Author: Gary Jackson

Does Drinking Too Much Make You Bruise? Heres What The Alcohol Is Actually Doing To Your Body Overnight

Often, by the time doctors detect the damage, it is irreversible. When people use the term “alcoholism,” what they are really referring to is an alcohol use disorder, which is the clinical term for an addiction to alcohol. Alcoholism is a colloquial term, and it really isn’t a politically correct way to refer to an alcohol addiction. Unfortunately, once a bruise has formed, not much can be done to treat it.

Blood-thinning medications may cause a person to bleed and bruise more. This article explains why some people may bruise more easily than others. But when you bruise, your vessels are literally injured or broken in a sense, and blood pools around those vessels and rises to the skin.

Alcohol intolerance

Once a doctor diagnoses a person with alcoholic liver disease at any stage, they will recommend them to never resume drinking. Any conditions that have reversed will typically return once drinking restarts. Often, bruising after drinking is a result of falling or bumping into something.

does alcohol cause bruising

Vasculitis refers to a group of conditions that cause inflamed blood vessels. Easy bruising may also run in families, so individuals whose relatives bruise easily may notice that they do too. Alcohol intolerance occurs when your body doesn’t have the proper enzymes to break down (metabolize) the toxins in alcohol. This is caused by inherited (genetic) traits most often found in Asians. Not smoking and controlling body weight are significant lifestyle changes people can make to further reduce the risk.

When to contact a doctor

If a loved one has a bruise that can’t be explained, particularly in an unusual location such as on the face, be aware of the possibility of abuse. That vasodilation also happens to be responsible for the flushed sensation of heat you sometimes get in your face when you drink.

  • In people with liver failure, the liver completely ceases to function.
  • As people get older, the skin becomes thinner and loses some of the protective fatty layer that helps cushion blood vessels from injury.
  • Having a mild intolerance to alcohol or something else in alcoholic beverages might not require a trip to a doctor.
  • Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem.
  • Sometimes, heavy drinking over a short period, even less than a week, can cause this.

Brain changes from repeated alcohol misuse lead to compulsive drinking and make it difficult to stop without treatment. Sometimes, bruising after drinking occurs because of the fact that alcohol dilates the blood vessels. When blood vessels are dilated, you’re more likely to experience a bruise after bumping into something. This effect may explain why you’re waking up with bruises after drinking. Other signs of an alcohol use disorder include spending a significant amount of time drinking, or consuming larger quantities of alcohol than intended. A person may also develop a tolerance for alcohol, meaning that they need larger and larger amounts to obtain the desired effects.

What Are The Common Signs Of Alcohol Use Disorder?

Antirejection medications after transplant can increase the risk of serious infections and certain cancers. Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal. Symptoms of iron deficiency typically include tiredness, fatigue, shortness of breath, paleness, and heart palpitations.

does alcohol cause bruising

What you’re technically experiencing there is a drop in your blood pressure, which causes the heart to work a little harder than usual to pump blood to the rest of your organs. Read beverage labels to see whether they contain ingredients or additives you know cause a reaction, such as sulfites or certain grains. Be aware, however, that labels might not list all ingredients. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Another serious cause of bruising is domestic violence or abuse.

Risk factors for easy bruising include older age and taking blood-thinning medications. Older adults often bruise more easily because the skin becomes less flexible with age, and there is less fat to protect the blood vessels. Alcohol intolerance is caused by a genetic condition in which the body can’t break down alcohol efficiently.

  • Once a doctor diagnoses a person with alcoholic liver disease at any stage, they will recommend them to never resume drinking.
  • There are normally no symptoms, and alcoholic fatty liver disease is often reversible if the individual abstains from alcohol from this point onward.
  • This disorder also involves having to drink more to get the same effect or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking.
  • These consequences can include relationship problems, difficulty fulfilling duties at work or home, or a worsening of health problems.

However, if you have a serious reaction or severe pain, see your doctor. Also, if your symptoms seem to be linked to an allergy or a medication you’re taking, see your doctor. The guidelines classify moderate drinking up to one drink a day for females, and up to two drinks for males, and only over the age of 21 years. Robert is our health care professional reviewer of this website. He has a nursing and business/technology degrees from The Johns Hopkins University. In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy.