Why do I bruise so easily?

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Q. I bruise easily. Why might this be? Is something lacking in my diet, or is there another kind of problem?

A. Older people commonly notice bruises without any identifiable reason. It’s almost always related to the tiny blood vessels in the outer layer of skin becoming more fragile. Usually there is not much you can do to change that situation. There are some medications that make the skin and blood vessels more fragile like oral corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone, or prednisolone). Aspirin and other medications that interfere with blood clotting can make bruises larger and more noticeable.