Bruising on Legs

Consider this: You are doing your regular exercise routine like running on a treadmill, skipping and other cardiovascular workouts. After completing your exercises regime, you look at the mirror and are surprised to see red dots on the lower part of the leg. What could it be? Well, there is nothing to worry, as it is an indication of bruising on legs.

Bruising refers to a change in skin color due to internal bleeding. The blood vessels form an internal part of the human circulatory system. They carry blood and supply it to every part of the body. When blood vessels break, the blood leaks out and gets accumulated in the affected area. As a result, red patches appear underneath the skin. Bruising brings temporary skin discoloration, that many times vanishes without any treatment.

Causes

One of the drawbacks of blood vessels is that they are too fragile and delicate. This is one of the main reasons why bruising takes place. It is explained below:

Trauma
An injury to the leg when playing contact sports like soccer or rugby can lead to bruising. In case, the injury is severe, it may not only cause swelling in the affected area but also turn the skin blue. Soccer legend like Maradona has frequently suffered from bruised legs in his international career spanning more than a decade. As person starts recovering from the injury, the reddened area of the skin changes to purplish blue and subsequently to brownish yellow after a week or two. Gradually the affected skin will return to its original color.

Purpura Simplex
Purpura simplex is a condition in which the blood vessels are susceptible to breakage. So, a bruise develops even without any exercise or injury to the leg. That sounds strange, but is true and is common in women. This condition, also referred to as vascular disorder, make the blood vessels vulnerable to damage. Pooling of blood beneath the skin, resulting from internal bleeding due to rupturing of blood vessels is prevalent in people suffering from purpura simplex. Bruising in the form of red patch on the thighs and calves may occur, even while taking rest. Purpura simplex can be a great hindrance for budding models. It can sabotage the career prospects of models. As we all know, modeling is one big industry that demands near perfect skin and physique. Therefore, people with blood vessel disorders like purpura simplex that triggers frequent episodes of skin discoloration may be deprived of modeling assignments, no matter how beautiful or handsome the person is.

Exercise
Following a rigorous exercise routine can lead to bruised legs. A high intensity exercise such as running is capable enough to damage the delicate blood vessels in the legs, eventually causing discoloration in that area. Activities like cycling or skiing can put a lot of strain on the legs, especially on the calves. No wonder, in most cases, skin discoloration is normally seen in the calf area. An easy way that could help to prevent bruised legs after exercise is to reduce the intensity and the time of workout.

How long bruising will last depends upon the underlying cause. In case of a severe injury, it may take several days to disappear. Purpura simplex is not at all a serious issue, and as such no medicine is required to treat this vascular disorder. To be more specific, drugs have not yet been developed to stop this unexplained internal bleeding. Blood tests have proved that mild local bleeding is commonly associated with purpura simplex. To reduce internal bleeding in purpura, one needs to stay away from medicines like anti coagulants, diuretics and anti-inflammatory drugs, as they can worsen this blood vessel disorder.