Do you suffer from unsightly bruises quickly? Sometimes it seems like women get them faster than men. But is that really true? Santé asked Karina Meijer, internist-haematologist at the University Medical Center in Groningen.
Karina Meijer:“A bruise is a bruise under the skin. Something from the outside – for example what you bump into – breaks a blood vessel and creates a bruise. This happens regularly if you have normal blood vessels. But if you have abnormal blood vessels or - because of a disease - thinner blood, you can bruise more easily. After a while, a bruise changes color. This means that the blood is broken down and the blood vessel repairs. Sometimes bruising seems to get worse, but it isn't. If you have a black eye, you will first see a limited dark discoloration. Over time it turns yellow and green and the spot seems to get bigger. But gravity just makes the place sink.”
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“How quickly you get bruises differs per person. It is not scientifically proven that women get them easier than men. We do see that women go to the doctor more quickly. Often because they worry that something is wrong, but also because they find the spots ugly. Hormones can also be an explanation, but there is no clear substantiation. It is not the case that women who take the pill suddenly get more or less bruises. Research has been done on bruising in children. It showed that boys have more bruises than girls. Probably because boys are more physically active.”
“There are hereditary diseases that make it easier to bruise, such as von Willebrand's disease. People who use blood thinners also suffer from bruising more often. As people age, the skin – and thus the blood vessels – becomes more vulnerable. Then it is not the blood, but the skin that is the problem. Older people therefore get bruises more often. There are two situations in which I would further examine a patient. Firstly, the patient must also have other bleeding, such as bleeding after an operation or a heavy menstrual period. Even if you never have bruises and suddenly are covered, that is not normal. Bruising can only be prevented by being less active, but I would never recommend that. You better accept them.”
