What Can Cause Individuals To Bruise Easily?

Von Willebrand Disease

Individuals diagnosed with Von Willebrand disease, a condition they are born with, are known to bruise easier than others. This disorder is inherited from an affected individual's parents. The genetic mutation that causes Von Willebrand disease is one that affects the way a certain blood-clotting protein is produced. When levels of this clotting factor are too low or absent in an individual, platelets cannot adhere to one another properly and cannot effectively bind themselves to the walls of an injured blood vessel. Some individuals affected by this disorder have a deficiency in the clotting factor VIII. Symptoms that occur in these individuals involve bleeding excessively during surgical procedures, menstrual cycles, dental work, and spontaneously from the nose. Lumpy bruises and easy bruising is common in Von Willebrand disease patients because the body is unable to repair injured blood vessels in a timely manner.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are drugs prescribed to help individuals who have compromised immune systems. Some of the most common corticosteroid drugs on the market are prednisone, hydrocortisone, and cortisone, and they treat a wide variety of different conditions. Corticosteroids are sometimes used to treat allergic reactions and rashes, which can occur when the immune system releases histamine into the body. They can also be used to treat inflammation and inflammatory conditions. One inflammation-related condition these drugs are used for is asthma, which causes the respiratory system to become inflamed and blocked with mucus. Autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are often treated with corticosteroids. At the same time, these drugs have the potential for serious side effects, one of which is easy bruising. Topical corticosteroids can cause the skin to become thinner where the medication is applied, which sometimes contributes to the easy bruising. Patients can talk to their doctor about ways to limit the potential side effects of corticosteroids.