On dark skin, petechiae may not always show up, which means a doctor could miss them. They can change into various colors, including yellow, orange and green, as they evolve over a week or so. Hello, my name is Ben Lemmon, and I’m the Vice President and Clinical Director at Ohio Community Health Recovery Centers. I’ve been working in the addiction and mental health field since 2013 and decided to enter the field after overcoming my own challenges with addiction.

Psoriasis

If you’re worried about your drinking habits, don’t hesitate to get help from a healthcare professional. Being more mindful when drinking, using protective strategies, addressing nutritional deficiencies, and treating medical conditions can all help reduce bruising. So in summary, alcohol both increases your risk of trauma while also impacting the body’s ability to prevent and recover from injury.

Dehydration reduces blood volume which can allow bruising to occur more easily. While waking up with bruises after alcohol may seem random, there are actually a few key reasons why this happens. Bruises that take a long time to heal or getting bruised for no apparent cause could be signs of a bleeding disorder.

It increases your chances of being hit in the forehead with an incoming football, but it may also cause you to bump into people or objects. One of the most apparent causes of a bruise the morning after a night of drinking is that you physically bumped into something the night before. While that’s not necessarily a direct cause of drinking, heavy alcohol use can contribute why does alcohol cause bruising to more accidents.

• In general, people with darker skin and hair will have darker-colored bruises.
• Individuals with thin or sensitive skin may be more prone to bruising, regardless of alcohol consumption.
• The conclusions were made from a review of studies and announced by “NIH Health” on March 23, 2009.
• Going to the bathroom can be painful, so make sure you eat plenty of fiber and drink plenty of fluids to avoid a bout of constipation.
• Alcoholism is a colloquial term, and it really isn’t a politically correct way to refer to an alcohol addiction.
• Depending on the severity and type of hemophilia, bleeding may occur spontaneously (without injury) or after trauma or surgery.

Over time, excessive alcohol can damage the liver which is responsible for making clotting factors. Due to these effects of alcohol, its thinning of blood, and its effect on coordination in sleep, the whole combination leads to bruising more frequently, especially in patients with fragile skin. Getting much-needed rest, avoiding alcohol intake close to bedtime, and getting enough sleep are sure ways to help your body recover faster, quickly heal bruises, and answer future occurrences. Often, bruising after drinking is a result of falling or bumping into something.

Skin Rashes From Alcoholism & Liver Disease

Take note if you experience frequent bruising in any of these areas after drinking. This can help identify accident-prone behaviors to be more mindful of in the future. Alcohol acts as a natural blood thinner, temporarily impacting the normal clotting ability of blood platelets. This makes capillaries under the skin more fragile and likely to leak when bumped. This makes you more prone to bumping into objects, tripping or falling which can lead to accidental bruises and injury. So when you drink alcohol and injure yourself, you can be left with a bigger, more noticeable bruise than you might see while sober.

Your liver can begin to develop fatty deposits because of alcohol exposure, and that fat makes it harder for your liver to work effectively. If you keep drinking, your liver can swell, and cells within the liver can die. If the scarring is extensive, the liver may not be able to do its vital work. If you drink heavily, regularly, or both, your alcohol use could be the cause of your bruise. That discoloration sitting beneath the surface of your skin might prompt you to ask for help so that you can stop drinking for good. Seeking help for alcoholism is a brave and crucial step towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.

• These things tend to hurt like redacted, so you probably won’t be surprised when you wind up with a gnarly bruise after.
• If you have concerns about alcohol-related bruising or experience frequent bruising, consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation and guidance.
• I remember what it was like sitting across from someone thinking there is no way they could ever understand what I was going through.
• The process of bruising can alter the drink’s taste, appearance, and texture.

Night sweats

Alcohol also impairs motor skills and coordination, increasing the risk of accidents, meaning more bruises. See your doctor, especially if they are prolonged, very painful, limit movement, come on suddenly, or occur frequently. Developing a severe, swollen bruise after having surgery should also warrant an appointment ASAP. There are a few scenarios, however, when random bruises could warrant investigation by your doctor. A big one is if your bruising is occurring on your belly, back, chest, or face, Dr. Young says.

How Long Do Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Typically Last?

Bleeding disorders, liver disease, blood cancers, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune disorders, and certain medications can all inhibit normal clotting. Too much alcohol intake increases the likelihood of bruising but leaves your body incapable of healing and clotting blood. Be responsible in your levels of intake, one drink a day for women, two for men. Do not binge drink as this can hurt the liver and vessels in the blood and increase all the other risks of bruising. If you have cirrhosis from alcohol liver damage, you’re also more likely to bleed and bruise easily.

In rare cases, an underlying health condition could also prompt out-of-the-blue or frequent bruising.

Occasional drinking of fewer than two glasses per day is acceptable, but it’s best to familiarize yourself with signs of alcohol addiction and to prevent developing an alcohol use disorder. Platelets are important for the coagulation of blood and heavy drinking impairs the generation as well as function of these platelets. The more you drink, the lesser the chance that your blood will clot, you get bruises after drinking due to those left by some minor bruises. There are many other potential causes of bruising, including injury, certain medications, and underlying medical conditions. If you’re concerned about bruising, talk to your doctor about other possible causes.

Consult With Confidant’s Online Doctors For Alcohol Treatment

Excessive alcohol usage damages liver cells, impairing this crucial function over years. Only a couple of drinks can cause vasodilation of blood vessels close to the skin, leading to potential bruising if you bump your body against a hard surface. The consumption of alcohol affects your coordination and judgment and, likely increases the chances of accidents – bumping into things and falling. Most bruising after drinking often stems from unseen or unnoticed injuries. Erin is a Nurse Practitioner with 8 years of experience in midwifery and women’s health. She has spent the past 5 years specializing in the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a common skin condition that causes red, scaly, and itchy patches, often on the scalp, face, and other oily areas of the body. While its exact cause is not fully understood, it’s believed to be linked to an inflammatory response to Malassezia yeasts that naturally inhabit the skin. Alcohol consumption, particularly in excess, can trigger inflammatory responses and weaken the immune system, creating a more conducive environment for these yeasts to thrive. Additionally, alcohol’s dehydrating effects can disrupt the skin’s barrier function, further aggravating symptoms of seborrhoeic dermatitis.

But a liver that is damaged needs a perfectly pure environment to heal, and that means alcohol at any level must be eliminated. Every sip does another tiny bit of damage and impairs healing, and that can lead to more bruising. While the liver is designed to filter out toxins, the sensitive cells that line the liver can be damaged by alcohol exposure.