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.

Q: Can alcohol consumption cause skin conditions to worsen?

The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data. All factor levels were low, except for factor VIII, which is produced outside the liver, hence suggesting a primary pathology of the liver. Back of the leg showing extensive discoloration of the skin and extension of hematoma under the skin.

Reasons for Bruises After Drinking

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.

Focusing All Attention On Drinking

Over time, alcohol can cause vascular dysfunctions which make vessels more prone to rupture and why does alcohol cause bruising leakage. If you’re ready to take the first step on your road to recovery, we’re here for you. Please book an appointment with us today, and let’s get you back to where you want to be. The bruises may also appear in unusual patterns or locations, such as on the trunk or back, where major impacts are less likely.

Strength training and balance-boosting workouts (like tai chi and yoga) can also help you better avoid the kinds of trips and tumbles that are sure to leave a mark. Dr. Mueller suggests physical therapy to help address any issues with your gait and improve your core strength. Growing up in Louisiana with addiction running rampant on both sides of my family. A life away from drugs and alcohol seemed impossible for someone like me. I remember what it was like sitting across from someone thinking there is no way they could ever understand what I was going through.

People on Blood-Thinning Medications

Excessive or unexplained bruising, including alcohol-induced bruising, should be evaluated by a healthcare professional to rule out underlying health issues. Vitamin K supplements or foods rich in vitamin K can help support blood clotting and reduce the likelihood of bruising, especially for individuals who consume alcohol regularly. Alcohol can dilate blood vessels, leading to increased blood flow to the skin’s surface. This dilation can make blood vessels more susceptible to rupture, resulting in bruising. Additionally, alcohol can interfere with the body’s natural clotting mechanisms, further exacerbating the likelihood and severity of bruising.

Can alcohol-induced bruising be a sign of an underlying health condition?

This is why bartenders must understand how to handle ingredients properly to avoid bruising. In some cases, intentional bruising can be used for specific cocktails or personal preferences, but generally, the goal is to incorporate the ingredients without bruising them. Vitamin C, in particular, plays a key role in wound healing and the production of collagen, an important structural component of skin. Without enough of it, your blood vessels are out in the open and more likely to rupture.

• Additionally, heavy drinkers usually get most of their calories from alcohol.
• Since alcohol also lowers your inhibitions, you may be more likely to try something that you normally wouldn’t do, including potentially dangerous physical activities.
• This means it’s a substance that actually relaxes the muscular walls of the blood vessels and allows more blood to flow to the skin and tissues — aka a blood thinner.

The inability to stop drinking while being aware of the consequences indicates that you may be developing alcohol dependence. The best approach to prevent alcohol-induced bruising is to minimize or stop consuming alcohol in large volumes. Bruising can be one of the side effects of alcohol dependence, but it’s not the sole cause of it. When that happens, the person convulses uncontrollably and may harm themselves or others in the process, potentially leading to bruises.

Avoid Risky Activities

What you’re technically experiencing there is a drop in your blood pressure, which causes the heart to work a little harder than usual to pump blood to the rest of your organs. But when you bruise, your vessels are literally injured or broken in a sense, and blood pools around those vessels and rises to the skin. That vasodilation also happens to be responsible for the flushed sensation of heat you sometimes get in your face when you drink.

• In other words, bruising alone isn’t enough to diagnose alcoholism, but it can be a sign.
• They may have such a high tolerance that they do not show any overt signs of intoxication, despite drinking large amounts.
• Too much alcohol intake increases the likelihood of bruising but leaves your body incapable of healing and clotting blood.
• Any type of bone in your body can be bruised, but if so, you’ll usually also have damage in nearby structures of your skeleton, such as your ligaments (tissues that connect your bones and joints).

And since the liver controls blood clotting, alcohol-related liver disease can cause increased bruising, as well. While bruising after drinking may seem a rather minor nuisance, the human body must be paid some attention. Repeated and intense bruises, combined with other symptoms, might be indicative of a problem that needs some medical attention.