Do you look down at your skin at times and notice a greenish-yellow bruise that seemingly came out of nowhere? If so, you’re certainly not alone. Some people are, indeed, more susceptible to bruising more than others.

Our AFC Urgent Care Knoxville team explains why below, so keep reading!

Why Do Bruises Appear?

Bruises are caused by trauma to the skin, which causes blood vessels beneath the skin to pop and bleed, resulting in skin discoloration that can be yellow, black, brown, green, blue or red in color.

Bruises will typically go away in 10 to 14 days, and they are hardly ever a cause for any real concern. They can be painful, though, and we’ve listed a few helpful ways to reduce the pain below.

How to Treat Bruises

• Cold compress. If bruising has caused pain and swelling, applying a cold compress is step one. Remember to put a barrier, such as a towel or cloth, between the cold object and skin. Place the compress on your child’s skin for up to 20 minutes at a time.
• Elevation. If an arm or leg is involved, elevate the limb and apply a cold compress for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, or until the swelling is reduced.
• Over-the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen.

Why Do I Bruise Often?

If you feel like you bruise more than other people you know, you might be right. While you could simply be a highly active person who falls or runs into things more often than others, there are other explanations for frequent bruising.

Certain underlying conditions like vitamin deficiencies or blood disorders could also cause you to be more susceptible to bruising. Additionally, some people have a low platelet count, which will contribute to more bruising and bleeding, due to the fact that fewer platelets causes slow blood clotting after injuries. Our AFC center offers CBC and blood panel tests, so if you believe a low blood or platelet count is the cause of more bruises on your body, visit us today to get tested!

Signs of Low Platelet Count

• You bleed excessively and even a small cut bleeds for a long time.
• You have excessive bruising, including many purplish spots under the skin even when you haven’t had an injury.
• You may have frequent nose bleeds.

Our AFC Urgent Care Knoxville location is open seven days a week, and we are ready to provide the quality care that you deserve! Visit us today.