Bruises (Ecchymosis): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention (Cleveland Clinic)

Tier 1: Established: peer-reviewed research or government health authority
Publisher: Cleveland Clinic · Published: September 10, 2026 · Accessed: September 10, 2026

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Claims this source supports

• A bruise, or contusion, is skin discoloration from damaged, leaking blood vessels underneath the skin; ecchymosis is the medical term for a bruise.
• Petechiae are pinpoint areas (less than 2 millimetres) of reddish dots on the skin that do not turn white after applying gentle pressure. Purpura is small bleeding under the skin, smaller than ecchymosis but larger than petechiae.
• Conditions that may make a person more prone to bruising include having cancer or liver disease, family members who bruise easily, taking blood thinners or NSAIDs, a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia or von Willebrand disease, a low blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia), and vitamin C or vitamin K deficiency.