Do You Bruise Easily? 5 Reasons Why

Summary: Have you ever stepped into the shower, looked down, and found a mystery bruise? While everyone gets black-and-blue marks from time to time, bruising easily might mean something else is going on.

Bruises happen when tiny blood vessels break and leak under your skin. As we get older, our skin loses its protective fat layer, making bruises more common. However, your daily habits play a big role, too. Common pain meds like ibuprofen, prescription blood thinners, and even "healthy" supplements like fish oil and garlic can stop your blood from clotting properly. Heavy alcohol use and lacking vitamins C, K, or B12 can also make you bruise like a peach.

Most bruises heal in a week or two. But if you find large, painful bruises, marks that don't go away, or weird bruises on your back or torso, it's time to see a doctor. It could be a sign of an underlying bleeding disorder.

For more details, see clevelandclinic at health.clevelandclinic.org/do-you-bruise-easily-when-to-get-it-checked (opens in new tab)