Sometimes, heavy drinking over a short period, even less than a week, can cause this. Alcoholic liver disease is liver damage from overconsuming alcohol. It can cause a buildup of fats, inflammation, and scarring. All of these skin conditions may occur without any history of alcohol abuse. Nutritional deficiency can develop when alcohol replaces normal food in the diet and the digestive tract and liver do not digest and process food the way they should resulting in malabsorption. With little calorie or protein intake the skin becomes dry and loses elasticity.

Finally, alcoholics may have a deficiency of vitamin C, which is important for healing wounds. If you bruise easily and are worried that it may be a sign of alcoholism, talk to your doctor. Almost any medication has the potential to change the way platelets work in the body, López says. Platelets are tiny, disc-shaped cells that play an important role in helping your blood clot. “They’re one of the things that stop you from bleeding,” says López. Let your health care provider know if you notice bruising soon after taking a new drug.

Dietary Supplements

But if you often drink a lot of alcohol and you tend to bruise easily, it may mean you’ve got liver problems. If you, your mom, and your sister all turn black and blue from the tiniest bump, it may be a family thing. Some people (it’s usually women) just have more fragile blood vessels, and that makes them more likely to bruise, especially on their upper arms, thighs, or butt.

• This essential vitamin helps make collagen, an important protein that keeps your blood vessels healthy.
• 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.
• Eventually the body reabsorbs the blood, and the mark disappears.
• Older people are much more susceptible to bruising easily, too, because skin becomes thinner and blood vessels become weaker as we age.

Alcohol related liver disease (ALD) is the result of drinking more alcohol than the liver can process, which damages the organ. The liver, responsible for performing many functions in the body, processes what the body needs, discarding what it doesn’t. As the liver breaks down the alcohol, the chemical reaction releases a toxin, which damages liver cells. If too much alcohol is ingested repeatedly over time, even without getting drunk, liver damage begins. When too much liver damage occurs, it impacts the whole body. Avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol is the primary way to prevent alcoholic neuropathy.

Drinking alcohol after gall bladder removal

No matter how careful you are, you’ll probably still get them from time to time. To avoid bruises, crack down on clutter at home and always wear protective gear when you exercise or play sports. Contact your GP for advice if you have a history of regular alcohol misuse. To see related medical services we offer, visit our Digestive and Liver Health overview page.

Alcohol may stimulate the release of histamines, which can cause the blood vessels under the skin to dilate. This can make a person’s complexion look flushed or inflamed. By Heidi Moawad, MD

Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and expert in the field of does alcohol cause bruising brain health and neurological disorders. Dr. Moawad regularly writes and edits health and career content for medical books and publications. Especially if you have been drinking heavily for many years, coping with alcohol use disorder is not easy.

The Most Common Causes Of Bruising After Drinking Alcohol

Certain dietary supplements, such as ginkgo biloba, also can increase bruising risk due to a blood-thinning effect. In many cases, people with alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) do not have any noticeable symptoms until their liver is badly damaged. On average, 1 in https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 3 people with the most advanced stage of liver disease and cirrhosis are still alive after 2 years. When the body can compensate and manage cirrhosis, the typical lifespan is 6–12 years. Those with less severe diseases will survive longer if they abstain from alcohol.

• However, leaving these symptoms undiagnosed and untreated — especially while continuing to consume alcohol — can lead to a faster progression of liver disease over time.
• Taking certain medications (aspirin, steroids) and drinking alcohol can also encourage this type of bruising to form.
• This helps to relieve pain and drain fluid away from the bruised area.
• It’s not completely clear why some people are more prone to this complication than others.