin P (flavonoids): Participates in the production of collagen, helping capillaries to be thick enough to withstand the pressure of blood on the vessel walls.
If bruising is due to nutritional deficiencies, to effectively overcome the condition, balance nutrients by adding foods such as bananas, eggs, garlic, fish, liver, etc. to your daily meals.
Absolutely do not arbitrarily buy and use functional foods to supplement vitamins without consulting a doctor.
Blood disease
Thrombocytopenia and hereditary blood clotting disorders are two blood disorders that can cause bruising on the skin. You should see a specialist for timely detection and treatment when you have the following signs:
- Bruises of unknown origin.
- Accompanied by symptoms of leg swelling and leg pain.
- Bleeding gums.
- Nosebleed .
- Visible capillaries on the body.
Cancer
Cancer can also be the cause of bruises on the skin. If not detected and treated properly, it can easily cause many complications affecting health. Worse, it can cause death due to metastasis.
Due to medication
Medications that affect the blood and cause bruising include anticoagulants, antidepressants, anti-asthma medications, iron-containing medications, and pain relievers.
To ensure health safety and avoid internal bleeding, you should stop taking the medicine when bruising appears and quickly visit a doctor to find out the cause and appropriate treatment.
Hormonal imbalance
Hormonal imbalance is one of the typical causes of skin bruising, often found in the elderly and premenopausal women.
Diabetes
When experiencing signs such as bruising, fatigue, decreased vision, thirst, etc., you should see a doctor for timely treatment to limit unwanted complications.
Are unexplained bruises dangerous?
Bruising can occur for a variety of reasons. It is a common condition and occurs in many different populations, most notably women and the elderly. Unexplained bruising can be a warning sign of leukemia or other blood clotting disorders.
To ensure your health, you should see a doctor to get accurate advice on the cause and treatment.
When should I see a specialist?
You should see a specialist if you experience the following symptoms:
- Bruising of unknown origin, persistent and showing no signs of improvement.
- Visible capillaries on the body.
- Bleeding gums.
- Painful, swollen legs.
- Fatigue, decreased vision.
Hopefully, the information about the causes and characteristics of unexplained bruising above will help you better understand this symptom and have the best care plan.
If you experience other symptoms along with the bruise, you should quickly see a doctor to detect the cause early and find the most effective treatment.