What causes contusions?

A contusion, commonly known as a bruise, occurs when small blood vessels near the skin's surface are damaged, resulting in bleeding into the surrounding tissues. Several factors can cause contusions:

1. Trauma: Direct trauma, such as a blow, fall, or collision, can cause blood vessels to rupture and bleed into the surrounding tissue, leading to the formation of a contusion.

2. Pressure: Sustained pressure on a body part, such as prolonged leaning or sitting on a hard surface, can cause contusions by damaging the underlying blood vessels.

3. Sports Injuries: Contact sports, like football, rugby, basketball, and martial arts, often involve physical contact and collisions that can result in contusions.

4. Medical Procedures: Certain medical procedures, such as injections, blood draws, or surgery, may unintentionally damage blood vessels and cause contusions at the injection or incision sites.

5. Medications: Some medications, particularly blood thinners or anticoagulants, can make individuals more prone to bruising by reducing the blood's ability to clot effectively.

6. Aging Skin: As people age, their skin becomes thinner and more fragile, making it more susceptible to contusions, even with minor injuries.

7. Blood-Related Disorders: Certain blood disorders, such as thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), hemophilia, and von Willebrand disease, can cause easy bruising due to impaired blood clotting mechanisms.

8. Nutritional Deficiencies: Deficiencies in certain vitamins, particularly vitamin C and vitamin K, can weaken blood vessel walls and contribute to increased bruising.

9. Certain Diseases and Medical Conditions: Some diseases, such as liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and cancer, can affect blood clotting and lead to easy bruising.

10. Malnutrition or Eating Disorders: Poor nutrition or starvation can result in vitamin deficiencies and overall weakened health, making individuals more prone to contusions.

In some cases, contusions may also occur spontaneously without any obvious cause, which can be a sign of an underlying medical condition and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.