What caused that unsightly bruise on your leg and why are bruises so much more prominent as you age? Bruising is actually very common and usually not something that should alarm you. A bruise is caused when small blood vessels called capillaries near the skin’s surface, burst on impact. It sounds worse than it is. But blood leaks out of the vessels first appearing red and then purple and black. As the body reabsorbs the blood, the bruise heals.
Bruising as You Age
Women are more prone to bruising than men and bruising gets much worse as you age for a number of reasons. First of all, as you age, capillaries become more fragile, which means they burst more easily. Thinning skin means the layer which once cushioned your skin becomes less protected, causing you to bruise more easily. Medications that thin the blood like aspirin and Plavix for example, can also cause bruising. In this case, don’t stop taking medication, but do talk to your doctor and see if you can switch your medications for an alternative. In some cases, bruising can indicate a larger problem. For example, if bruises seem to develop for no reason and they’re unusually painful. If a bruise is accompanied by abnormal bleeding in other parts of the body like the nose, gums, or intestinal tract, please seek medical attention.
What to Do About Bruising
Help your body heal bruises faster with Zax’s Original Bruise Cream. It's specifically formulated to safely and effectively heal unwanted bruises. Our patent pending, holistic bruise cream uses natural ingredients proven to heal bruises like arnica, witch hazel, and menthol. It soothes your bruises from the inside out without harsh chemical ingredients. Arnica decreases swelling and speeds the reabsorption of blood, witch hazel restores the tone of the blood vessels, and menthol soothes a painful bruise. For best results, apply as soon as a bruise-related injury occurs.
Sara Novak is a Natural Health Care Expert for Zax Health. Follow her on Twitter at @sarafnovak.