[nudephil (OP)]

Abigail asks:

Why do we get bruises? Why is it that some areas of my body are more prone to getting bruised than other areas?

Furthermore, why is it that some people bruise more easily than others?

[evan_au]

A bruise is bleeding under the skin, caused by an impact that breaks the tiny blood vessels called capillaries.
- Blood leaks out of these damaged blood vessels into the surrounding tissue, causing a purple/black color that can be seen through the skin.
- Over a few days, the bruise changes color, as the body slowly clears up the out-of-place blood.

some areas of my body are more prone to getting bruised

Some areas of the body are more subject to impact injuries.
-Young children often seem to get bruised knees.
- Unless the skin is broken, in which the blood appears on the surface, and it is a bloody knee, rather than a bruised knee

some people bruise more easily than others

Some people suffer more impact injuries.
- Some people wear less protective clothing
- People on "blood thinner" medication can get extensive bruising from minor impacts, because their blood takes longer to clot, and more blood can ooze out of damaged capillaries before they seal up.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruise

[searchingscience]

Moreover, old people tend to bruise more easily. As the people age they bruise more easily because their blood vessels (capillaries) become weaker. Also their skin is getting thinner and it loses some of their protective fat layer. I have read that easy bruising is a genetic thing in some kind. So if maybe your grandmother bruises easily, you have already noticed that you do so as well.
Furthermore, women are more prone to bruise easily.
You could also lack on vitamin K. Vitamin K is relevant for the blood clotting.
Another aspect is medication - some medication can cause easy bruising.

[lunascientists1]

Hello,


if you bruise very easily that could be because you have low Vitamin C.Vitamin C helps to keep your blood vessels healthy. Another factor could be that you do not have enough iron.

Do check if you have enough vitamin supply I would suggest taking a blood test.

[DrJekyllMrHyde48]

Most bruises come when small blood vessels called capillaries. They are very thin and near the skin's surface. If they break due to some sort of injury, blood leaks under the skin causing the spot to turn blue-ish. Normal bruises disappear after a few days.

If you bruise easily after a minor accident, you should go see a doctor. Some people, and especially women, are more prone to bruising. This could come from a lack of specific vitamins or another genetic condition. However, it is not that dramatic most of the time because people's skin get thinner and lose their protective layer. That is why the get bruises more easily.