Bruises and Blood Spots Under the Skin

Bruises

Bruises develop when small blood vessels under the skin tear or rupture, most often from a bump or fall. Blood leaks into tissues under the skin and causes the black-and-blue color. As Reference bruises (contusions) Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window heal, usually within 2 to 4 weeks, they often turn colors, including purplish black, reddish blue, or yellowish green. Sometimes the area of the bruise spreads down the body in the direction of gravity. A bruise on a leg usually will take longer to heal than a bruise on the face or arms.

Most bruises are not a cause for concern and will go away on their own. Home treatment may speed healing and relieve the swelling and soreness that often accompany bruises that are caused by injury. But severe bruising, swelling, and pain that begin within 30 minutes of an injury may mean a more serious problem, such as a severe Reference sprain Opens New Window or Reference fracture Opens New Window.

If you bruise easily, you may not even remember what caused a bruise. Bruising easily does not mean you have a serious health problem, especially if bruising is minimal or only shows up once in a while.

• Older adults often bruise easily from minor injuries, especially injuries to the forearms, hands, legs, and feet. As a person ages, the skin becomes less flexible and thinner because there is less fat under the skin. The cushioning effect of the skin decreases as the fat under the skin decreases. These changes, along with skin damage from exposure to the sun, cause blood vessels to break easily. When blood vessels break, bruising occurs.
• Women bruise more easily than men, especially from minor injuries on the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms.
• A tendency to bruise easily sometimes runs in families.

Occasionally after an injury, blood collects and pools under the skin (hematoma), giving the skin a spongy, rubbery, lumpy feel. A regular bruise is more spread out and may not feel like a firm lump. A hematoma usually is not a cause for concern. It is not the same thing as a Reference blood clot Opens New Window in a vein, and it does not cause blood clots.

Bruises that do not appear to be caused by an accidental injury may be caused by Reference abuse. It is important to consider this possibility, especially if the bruises cannot be explained or if the explanations change or do not match the injury. Report this type of bruising and seek help to prevent further abuse.

Blood spots

Blood spots under the skin may be either Reference purpura Opens New Window or Reference petechiae Opens New Window. Purpura might look like bruises, but they are not caused by an injury as most regular bruises are. Petechiae don't look like bruises. They are tiny, flat, red or purple spots in the skin, but they are different than the tiny, flat, red spots or birthmarks (hemangiomas) that are present all the time.

Sudden unexplained bruising or blood spots under the skin or a sudden increase in the frequency of bruising may be caused by:

• A Reference medicine, such as aspirin or blood thinners (Reference anticoagulants Opens New Window).
• Infection that causes the buildup of toxin in the blood or tissues (Reference sepsis).
• A Reference bleeding or clotting disorder Opens New Window, such as Reference hemophilia Opens New Window, Reference von Willebrand's disease Opens New Window, Reference thrombocytopenia Opens New Window, or another Reference less common bleeding or clotting disorder.
• Other diseases that affect clotting. Examples include:
  • Chronic inflammatory diseases, such as Reference lupus Opens New Window.
  • Liver disease, such as Reference cirrhosis Opens New Window.
  • Some types of cancer, such as Reference Hodgkin's disease Opens New Window, Reference leukemia Opens New Window, or Reference multiple myeloma Opens New Window.
• Inflammation of a blood vessel (Reference vasculitis Opens New Window).
• Malnutrition, such as deficiencies of vitamins Reference B12 Opens New Window, C, or K, or Reference folic acid Opens New Window.

Medical treatment for abnormal bruising or blood spots focuses on preventing or stopping bleeding, changing or adjusting a medicine that may be causing the bruising, or treating the medical problem that is causing the bruising.

If the skin is injured over a bruise, be sure to watch for signs of a Reference skin infection.

Reference Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor.

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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.