Bruising and Bleeding: Common Questions
Bruising or bleeding more easily than expected.
Last revised
Bruising and Bleeding: the questions people actually ask, answered from published guidance.
Key takeaways
- Common causes: medication, ageing skin, minor trauma, alcohol
- Medicines involved: anticoagulants, antiplatelets, steroids, NSAIDs
- Most useful single change: Note where bruises appear and whether there was any injury.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming easy bruising is only age.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
What is Bruising and Bleeding?
Bruising or bleeding more easily than expected.
Why does it matter?
Most has a simple explanation, and the pattern — where, how easily, and with what else — identifies the small number that do not.
Common causes for Bruising and Bleeding?
Medication, ageing skin, minor trauma, alcohol.
Medicines involved for Bruising and Bleeding?
Anticoagulants, antiplatelets, steroids, NSAIDs.
Concerning pattern for Bruising and Bleeding?
Bruising without injury, on the trunk, or with bleeding elsewhere.
Tiny red spots that do not fade for Bruising and Bleeding?
Petechiae; need urgent assessment.
What is the single most useful thing to do?
Note where bruises appear and whether there was any injury.
What is the most common mistake?
Assuming easy bruising is only age.
When should I see a doctor?
Seek urgent medical help for bruising with fever, unexplained weight loss, fatigue or recurrent infections, for tiny red or purple spots that do not fade under pressure, for bleeding gums or nosebleeds that will not stop, or for blood in urine or stool. Any head injury while on anticoagulants needs urgent assessment.
Where to go next
- Your Questions About Bruising and Bleeding, Answered
- Bruising and Bleeding in Five Minutes
- Bruising and Bleeding — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Iron Overload, Without the Hype
- Blood Tests Explained: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to get help
Seek urgent medical help for bruising with fever, unexplained weight loss, fatigue or recurrent infections, for tiny red or purple spots that do not fade under pressure, for bleeding gums or nosebleeds that will not stop, or for blood in urine or stool. Any head injury while on anticoagulants needs urgent assessment.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
