Doctors Explain the Strange Things That Can Make You Bruise So Easily

This article was medically reviewed by Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board on July 11, 2019

We’ve all been there — a shin to a coffee table or a trip on the sidewalk can leave you with a black-and-blue or two. But what is a bruise, exactly? “A bruise is a reflection of minor injury to the blood vessels under the surface of the skin. If these vessels are damaged, a small amount of blood can leak out, giving the classic blue, black, or purple discoloration,” says Cory Fisher, DO, family medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic.

But what if you seem to be bruising easily, developing bruises on your legs, arms, and other parts of your body from even just a slight bump, or seemingly out of nowhere? Should you be worried? Keep reading to find out what could be causing your unexplained bruising — and how to heal a bruise faster.