For many individuals who are overweight, weight loss improves overall health and appearance. Unfortunately, if malnourishment coincides with weight loss, it may bring about certain problems, such as skin that bruises easily. Bruises, or contusions, are ruptures in your blood vessels that cause skin discoloration. Most bruises are minor and heal in two to four weeks. In some cases, bruises may be a symptom of a serious illness.
Function
Your blood vessels circulate blood and nutrients to your body. Vessel walls are fragile and subject to ruptures and tears. When your body suffers a blow to a body part, blood vessel walls near your skin's surface may break. The rupture causes an amount of blood to leak from vessel, causing discoloration. At first, the skin may turn red, then eventually to a darker color, giving the skin a "black and blue" appearance.
Factors
Bruising easily can be attributed to factors such as aging, gender and diet. Women are more prone to bruises compared to men. As you age, your skin becomes thinner and your blood vessels weaken. Overexposure to sunlight can contribute to skin problems and bruising. Vitamin deficiencies can cause anemia and low levels of iron, which affects your skin quality and your ability to heal.
Features
Weight loss occurs when the amount of calories eaten is lower than the amount of calories burned. When eating fewer calories, a dieter may may omit certain foods or eat in lesser quantities. As a result, vitamin deficiencies may occur if a weight-loss diet is not balanced. Deficiencies in vitamins B12, C and K, and folic acid can result in skin that is easily bruised. Very low calorie diets contribute to iron deficiencies and anemia, increasing the skin's ability to bruise easily. Dietary supplements such as fish oil and ginkgo have been found to increase the risk for skin to bruise, according to MayoClinic.com. Reducing the amount of body fat will decrease the cushion under the skin, making the skin more vulnerable to bruising.
Prevention/Solution
Weight loss does not have to result in malnourishment. Weight loss can occur with healthy eating and exercising to create a caloric imbalance. Exercise adds to the amount of calories that are burned, enabling higher calorie totals for food intake. Cardio training improves circulation and weight training improves muscle tone. Both will contribute to stronger blood vessels and a layer of protection for the skin.
Warning
Skin that easily bruises can be a symptom of a more serious problem such as infections, bone marrow problems and liver problems. When combined with an unintended weight loss, fever, rash and bone pain, a medical consultation is recommended.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Easy Bruising: Common As You Age
- "Complete Food and Nutrition Guide"; American Dietetic Association; 2006
- Health.com: Bruises and Blood Spots Under the Skin
- Epigee: Crash and Burn: Yo-Yo and Crash Dieting
- "Keep Moving!: Fitness Through Aerobics and Step"; Esther Pryor and Minda Goodman Kraines; 2000
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