When is easy bruising a symptom of a more serious health concern?

Easy bruising sometimes may be a symptom of a serious health issue, such as a blood-clotting condition or a blood disease. See your healthcare professional if you:

• Often get large bruises, especially if the bruises are on your chest, stomach area, back or face, or if they seem to happen without a clear reason.
• Have easy bruising and also bleed easily or bleed a lot, such as after a small cut or during surgery.
• Suddenly begin bruising or suddenly bruise more easily, especially if you recently started a new medicine.
• Have family members who bruise easily or bleed easily.

Health concerns that may be linked to easy bruising include:

• Low levels of platelets. Platelets are the part of blood that helps it clot after an injury.
• A problem with how platelets work.
• Problems with proteins that help the blood clot.

Another serious cause of bruising is domestic violence or abuse. If someone has a bruise that can't be explained, especially in an unusual location such as on the face, be aware of the possibility of abuse.

To find the cause of bruising, your healthcare professional likely will do a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. You also may have your blood platelet levels checked or have tests that measure the time it takes your blood to clot.