“A lot of people think they bruise easily; that’s subjective and may or may not always be the case. It’s helpful when people take pictures of bruises they’re concerned about and make a note of the trauma that caused it,” says Angelini.
That way, even if the bruise has gone away by the time she sees them, they can still pull up the pictures, she says.
“I can look at it and confirm if it is a really big bruise considering what caused it,” says Angelini.
Certain types of bruising or bruising along with other symptoms may indicate a more serious underlying health issue and should be seen by a doctor.
Abnormal Bleeding If bruising is accompanied by unusual bleeding — like gum bleeding when brushing or flossing (if that doesn’t usually happen), frequent nosebleeds, or blood in the urine or stool — this, along with bruising, should be checked out by a doctor, says Angelini.
Large Unexplained Bruises Bruises with no identifiable cause that are on your torso, back, or face are unusual. A large bruise, especially one that appears without clear trauma, or if it seems much larger than expected from a minor bump, should raise concern. Smaller bruises (less than a quarter in size) probably don’t need to be checked out unless other symptoms accompany them, notes Angelini.
Unexplained Symptoms If bruising is accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, or fever, these could be signs of a more serious condition and should be discussed with your provider, she says.
Read the full article here
