What Can Cause Individuals To Bruise Easily?

Blood Thinners

Individuals who take blood thinners regularly to manage certain conditions are known to bruise easily. These medications are meant to stop the formation and further development of any existing blood clots. Disorders that cause the blood to clot abnormally, heart defects, heart disease, and other conditions that increase an individual's risk of developing clots may all be treated with the use of blood-thinning medications. While blood-thinning medications are effective at the prevention of strokes and heart attacks in certain individuals, they do produce adverse side effects. Therefore, these drugs are only used when their benefits outweigh their risks.

There are two main classifications of blood-thinning drugs. Anticoagulants function by slowing down the coagulation cascade or process of blood clot formation. Antiplatelet drugs inhibit the action of platelets so they do not stick to one another or the blood vessel walls. While these mechanisms help keep existing clots from becoming larger and new clots from developing, they also impair the healthy clotting process in situations where it is warranted. Bruises occur when minor trauma causes blood vessels to burst and leak blood. The clotting system doesn't work as it should with these medications, allowing blood to leak into surrounding tissues for a longer period. This causes the affected individual to bruise more frequently and more severely than others.