What causes unexplained bruising on the legs?

Usually, it is easy to pinpoint the cause of a bruise. Often, the culprit is an acute injury. Sometimes, however, bruising seems to occur for no apparent reason. If unexplained bruising appears a lot on the legs, it could be a symptom of an underlying health condition.

Bruising often occurs when blood vessels beneath the skin incur damage. Blood leaks out of the vessels and pools beneath the skin, which causes skin discoloration.

This article will look at the potential causes of unexplained bruising on the legs. It will also cover when to see a doctor.

Factors that affect leg bruising 

Some people bruise more easily than others. The following sections will look at some of the factors that may increase a person’s likelihood of bruising.

Age

As a person ages, they become more susceptible to bruising. Bruises may also take longer to heal in older adults.

Family history

According to one older study, people with close family members who bruise easily may also experience frequent bruising.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also note that some inherited bleeding disorders, such as von Willebrand’s disease, can make people more susceptible to bruising

 

Health conditions 

Most of the time, bruising occurs when a person bumps into things, falls, or injures themselves in another way. Bruises typically heal within a few weeks and are usually benign.

Sometimes, however, bruising is a symptom of a more significant health issue.

The following are a few of the possible conditions that may cause random bruising to appear on the legs.

Vitamin deficiencies

People who experience malnutrition could be deficient in vitamin C and may develop scurvy. Other people at risk of developing scurvy include older adults and people who drink a lot of alcohol.

Symptoms of scurvy include bleeding issues that may lead to bruising.

People deficient in vitamin K may also bruise more often. This is because their blood does not clot efficiently.

Although anyone can experience a vitamin K deficiency, it is more common in infants, as breast milk does not contain much of this nutrient.

Liver disease

A damaged liver affects the body’s ability to form clots and stop bleeding. According to the American Liver Foundation, people with cirrhosis may bleed or bruise more easily.

Other symptoms of cirrhosis include:

• swelling of the legs and abdomen
• yellowing of the skin, or jaundice
• severe itching

Treatment

If a person receives a diagnosis of liver disease early enough, the odds of the liver healing itself are higher.

The treatment pathways for liver disease — and cirrhosis, in particular — aim to prevent further liver damage and protect the remaining healthy tissue.

Because alcohol abuse disorder is a common cause of liver disease, some treatments may involve alcohol rehabilitation to help the person stop drinking and prevent further liver damage.

Autoimmune conditions

Some autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, may cause unexplained bruising.

Certain medications that help treat rheumatoid arthritis, including corticosteroids, may also contribute to random bruising.

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia is a condition that involves low blood platelet counts. When there are not enough platelets, the blood does not clot properly, which could increase the risk of a serious bleed.

Complications from the following may give rise to thrombocytopenia:

• medication use
• surgery
• pregnancy
• heavy alcohol consumption
• chemical exposure
• viruses and infections
• genetic disorders
• autoimmune conditions
• cancer

Approximately 5–10% of pregnant people and those who have recently given birth develop gestational thrombocytopenia.

Some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, could increase a person’s risk of bleeding and bruising. This is because these therapies reduce the amount of platelets in the blood.

Some other symptoms of a low platelet count include:

• rashes consisting of small dots, which are broken blood vessels
• recurrent heavy nosebleeds
• heavy menstrual bleeding
• fatigue

In severe cases, thrombocytopenia may cause internal bleeding and brain hemorrhage.

Treatment

There are several treatment options for thrombocytopenia. These include:

• corticosteroids
• immunoglobulins
• blood or platelet transfusions
• splenectomy

  Source: Medical News Today