You’ve experienced another day and have gone to sleep for the night. You wake up, and you find another bruise on your body that you aren’t sure what caused it. While bruises are a part of daily life, some people are more susceptible to getting bruises than others. But why?

Our AFC Urgent Care Monroe Road team shares some helpful answers below, so keep reading.

What Exactly Is a Bruise?

A bruise is a common skin injury that results in the discoloration of the skin. When you experience skin trauma, blood from damaged blood cells collects right below the surface of the skin, resulting in what we think of as a black, blue, yellow, green or red mark.

Small bruises and discolorations aren’t usually a cause for concern, and you can treat them quite easily. If you or a loved one has gotten a painful bruise, we’ve listed how you can make them feel better below.

How to Treat Bruises

• Cold compress. If bruising has caused pain and swelling, applying a cold compress is step one. Remember to put a barrier, such as a towel or cloth, between the cold object and skin. Place the compress on yours or your child’s skin for up to 20 minutes at a time.
• Elevation. If an arm or leg is involved, elevate the limb and apply a cold compress for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, or until the swelling is reduced.
• Over-the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen.

So Do I Bruise More Easily Than Others?

This is honestly a hard question to answer. Some people may simply be more active than others, experiencing more bumps and skin trauma than the average person, which can lead to more bruises.

Others, however, could actually bruise easier than others, even if they experience comparable physical activity and contact. There are a lot of possible reasons that could explain frequent bruising, such as advanced age, possible blood disorders, vitamin deficiencies or certain medications. If you experience the symptoms we’ve listed below, you might have an underlying condition that makes you more susceptible to bruising.

Signs That You May Bruise Easier Than Others

• Having very large, painful bruises in response to minor injuries
• Having many bruises without remembering their cause
• Frequently developing bruises that take many weeks to heal
• Bleeding for longer than 10 minutes following an injury

Our AFC team offers CBC and blood panel tests. If you feel like you need one, don’t hesitate to visit us today!