(Natural News) A bruise, also known as a contusion, is when there’s bleeding under the skin, causing a very visible discoloration in that part of the body. Some people find that they bruise very easily. While this can just mean that those people are clumsier than most, if there’s an unnatural number of them developing, it can be a sign of an underlying condition that needs to be addressed.

If you’re bruising easier than most, here are seven possible causes.

Vitamin deficiency

The lack of certain vitamins in the body may cause you to bruise more easily. If you’re deficient in vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, it can cause scurvy, which can cause wounds to heal at a slower pace and can make you bruise easily. Furthermore, people who are deficient in vitamin K may bruise or bleed excessively. Consuming both vitamin supplements and foods rich in the vitamin you lack can easily correct your vitamin deficiency.

Alcohol abuse and liver disease

Drinking alcohol in excess is a key risk factor for many liver diseases. As these conditions progress, they may stop producing the proteins that help with blood clotting, which will cause you to bruise easily. Other symptoms include swollen legs, dark urine and yellowing skin and eyes. Luckily, liver disease is treatable and there are certain foods that can cleanse your liver such as turmeric and avocados. If your liver disease is caused by alcohol consumption, you have to stop immediately.

Medications

Blood thinners like warfarin and heparin can cause a person to bruise and bleed easier. Other medications that can cause excess bruising are corticosteroids, glucocorticoids and antidepressants. If you’re taking these kinds of medication, stop immediately and consult with your natural health practitioner for alternatives.

Bleeding disorders

Bleeding disorders like von Willebrand disease and hemophilia can cause your blood to clot either slowly or not at all. This puts you at risk of severe bruising. Fortunately, there are natural treatments that can work for both von Willebrand and hemophilia. For von Willebrand, consuming adequate amounts of vitamins C and K can help your blood to clot easier. For hemophilia, consider increasing your consumption of dark leafy greens and orange fruits and switching to baked, boiled or grilled foods.

Vasculitis

Vasculitis is a catch-all term for conditions that can inflame the blood vessels. This can cause increased bleeding and bruising, but it can also cause shortness of breath, numbness in the limbs, skin lumps, purple spots on the skin and ulcers. To prevent vasculitis, ditch processed sugars, eat whole grains and choose the right fats to consume such as those found in fish like salmon.

Senile purpura

Senile purpura, as its name implies, is a condition that disproportionately affects the elderly. It caused dark purplish-red spots to appear on the skin. These spots can injure the skin and, even when the lesions heal, those spots may remain brown. Usually, senile purpura disappears over time. To prevent them from occurring or reoccurring, avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and be mindful of the fact that you can bruise easily.

Cancer

In very rare cases, a sudden increase in bleeding and bruising, including bleeding gums, can be a sign of cancer, particularly cancers like leukemia that affect the blood and the bone marrow. To solve this, directly treat your cancer.

If you can directly pinpoint the cause of your bruise to an incident, such as a fall, then you may not need to worry. However, in rare cases, bruising can be an early warning sign of an underlying condition. If you see bruises popping up more often or if they aren’t going away quickly, consider going in for a consultation with your natural health practitioner immediately.