Hidden Fire: Early Signs of Silent Inflammation

43. Unexplained Bruising: A Vascular Clue

If you're bruising easily without bumping into anything—or your bruises take longer to heal—it might be more than fragile skin. Chronic inflammation can weaken blood vessels, disrupt collagen production, and impair clotting responses, making your body more susceptible to internal bleeding under minimal pressure. It may also interfere with nutrient absorption of vitamin C or K—key players in vascular integrity. These unexplained marks can be your circulatory system’s way of waving a red flag. Before chalking it up to clumsiness or age, consider whether underlying inflammation is turning minor contact into major visual cues.

44. Frequent Mouth Ulcers or Cracked Corners of the Lips

Recurring canker sores or fissures at the corners of your mouth may not just be about poor hydration or a vitamin deficiency—they can signal systemic inflammation. The soft tissues in your mouth are extremely sensitive to changes in immune activity and inflammatory load. These symptoms may be your body's way of flagging low-grade inflammation tied to stress, gut imbalances, or autoimmune responses. If topical creams or better oral hygiene aren’t helping, it’s worth considering what your mouth is trying to say about your internal health.