Alcohol is a major contributing factor to liver disease, but the condition can also result from cancer and other health issues. People taking medication who notice an increase in bleeding or bruising should consider asking do alcoholics bruise more easily a doctor whether their medication can cause bleeding. They may wish to discuss the risks and benefits of continuing treatment. People tend to bruise more easily with age because blood vessels weaken and the skin thins.

Other physical signs of alcoholism

Other symptoms of an iron deficiency may include fatigue, dizziness and shortness of breath. People with heavy periods, who are pregnant or have gastrointestinal disorders are most at risk of not getting enough iron. Meanwhile, a vitamin K deficiency might translate into black stool and blood clots underneath the nails, in addition to being more susceptible to bruising. “If an individual has a vitamin C deficiency, they might also experience bleeding gums, along with bruising and wounds that don’t heal or take a longer period of time to heal,” Dr. Johnston says.

low blood platelets but other results normal

Alcohol and unexplained bruising could point to liver damage from drinking. Easy bruising and bleeding are signs of cirrhosis, which is a serious liver disorder. There are several causes of bruises after drinking; some of these causes are not particularly serious, whereas others could point to a health problem. Perhaps the most common cause of bruising from alcohol is that alcohol acts as a vasodilator, making blood vessels larger.

• Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking.
• ARLD does not often cause symptoms until it’s reached an advanced stage.
• If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.
• Certain medications and excessive alcohol can work in tandem to suppress or amplify the effects of the other.
• Hematomas need medical intervention more often than bruises do and can even become life threatening when they occur near your brain – an emergency medical condition known as a subdural hematoma.
• If you suddenly stop drinking alcohol, it can lead to a number of uncomfortable alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
• While many things could lead to you developing jaundice, a common cause is high levels of alcohol consumption.

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• Some chronic alcoholics develop a condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which results from a thiamine (vitamin B-1) deficiency.
• Alcohol is a major contributing factor to liver disease, but the condition can also result from cancer and other health issues.
• With two party tricks up its sleeve, alcohol has its way to help us feel good, at least temporarily.
• Their thinning skin often has less fat underneath to cushion the blood vessels.

Some people bruise more easily than others, and the bruising can take longer to heal. For the average healthy guy (say, drinking one or two drinks per night, or fewer than 14 drinks per week) the alcohol-related effects on bruising are temporary, and no real cause for concern. Alcoholic jaundice is usually found in the progressive, final stages of liver disease.

• You may also feel sluggish, groggy, and easily irritable, mainly due to disrupted sleep or low blood sugar levels.
• Cancer-related bruises tend to appear in odd places, like the torso or hands.
• On dark skin, petechiae may not always show up, which means a doctor could miss them.
• Consider talking with someone who has had a problem with drinking but has stopped.
• Here, downward-pointing hairs prevent its ascent, and digestive enzymes begin to break it down.
• “A subtle sign of liver disease is yellowing of the white of the eyes or skin, known as jaundice,” Banini said.

How can I prevent or treat bruises?

Alcohol Bruises FAQ

When to contact a doctor

• Some people — especially women — are more prone to bruising than others.
• The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records.
• This is especially true when you consider the increased likelihood of them falling.
• Because they act as the body’s oxygen-delivery service, your cells won’t receive enough oxygen to thrive, making your skin more susceptible to bruising.