Yet another bruise. You don't remember bumping into anything, but lately you seem to be bruising often. Should you be worried?

Easy bruising is common with age. Most bruises are harmless and go away without treatment. However, easy bruising can sometimes be a sign of a more serious health condition.

Most bruises form when small blood vessels, called capillaries, near the skin's surface are broken by the impact of a blow or injury. This often happens on the arms or legs. Blood then leaks out of the vessels. At first, the blood looks like a dark mark. Over time the body reabsorbs the blood, and the mark disappears.

Generally, harder blows cause larger bruises. But if you bruise easily, even a small bump may cause a large bruise.

Some people tend to bruise more easily than others. And as people get older, the skin becomes thinner. It also loses some of the protective fatty layer that helps cushion blood vessels from injury.

Some medicines may lead to easy bruising by lowering the blood's ability to clot. Examples include:

1. Aspirin.
2. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others).
3. Naproxen sodium (Aleve).
4. Anticoagulant medicines, such as warfarin (Jantoven), dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), apixaban (Eliquis), edoxaban (Savaysa) and heparin. These medicines sometimes are called blood-thinners.
5. Anti-platelet agents, such as clopidogrel (Plavix), prasugrel (Effient) and ticagrelor (Brilinta).

Some antibiotics and antidepressants also may cause problems with blood clotting. In people who take medicine that lowers the blood's ability to clot, bleeding from damage to small blood vessels near the skin's surface might take longer than usual to stop. This allows enough blood to leak out under the skin to cause a bruise.

Medicines called corticosteroids thin the skin, and that makes it easier to bruise too. 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're bruising easily, don't stop taking your medicines. Talk with your healthcare professional about your concerns. Also, tell your healthcare professional about any supplements you take. That's especially important if you're taking a supplement when you're also taking a blood-thinning medicine. Your healthcare professional might tell you not to take certain supplements or other medicines that you can buy without a prescription.

Easy bruising sometimes may be a symptom of a serious health issue, such as a blood-clotting condition or a blood disease. See your healthcare professional if you:

• Often get large bruises, especially if the bruises are on your chest, stomach area, back or face, or if they seem to happen without a clear reason.
• Have easy bruising and also bleed easily or bleed a lot, such as after a small cut or during surgery.
• Suddenly begin bruising or suddenly bruise more easily, especially if you recently started a new medicine.
• Have family members who bruise easily or bleed easily.

Health concerns that may be linked to easy bruising include:

• Low levels of platelets. Platelets are the part of blood that helps it clot after an injury.
• A problem with how platelets work.
• Problems with proteins that help the blood clot.

Another serious cause of bruising is domestic violence or abuse. If someone has a bruise that can't be explained, especially in an unusual location such as on the face, be aware of the possibility of abuse.

To find the cause of bruising, your healthcare professional likely will do a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. You also may have your blood platelet levels checked or have tests that measure the time it takes your blood to clot.

To prevent minor bruising, take steps to avoiding falls and injuries:

• Use good lighting in your home.
• Avoid clutter and throw rugs, especially on stairs.
• Arrange furniture and electrical cords so that they're not in your way when you walk.
• Find out about the side effects of medicines you take. Tell your healthcare professional or pharmacist if a medicine makes you dizzy or sleepy.
• Have your vision and hearing tested. Even small changes in sight or hearing may cause falls.

Once a bruise has formed, not much can be done to treat it. Most bruises go away over time as the body absorbs the blood. But healing might take longer as you age. As a bruise heals, it might help to raise the area that's bruised and put ice on it.

Easy bruising sometimes indicates a serious underlying condition, such as a blood-clotting problem or a blood disease. See your health care provider if you:

• Have frequent, large bruises, especially if your bruises appear on your trunk, back or face or seem to develop for no known reasons
• Have easy bruising and a history of excessive or prolonged bleeding, such as after a minor cut or during a surgical procedure
• Suddenly begin bruising, especially if you recently started a new medication
• Have a family history of easy bruising or bleeding

These symptoms may indicate:

• Low levels of the blood components that help blood clot after injury (platelets)
• A problem with how platelets function
• Problems with proteins that help the blood clot

Another serious cause of bruising is domestic violence or abuse. 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.

To find the cause of your bruising, your health care provider will likely do a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. Your provider might also check your blood platelet levels or do tests that measure the time it takes your blood to clot.