You wake up in the morning and see another bruise and think, “How did this get here?” Even if you don’t remember bumping into something or falling, bruises can show up on the body. Is there a time when you should be concerned about the amount of bruises that are showing up, though?

In rare cases, yes, and our AFC Urgent Care Fountain City team explains why below.

Are All Bruises the Same?

Not really. Although they all generally appear in the same way—when blood vessels pop underneath the skin and cause a green, brown, black or blue skin discoloration–some bruises are more severe than others.

We’ve listed the many different types of bruises you can experience below.

Types of Bruises

• Purpura: This is perhaps the most common type of bruise, as it typically involves small bleeding under the skin.
• Hematoma: Severe bruising that is often caused by trauma, such as a car accident or major fall. A hematoma is a collection of blood outside the blood vessels that causes pain and swelling.
• Senile purpura: This type of bruising is more common among older adults. As you age, the skin becomes thinner, dryer and more prone to bruising. This condition is known as senile purpura.
• Black eye: You’ve likely heard of or experienced this type of bruising before. A black eye happens when you’ve been hit in the face, and swelling and bruising causes a discolored ring to form around the eye.

When Should I Be Concerned About My Bruises?

Frequent bruising can be the result of many different scenarios—the most common of which are an active lifestyle and old age. When you’re an active person, you’re more likely to experience more bumps and bruises. Those over the age of 60 have thinner skin, which loses some of the protective fatty layer that helps cushion blood vessels from injury and is more easily bruised.

In rare cases, though, easy bruising may indicate a serious underlying condition, such as a blood-clotting problem or a blood disease. Visit our AFC center if you experience the signs and symptoms that we’ve listed below.

Reasons to Seek Medical Treatment

• You have frequent, large bruises—especially if your bruises appear on your tailbone, back or face, or seem to develop for no known reasons.
• You have easy bruising and a history of significant bleeding, such as during a surgical procedure.
• You suddenly begin bruising, especially if you recently started a new medication.
• You have a family history of easy bruising or bleeding.

We’re here for you now and always! Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Fountain City to get the non-emergency care you need, or if you believe you need a CBC or blood panel test.