Why Do I Bruise So Easily?

A person may start to bruise more easily than before for a number of different reasons, though bruising doesn’t necessarily indicate a serious health issue. Bruises typically form when a localized injury, such a blow or impact, causes capillaries to break open and leak red blood cells under the skin. Collagen is not only helpful for keeping your skin plump and supple, but it’s also responsible for keeping your blood vessels strong.

Liver Function and Bruising

The liver makes proteins that the blood needs for clotting, so if it’s not doing its job, you may bleed or bruise more easily. It could be a sign that you’ve got a condition called do you bruise easier when drunk cirrhosis, which is scarring of the liver. Chronic alcohol misuse has a negative effect on every system of the body. Chronic alcohol use can damage your liver and also directly affect your blood cells, which would make you more likely to bruise easily, Elliott said.

Someone with von Willebrand disease might notice large or lumpy bruises from minor, even unnoticeable, injuries. Drinking alone by itself is not a sign of alcoholism or something inherently wrong. While many may think it is, it is not part of the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder, the clinical term for alcoholism. For those that drink alone, there is a risk to this, and the potential to develop very bad habits and coping skills.

Uncovering the Relationship Between Alcohol and Bruising

Call the doctor if the bruise is accompanied by swelling and extreme pain, especially if you take a blood-thinning medication for a medical condition. Call the doctor if bruising occurs easily or for no apparent reason. Call the doctor if the bruise is painful and under a toenail or fingernail. Cirrhosis causes the liver to slow or stop production of proteins needed for blood clotting.

Because of this fact, a person with an alcohol use disorder may have several failed attempts to stop drinking. Drinking too much alcohol may lead to a tingling sensation or numbness in your legs, feet, or hands, known as alcoholic neuropathy. This is one of the most common side effects of long-term alcohol consumption. Research studies on the association between weight gain and alcohol consumption have ended in conflicting results.

Hydration will make your skin elastic and blood vessels strong, reducing the chances of bruising due to alcohol. Bruising now and then is more of an aesthetic problem, but bruising very frequently and spontaneously during and after drinking may indicate some other risk factor. So you can reduce the risk and secure your well-being too, by taking the preventive measure. If minor trauma causes bruises and bleeding under the skin, more serious injuries from accidents or falls can cause more bleeding than expected.

Preparing Your Body for the Annual Western Wake Daylight Saving Time Shift

With that in mind he said people need to address their drinking issues. “So often, a person with a heightened biological risk encounters psychosocial stress, which sets the wheels into motion to develop the disorder”, he said. If you’ve built up a tolerance to alcohol then it could be difficult to spot the signs of when you’ve had too much to drink. I am a licensed social worker.In my scope of practice I have worked in the areas of mental health and recovery for thirty years. The clients I have worked with in my career have ranged in age from seven to seventy. As someone who is also in recovery, I wanted to provide hope, share lived experience, and support others on their journey.

Aside from going into alcohol treatment, there’s nothing specific you need to do to speed up the healing process, assuming that you’re not suffering from other diseases that affect coagulation. This happens because it interferes with the production of platelets (and other blood cells) in the bone marrow. The information provided on AnswerFoundry.com is published as general information and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the content provided. All actions that are taken by the reader(s) are at the readers’ own risk. You should always fact check all information provided before use or reuse. AnswerFoundry.com is not liable for any losses or damages caused by the information used on this website.

How Can I Reduce Bruising After Drinking?

Continuing to drink, even when it causes health problems, is a sign of an alcohol use disorder. Someone who lives with an alcohol use disorder may experience lasting brain changes that make it difficult to stop drinking. If you’re aware that drinking is causing health problems, such as liver issues and bruising from alcohol, but you’re unable to stop drinking on your own, it’s time to seek treatment. After all, heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk of serious injuries from falls, burns, and motor vehicle crashes.

• However, giving up alcohol right away isn’t sustainable or desirable for most people.
• This is one of the most common side effects of long-term alcohol consumption.
• In addition to easy bruising, bleeding disorders can cause frequent nosebleeds, heavy periods, and bleeding that does not stop after 10 minutes.
• Chronic heavy drinking can cause alcoholic hepatitis, which is the inflammation of your liver.
• Bruises all over your body after drinking because the wounds take more time to heal and let blood leak under the skin.

I have been doing the sessions for the last few weeks and it has been a life changer experience. They will educate you on ABC Medication, breathing technique and nutrition. The bruises themselves aren’t dangerous, but the reason that causes them is. The bruises may also appear in unusual patterns or locations, such as on the trunk or back, where major impacts are less likely. According to a 2021 study, the cerebellum is one of the most vulnerable areas that alcohol can directly affect, leading to difficulty in maintaining balance.

… But if you often drink a lot of alcohol and you tend to bruise easily, it may mean you’ve got liver problems. Consuming alcoholic beverages can cause muscle weakness, tingling, numbness and a heavy feeling because it depletes the body of vitamins and minerals essential for muscle health. The side effect is temporary, but over time, heavy drinking can lead to permanent muscle degeneration that leaves the legs and arms weak and painful. These bruises result from microscopic tears in blood vessels under the skin. Unexplained bruises that occur easily or for no apparent reason may indicate a bleeding disorder, especially if the bruising is accompanied by frequent nosebleeds or bleeding gums.

According to the CDC, moderate drinking is defined as having two standard drinks or less per day for men and one drink or less per day for women. For some of us, half a dozen drinks during a night out aren’t yet enough to faze us. And yes, you may feel great and energized upon waking up—but that doesn’t mean you didn’t have too much to drink the night before.

Warning Signs of Alcoholism

• Liver cirrhosis is linked to bleeding complications and can even lead to the formation of a large type of bruise called a hematoma.
• When drinking becomes compulsive, as is the case with alcohol use disorder, a person may place themselves in danger when consuming alcohol, because drinking becomes more important than safety.
• The reduced platelet count and stickiness of already circulating platelets prolong bleeding time from injuries, leading to visible bruises.
• But some people who drink face a risk of developing this chronic and progressive disease, which affects roughly 1 in every 8 Americans and contributes to about 88,000 deaths annually.
• Call the doctor if the bruise is accompanied by swelling and extreme pain, especially if you take a blood-thinning medication for a medical condition.

Reach out to Addiction Free Recovery today, and let us be your partner in the journey to a healthier, addiction-free life. Learning to understand the interaction of drugs might be the very first step toward reducing bruising after alcohol intake and keeping one fit. When that happens, it’s best to consult a professional to prevent the issue from becoming a full-blown alcoholism. The best approach to prevent alcohol-induced bruising is to minimize or stop consuming alcohol in large volumes.