The nose contains small blood vessels covered with a thin layer of skin that is easily damaged. When the nose becomes dry and irritated by rubbing, the skin can break and the blood vessels burst, causing an occasional nosebleed. When nosebleeds are frequent, it can indicate the presence of an underlying blood disorder.
Factor II Deficiency
When a person bleeds, the body triggers a series of reactions to stop the bleeding by forming blood clots. In order to form a proper blood clot, several special proteins called coagulation factors are needed. Without all of these proteins, the blood cannot clot correctly and bleeding does not stop. Factor II is one of these coagulation factors. Those with factor II deficiency are missing the protein. The deficiency is usually caused by a lack of vitamin K, obstruction of the bile duct or improper absorption of nutrients by the small intestine, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Other causes include chronic liver disease and repeated use of anticoagulants. Those with factor II deficiency experience heavy menstrual bleeding, abnormal bleeding after physical trauma or surgery, easy bruising and frequent nosebleeds. If factor II deficiency is caused by a lack of vitamin K, it can be treated by either oral or intravenous supplementation of the vitamin. Other cases of factor II deficiency can be treated with regular injections of clotting factor into the blood.
Von Willebrand Disease
Another important protein needed for proper blood clotting is von Willebrand factor. Those with von Willebrand disease--which, according to MayoClinic.com, is the most common inherited bleeding disorder--are born without von Willebrand factor. Symptoms of von Willebrand factor include frequent nosebleeds, bleeding from the gums, heavy menstrual bleeding, blood in the urine or stool, persistent bleeding after an injury, easy bruising and bumps under the skin, according to MayoClinic.com. There is no cure for von Willebrand disease, but a number of available treatments can help control the severity of bleeding. These treatments include the injection of clotting factors into the blood, hormone therapy that stimulates release of clotting factors and clot-promoting medications.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Blood platelets, also called thrombocytes, are another important factor in proper blood clotting. Platelets are blood cell fragments that stick together to form a clot to close up cuts and stop bleeding. Those with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura have an insufficient amount of platelets in the blood. This results in small red spots that form under the skin due to bleeding; bruising that develops for no known reason; frequent nosebleeds; bleeding from the gums; and blood in the urine or stool. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is thought to develop as a result of an abnormal immune response that causes antibodies to attack the blood platelets. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute notes that the cause of the abnormal immune system response is unclear. Treatment for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura depends on the severity of the condition. Some do not require treatment while others may require medication or platelet transfusions.
