Easy bruising: Why does it happen? (Mayo Clinic)

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

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• Easy bruising is common with age. Most bruises are harmless and go away without treatment, but easy bruising can sometimes be a sign of a more serious health condition.
• Some medicines may lead to easy bruising by lowering the blood's ability to clot, including aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, anticoagulants such as warfarin, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban and heparin, and anti-platelet agents such as clopidogrel, prasugrel and ticagrelor.
• Some antibiotics and antidepressants may also cause problems with blood clotting. When clotting is slowed, bleeding from damage to small blood vessels near the skin's surface can take longer to stop, allowing enough blood to leak under the skin to cause a bruise.
• Corticosteroids thin the skin, which makes it easier to bruise. Certain dietary supplements, such as ginkgo biloba, also can raise the risk of bruising due to a blood-thinning effect.
• If you notice that you are bruising easily, do not stop taking your medicines. Talk with your healthcare professional about your concerns and tell them about any supplements you take, especially if you also take a blood-thinning medicine.