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Why do I bruise easily? 8 Reasons it may happen

Liver damage from cirrhosis is not reversible, and it is linked to high mortality rates. After all, heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk of serious injuries from falls, burns, and motor vehicle crashes. For example, blood-thinning medications such as aspirin, warfarin and clopidogrel reduce the blood’s ability to clot.

Bleeding disorders

They may have such a high tolerance that they do not show any overt signs of intoxication, despite drinking large amounts. A bruise occurs when an injury of some sort breaks tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, which then bleed under the surface of your skin, creating that familiar black-and-blue mark. You’re more prone to bruising as you age because both your skin and your capillaries become more fragile. You may also have less fat beneath your skin to act as protective cushioning. Common spots for age-related bruising are the arms, legs, feet, and hands. But it is also typical for people with liver conditions to excrete dark urine, Weine said.

do alcoholics bruise more easily

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Eventually the body reabsorbs the blood, and the mark disappears. Because of the severity of the disease, medically monitored alcohol detox is a necessity. Between 3 and 5 percent of people withdrawing from alcohol develop grand mal seizures and severe confusion, known as delirium tremens. Delirium tremens symptoms typically begins about three days after other withdrawal symptoms start. It usually lasts for between two and three days, and it can be fatal.

Drinking Alcohol Lupus

You should also seek medical attention if your bruises appear on parts of your body where injuries are unlikely to occur, like your torso, back, face or on the backs of your hands. Ditto if they start to appear after you’ve started a new medication. „Having a vitamin deficiency can hinder your body’s ability to create blood clots, which can lead to bigger and darker bruises,” Dr. Johnston says. Specifically, deficiencies in vitamins K and C can cause more severe and sometimes unexplainable bruising. „As you age, your skin becomes thinner and you start to lose some of the fat on your body that would otherwise act as protection against injury,” Dr. Johnston says.

[Podcast] Episode 8: Harm Reduction in Alcohol Health with Expert Dr. Andrew Tatarsky

  • However, easy bruising can sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem.
  • He also suggests keeping the bruise out of direct sunlight while it heals, if possible.
  • As alcohol consumption increases, the liver adapts to break down alcohol more quickly.

Liver disease can affect blood clotting, increasing the risk of bleeding and easy bruising. But long-term and excessive alcohol consumption can lead to liver inflammation (liver hepatitis). Symptoms of this condition include appetite loss and weight loss. Chronic alcohol misuse has a negative effect on every system of the body.

Recent research shows occasional binge drinking increases risk of liver disease. – Psychology Today

Recent research shows occasional binge drinking increases risk of liver disease..

Posted: Mon, 24 Sep 2018 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Jaundice can be a physical sign of liver problems, where the skin takes on a yellowish-brown tone due to high levels of bilirubin. While many things could lead to you developing jaundice, a common cause is high levels of alcohol consumption. Anyone who notices they are bruising more often or more easily than usual should seek medical advice to rule out other health issues or seek treatment as appropriate.

bruising on legs

  • What all of this means is that people who live with an alcohol use disorder are likely to consume large quantities of alcohol.
  • Unfortunately, once a bruise has formed, not much can be done to treat it.
  • Alcohol can also lead to excessive sweating – known as alcohol sweats or night sweats.
  • Drinking too much alcohol may lead to a tingling sensation or numbness in your legs, feet, or hands, known as alcoholic neuropathy.

„When your own immune system attacks blood cells or the actual blood vessels themselves, it increases the risk of bruising,” Dr. Kappel says. Anti-inflammatory medications, like steroids (used to treat conditions such as asthma, hives, psoriasis and allergies), do alcoholics bruise more easily can also cause easy bruising, thanks to their skin-thinning effects. Chronic alcohol use also can damage the brain and exacerbate the effects of certain diseases. Research has shown that excessive alcohol use can diminish white matter in the brain.

  • Minor accidents — running into furniture, falling, dropping something on your leg, hand or foot — are the most common cause of bruising.
  • Alcoholics may also have darker bruises due to the increased amount of blood in their body.
  • In June, the World Health Organization said that no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.
  • You’re probably no stranger to bruises — just ask the corner of your coffee table.
  • The problem is that alcohol is a wellspring of empty calories—which are calories with minimal nutritional value.

As alcohol dries the skin, our natural defence against pathogens, this can also lead to repeated skin infections. Alcohol can have a damaging effect on many aspects of our lives, even if we only consume it in small amounts. For those who develop an addiction, the effects of alcohol on the body and mind can be significant. A person should seek emergency help if a large bruise develops after a trauma, especially if they also have lightheadedness or dizziness.