This effect is even more noticeable in women due to their hormonal levels. When you have less padding between your skin’s surface and the many capillaries underneath, you bruise more readily. You can treat many of the underlying causes of bruises holistically, and if you do have a condition, it may not require routine monitoring. Here are 14 reasons for these hematomas of Substance abuse the capillaries, as well as how you can remedy the underlying disorders causing the discoloration.

How to Prevent Bruising from Alcohol

The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and does drinking make you bruise easier should not replace professional medical advice. If you develop a bruise or suspect one is coming, ice the area on and off for a day to reduce swelling and inflammation.

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If you’re aware that drinking is causing health problems, such as liver issues and bruising from alcohol, but you’re unable to stop drinking on your own, it’s time to seek treatment. Tripping on the stairs, dropping an object on your foot or accidentally running into something can all result in bruising your skin. Aging, vitamin deficiencies, certain medications and gender can also make you more susceptible to the two types of bruises — hematomas or ecchymosis.

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As someone who is also in recovery, I wanted to provide hope, share lived experience, and support others on their journey. I recently joined Ohio Community Health Recovery Centers as a Clinical Case Manager. I am originally from Wisconsin but settled in the Cincinnati area in my early 20s. My career started in the fashion industry but quickly changed as I searched to find my drive and passion through helping others who struggle with addiction. Seeing a doctor can help determine if there’s a more serious issue and get you the right treatment.

Can medications and supplements contribute to easy bruising?

  • It’s less serious than a bone break, but the injury has damaged some part of the inside structure of your bone.
  • With mastocytosis, too many mast cells (a type of white blood cell) grow in the body.
  • If you notice excessive bruising or bruising without a clear cause, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying health issues.
  • This allows for more blood to leak out, making it appear as if you have larger, more severe bruises.
  • Also, if you never bruised easily, but all of a sudden, bruises keep popping up out of nowhere, it’s worth seeing a doc, says Dr. Elliott.

If such cases befall you, step back for a moment to weigh on the more significant health issue it has brought upon your health condition. Over time, drinking a lot of alcohol can cause many health problems. It increases the risk of many types of cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Chronic alcohol misuse can also lead to liver disease, which often causes bruising. Consuming alcohol on an empty stomach is said to have negative consequences such as increased bruise risk and other side effects.

does drinking make you bruise easier

Many teachers often have rings of bruises on their legs at an equal height with little desks. You could pinch yourself between stacks or drop a dumbbell on a misplaced foot. Any time you move, you could trip — but the consequences of remaining sedentary far outweigh the risks of working up a sweat. If you’re a woman, you’ve probably experienced the joy of spying a particularly colorful contusion on your arm or leg while having zero clues about how it got there. “If you think your medication might be causing you to bruise, speak with your doctor before making any changes,” Dr Merrifield advised. Well, it seems many of us – myself definitely included – discover these mystery bruises all over our bodies without a clue on how they even got there in the first place.

does drinking make you bruise easier

And, not for nothing, it really is true that alcohol can affect your motor skills, and even your memory.

However, easy bruising can sometimes be a sign of a more serious health condition. From taking certain medications to an underlying blood clotting disorder, figuring out exactly why you’re bruising so easily can help you put together a successful treatment plan. Drinking at this point isn’t about feeling good — it’s about not feeling bad and avoiding the uncomfortable sensations that accompany acute withdrawal.

  • As you age, your skin gets thinner and you lose some of the layer of fat that cushions your blood vessels and protects you from injury.
  • If you’re on a blood thinner such as Plavix or Coumadin, you might notice you’re bruising more easily than before starting the medication.
  • A good tip is to stay away from supplements that claim to cure or treat a medical condition.
  • We don’t mean you woke up with a black-and-blue mark because you bumped into something after one too many cocktails.
  • By Amber J. TrescaTresca is a writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD.

Normally, your blood will clot quickly, stopping the blood vessels from leaking and preventing extreme bruising. Blood-thinning medications help protect you from heart attacks and strokes by preventing blood clots. More indirectly, meds such as antibiotics can lead to low platelet counts, which then means you don’t have enough of the cells necessary to help with blood clotting and stopping a bleed. Therefore, you’re more prone to frequent bruising, says Dr. Elliott. Alcohol is a major contributing factor to liver disease, but the condition can also result from cancer and other health issues.

Causes Of Bruises After Drinking

Examples of drinking in dangerous situations include driving while under the influence or drinking before operating some form of heavy machinery. Anticoagulants like Coumadin and Xarelto increase bleeding risk, and therefore, they can make you bruise more. Additionally, steroid medications such as prednisone and hydrocortisone can make your skin thinner and prone to blemishes.