Does anyone else bruise like a ripe peach????????

[girlandboy]

It's just that with summer getting closer, I would like to be able to reveal a bit of leg without it looking like I'm either really clumsy or someone has been kicking me.

I went to the gp's a year or two ago and mentioned it. He asked if I also get nose-bleeds (I do) and stated that my "clotting ability" didn't sound good. He took some blood but it all came back as normal.

I was lying in the bath last night and I counted 17 bruises on my legs. They range from little ones (finger print size) to the size of a golf ball. I don't know how 99% of them happen. Alot of them are on the back of my legs, but I don't knowingly reverse into things.

I also get them on my arms, but not so much.

I would really like to get out of wearing full length trousers this summer (or long skirts). Does anyone else bruise this easily, and if so, do you know what causes it? This is not a recent thing by the way, I've always been like it.

[HuffwardlyRudge]

Me me!! I put it down to three things -

1. I am clumsy
2. I am sleep deprived and racing around after two undisciplined children.
3. I don't clot easily.

Fake tan helps hide the bruises. Also, remember as a kid your parents telling you to "watch what you're doing"? Try applying it to adult life - take a breath and think about what you're doing and over the weeks try to train yourself to be more spacially aware.

[CMOTdibbler]

Yes, I've always bruised badly and extensively. My legs are permanently bruised, and carrying a heavy shoulder bag will leave me bruised.

No idea what causes it - but strangely when I was taking low dose aspirin when pg with DS (after 3 mcs) it wasn't as bad.

[TheDevilWearsPenneys]

I have always been like this, and my DD is the same. I have never had a nosebleed in my life so not sure if it's the same reasons as you.

I think I'm just clumsy as hell.

[girlandboy]

Well at least I am not alone.

I have been ultra careful lately, though I am not a clumsy person.

But 17 bruises!!!!!!

There are 3 on the backs of my calves that are almost plum sized. And plum coloured come to think of it.

I will give the fake tan a go. But won't this just make the bruises a bit darker?

[psychomum5]

I do........I think some people are just made that way.

the same as some people attract mozzies more than others, some people never bruise regardless of how hard you hit them (my DH for instance!), and others tan while yet others burn.

I burise and burn FWIW, so have to either not care, or cover up..........a veer between the two.

[TheDevilWearsPenneys]

I find that bruisease stuff really works but you have to put it on as soon as you suspect a bruise may appear. Arnica helps too.

[girlandboy]

Looks like the long skirts will have to be dusted off then.

I really don't want to show the world my awful looking legs, so here we go again.

[LastOrders]

I bruise very easily. DP and I had a small altercation a few weeks ago and he grabbed my arms in a "calm down" type way and I had bruises in the exact places he'd grabbed. He felt very bad.

And my legs always look bad. Like a couple of week old bananas!

And I burn. But don't suffer nosebleeds.

[girlandboy]

That's just the problem really. I never know when a bruise will appear. The end of the day comes, I strip off and some more have appeared.

I've tried the arnica, but it didn't help.

[girlandboy]

I don't even own a pair of shorts.

I've been tempted to buy some for summer, but in reality I don't think I would get to wear them.

[sophiaverloren]

Oh yes! I always have random bruises - and bruise really easily so when I know where they come from, it from something really trivial (my 3 yr olds fingers when grabbing my arm, for example). Don't have nosebleeds though. And no, I have no idea why. Actually, maybe I should be more concerned.

However, I AM clumsy - I walk into the corners of desks, or hit the end of the ned, etc. I must just do lots of things that don't really hurt and shouldn't warrant a bruise, but they appear anyway.

[tribpot]

Same here - permanently bruised, no idea where most of them came from. Some are from ds clambering on me but not most. I also have nosebleeds, burn easily and attract mozzies like mad. I think it's just the penalty of being very fair skinned.

[sophiaverloren]

ned??? bed

[sophiaverloren]

and a tick to be attractive to mozzies and burning easily - is it a pale skin issue, do you think?

[girlandboy]

Sounds like we all should be wrapped up in a thick layer of bubble wrap.

[girlandboy]

I'm not attractive to mozzies fortunately but I do burn a bit in the sun. I am extremely pale (think Morticia Addams)

[GorgonsGin]

me, me too!

I bruise all the time and rarely remember how I get them, but if i do knock myself, i can feel a slight tingly senstion under the skin which I know means another bruise!

I hate wearing summer clothes. I am very fair skinned/pale and always have bruises on my legs and also you can see my veins (I don't mean thread veins or varacose, but the ordinary blue ones under the skin). I don't find that fake tan helps me much, but that's maybe because I am so pale that any more than a smidgeon to take away the milky bottle colour makes me look very odd

I tend to wear linen trousers and pedal pusher length jeans to cover up my legs and try to wear sleeveless tops to balance it. Unless on the beach, I am not comfortable showing my legs and even though I am only 34 I've found that trying to copy the dress of elegant older French ladies, gives me a style I like.

[LilRedWG]

I have no idea where most of my bruises come from and constantly have the shins and knees of a seven year old tree climbing tom boy. I've given up stressing really. I've always been like it. My skin is very fair too and my legs never tan, so they are bright white interspersed with various shades of blue, brown, green and yellow - nice!

[GorgonsGin]

sophie - I wonder if it is not just a pale skin issue but a thin skin one? Some people seem to have opaque skin that nothing shows through, if that makes sense while I have easily bruised, thin skin

[PlumpRumpSoggyBaps]

Might be a pale skin thing- I bruise easily and they take ages to go. I'm also particularly attractive to mozzies/midges/gnats/any small bitey thing.

I also do karate, which usually means begging and bleating for 2 weeks before an important event 'Please don't hit me! Please don't hit me!' to fellow students/instructors etc.

Also I've seen the odd glance thrown dh's way when I'm covered in bruises from karate/brushing lightly past a door etc.

[girlandboy]

I need some suggestions for beach wear. (See how optimistic I am being for a Cornish holiday in July).

I always feel such a charlie being surrounded by bikini clad ladies, and there's me in my long trousers.

But I don't want a flipping kaftan.

And nothing too young - I'm 43 and haven't actually owned a bikini for about 25 years.

[sophiaverloren]

thin skin is likely actually - I have some sort of recollection that someone, somewhere in my life has mentioned that fact that I have thin skin. How odd - never connected that until now. Will not crank up wondering into concern then!

[TheDevilWearsPenneys]

Oh the thin skin is maybe a good point, I don't burn easily but I scratch and scar very easily.

[sleepwhenidie]

Don't be offended but do you drink quite a lot? I know when I was drinking quite a lot regularly (a lifestyle thing when I was younger and working in a job that featured quite a lot of social drinking/networking, I wasn't an alcoholic!) I bruised very easily, but don't seem to now that I am a lightweight when it comes to alcohol (too tired to contemplate the horror of a hangover and 6am start with DC's)!

I seem to remember someone confirming this link and suggesting milk thistle as a remedy to help liver function which is all related to bruising....may be worth trying even if you don't drink much, its homeopathic so I don't think there are any negative effects.

Just a thought...

[girlandboy]

I'm not offended - don't worry.

I don't actually drink at all. It triggers my IBS off, so I know it's not alcohol that's the problem.

Mind you, I didn't know that bruising could be related to liver function, so maybe the milk thistle could help.

Thanks.

Sounds like I'm still destined for the kaftan on the beach though.