Bruising
About This Condition
Bruising occurs after traumatic injury and consists of swelling and discoloration under the skin but no disruption of the skin.
Bruising is a normal body response to trauma. It is only when bruising occurs often and from very minor (often unnoticed) trauma that a problem may exist. Refer to the capillary fragility article for more information. While easy bruising is usually not a cause for concern, people who experience this problem should consult a physician to rule out more serious conditions that may cause bruising. Medical causes of easy bruising sometimes may be diagnosed from a few blood tests conducted by a doctor. More often, however, no clear cause for easy bruising is found.
Symptoms
Bruises look like areas of blue to purple-colored skin that may turn yellow to dark brown over the course of a few days.
Other Therapies
The primary focus in the treatment of bruising is the diagnosis and management of any underlying medical condition. Conditions such as liver or kidney disease; blood disorders, such as hemophilia, platelet dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, leukemia, and multiple myeloma; connective tissue disorders including scurvy, Marfan’s syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; or the use of blood-thinning medication, such as aspirin (Genuine Bayer, Ecotrin, Bufferin) clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), and warfarin (Coumadin), should be considered.
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