Bruises/Abrasions

Bruises are caused by trauma to soft tissues, leading to discoloration as blood vessels under the skin break. Abrasions occur when the skin is scraped off, typically not deep but painful.

Causes

• You were injured or had physical trauma (most common).
• You have aging skin.
• You have a medical condition that changes your blood platelet count, such as an autoimmune disease, hemophilia, or leukemia.
• You take a medicine that reduces or prevents blood clotting, like anticoagulants (such as heparin or warfarin), antiplatelets (such as clopidogrel), aspirin, or steroids.