What is bruising of the skin called?
A bruise, or contusion, is skin discoloration from a skin or tissue injury. This injury damages blood vessels underneath the skin, causing them to leak. When blood pools under the skin, it causes black, blue, purple, brown, or yellow discoloration. There’s no external bleeding unless the skin breaks open.
Why am I bruising under the skin?
Sudden unexplained bruising or blood spots under the skin or a sudden increase in the frequency of bruising may be caused by: A medicine, such as aspirin or blood thinners (anticoagulants). Infection that causes the buildup of toxin in the blood or tissues (sepsis).
What vitamin deficiency can cause bruising?
Deficiencies in vitamin C can cause a condition called scurvy. Scurvy causes bleeding gums, wounds that do not heal, and easy bruising. Vitamin K helps the body form clots to stop bleeding.
What’s the difference between a bruise and a blood clot?
A bruise is a noticeable mark on the skin that generally resolves over time. A blood clot is a clump of blood that has formed in deeper tissue or within a blood vessel and is rarely visible. A bruise often forms while the outer layer of skin is still intact and it changes the color of the visible layers of skin.
What medications cause bruising?
Medicines That Can Cause Bruises
- Medicines (called blood thinners) that prevent blood clots.
- Medicines used to treat cancer.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen (for example, Advil or Motrin).
- Steroids, such as prednisone.
What causes an unexplained bruise under the skin?
Unexplained bruising symptom checker Bruises are a normal response to an injury or trauma such as a fall, a cut, or bumping into something hard, like furniture. These injuries can cause blood vessels near the surface of the skin to rupture. The blood from the vessels leaks into the tissues under the skin and gets trapped there, forming a bruise.
What are the symptoms of a bruise at the Cleveland Clinic?
At first, the skin is often red or purplish in color, but later on, as the bruise heals, it may turn brown, green, or yellow. This discoloration is commonly called a black-and-blue mark. Other symptoms might include swelling, tenderness, or pain in the area. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
What causes a bruise on the left side of the face?
The injury causes tiny blood vessels called capillaries to burst. Blood gets trapped below the skin’s surface, which causes a bruise. Bruises can occur at any age.
How to tell if you have a bruise or hematoma?
If you have darker skin, you may notice purple, dark brown or black bruising. As the area heals, the bruise may turn a lighter shade of brown, green or yellow. The bruised area and surrounding skin may also be tender to touch. A hematoma causes a swollen, raised, painful bump.