But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions. Petechiae may not be visible on dark skin, but a person may see them on areas with lower levels of melanin, such as the forearms. No matter how careful you are, you’ll probably still get them from time to time. To avoid bruises, crack down on clutter at home and always wear protective gear when you exercise or play sports.
- Do this for 20 minutes at a time during the first hours.
- Cirrhosis damage is irreversible, but a person can prevent further damage by continuing to avoid alcohol.
- Ecchymosis (bruising) is a common condition that affects everyone at some point.
- Most bruises are minor and not something to worry about.
We swing our arms and hands around and bump into things, so that’s where the bruises show up. Some people also notice bruising on their lower legs for the same reason. Plus, these are the areas that have suffered from years of sun damage.
Vitamin K Deficiency
Furthermore, if alcohol bruises are a result of liver damage, you likely have alcoholic liver disease, which causes severe dysfunction in the liver. Alcohol is known to be toxic to the liver, and a majority of people who regularly consume 4 or more drinks per day will develop a fatty liver. People with a blood cancer such as leukemia have a high number of abnormal white blood cells. These blood cells crowd out other healthy blood cells, such as platelets which are needed for blood clotting. This can result in petechiae (pinpoint red spots) under the skin’s surface, easy bruising and bleeding, and other symptoms in the skin. Low iron can lead to a lack of healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all the tissues of the body.
They may wish to discuss the risks and benefits of continuing treatment. If your bruise doesn’t improve within two weeks, or if you start to notice frequent, unexplained bruises—whether you’re drunk or sober—call your doctor. It has been proved that alcohol in moderate quantities directly affects these clotting factors and causes the blood to be thinner and easier to bruise.
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Drinking too much alcohol is a risk factor for liver diseases like cirrhosis. As liver disease progresses, the liver stops producing the proteins needed for helping blood clot. Because of this, a person may have excessive bleeding and bruise easily. Bruises can be unsightly, but most bruises fade without treatment.
Why do I bruise so easily? – Harvard Health
Why do I bruise so easily?.
Posted: Tue, 01 Jun 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The symptoms will be present from birth and can affect babies and young children. Alcohol impairs your cerebellum, the part of your brain that’s responsible for coordinating your movements, Swartzwelder says. So after a few drinks, you start to become more clumsy. Apply Ice Wrap a cold pack in a towel or washcloth and hold it against the bruise for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not hold ice or anything frozen directly against a child’s skin. Thing is it cant be a bruise as its still there and now has very dry looking skin in that place but still is dark like a bruise.
Overindulging in Alcohol
Easy bruising can be a sign of an underlying condition and a higher risk of bleeding overall. Risk factors for easy bruising include older age and taking blood-thinning medications. Older adults often bruise more easily because the skin becomes less flexible with age, and there is alcohol and bruising less fat to protect the blood vessels. A doctor can perform tests to see whether a person has a vitamin deficiency. In some cases, supplements or a change in diet can help. In other cases, an underlying health condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease, may need addressing.
We provide online medication assisted treatment for alcohol use, so you can begin your recovery from home. Withdrawal side effects can be incredibly uncomfortable, which can lead a person to resume drinking to alleviate these side effects. Because of this fact, a person with an alcohol use disorder may have several failed attempts to stop drinking. 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. Rarely, an increase in bleeding and bruising may be a sign of leukemia. This is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells.
Age and genetic factors
Fibrosis is a buildup of certain types of protein in the liver, including collagen. It can be easy for someone to dismiss the early symptoms as the effects of a stomach bug or general malaise. However, leaving these symptoms undiagnosed and untreated — especially while continuing to consume alcohol — can lead to a faster progression of liver disease over time. Once damage begins, it can take a long time to become noticeable, as the liver is generally highly effective at regenerating and repairing itself.
If alcohol begins to interfere with daily functioning, but you have been unsuccessful with giving up drinking, seeking treatment can help you to stay committed to recovery. Other signs of an alcohol use disorder include spending a significant amount of time drinking, or consuming larger quantities of alcohol than intended. A person may also develop a tolerance for alcohol, meaning that they need larger and larger amounts to obtain the desired effects.
You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Another serious cause of bruising is domestic violence or abuse. If a loved one has a bruise that can’t be explained, particularly in an unusual location such as on the face, be aware of the possibility of abuse.