Losing weight can be a difficult process for some people. Exercising and eating healthy can mean significant changes to your daily routine. These changes can sometimes become uncomfortable or painful. However, symptoms of bodily harm such as bruising or redness on areas of your body may be a sign that you are doing something incorrect in your weight loss regimen. Speak to your doctor for more information on bruising during weight loss.
Definition
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, bruising refers to "an injury involving rupture of small blood vessels and discoloration without a break in the overlying skin." At times, bruises can be blue, black or purple and are often painful to the touch. This pain can also radiate throughout your affected body area, often causing radiating pains in areas other than the actual site of injury or trauma. Bruises can also spread or increase in size over time in severe cases.
Malnutrition
In some cases, bruising on your skin or fatty areas can be caused by changes in your diet and subsequent trauma to your body. In other words, eating foods that are lower in certain vitamins may increase your skin's likelihood of developing a bruise, even in the presence of a slight bump or minor trauma. Foods high in vitamins B12 and C often strengthen your skin and help limit the prevalence or risk of developing a bruise following injury. Try to maintain or increase your intake of these vitamins by eating foods such as citrus fruits, meats like sausage or beef for B12, or vegetables like peppers, broccoli and green cabbage to increase vitamin C intake.
Loss of Cushion
Another potential risk factor for bruising during weight loss is related to the fact that you are actually losing body mass and fatty tissue. When losing this fatty "cushioning" on your frame, you are eliminating body fat that could otherwise prevent your skin from developing a bruise due to this cushioning effect. If you begin to notice bruising in areas of your body that are becoming slimmer over the course of your diet, you may need to monitor your daily activity to pinpoint the cause of injury.
Considerations
Regardless of the source or reason for your skin bruising, these injuries should not be considered minor in all cases. If you experience intense or sharp pains accompanied with skin bruising, this may be a sign of a more serious medical condition like internal bleeding or an embolism.
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