Random bruising all over the body might suggest that your body urgently needs one of these three vitamins

A bruise is a common skin injury that results in a discoloration of the skin. Blood from damaged blood cells deep beneath the skin collects near the surface of the skin, resulting in what we think of as a black and blue mark. People typically get bruises when they bump into something or when something bumps into them.

Initially, a fresh bruise may actually be reddish. It will then turn blue or dark purple within a few hours, then yellow or green after a few days as it heals. A bruise is commonly tender, and sometimes even painful for the first few days, but the pain usually goes away as the color fades. Because the skin is not broken in a bruise, there is no risk of infection.

In general, bruises are not something one should worry about, as they are easily treatable with over-the-counter medications and creams for external use, but if random bruises start to appear on different parts of the body, then it means that our body is lacking some important vitamins.

Certain vitamins help strengthen the blood vessels of your walls so they are less prone to leaking. Some vitamins also contribute to healthy blood clotting, which also helps make your blood vessels leak less. Vitamin C, which is found in citrus fruits, potatoes, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables, is one of these vitamins. The vitamin is known to help with the creation of collagen, a protein that gives your skin its structure. But when you’re low in vitamin C, your blood vessels are closer to the outside world – meaning they’re more likely to rupture and cause bruising.

Lack of Vitamin K is another reason that might be associated with unexplained and easy bruising. Vitamin K plays a key role in helping the blood clot, preventing excessive bleeding. Unlike many other vitamins, vitamin K is not typically used as a dietary supplement. One of the biggest advantages of Vitamin K is that this vitamin can strengthen the walls of the smallest blood vessels in the body, the capillaries. Capillaries can easily break when the Vitamin K levels in the body are low. However, in the western world, most people get enough of both these nutrients. “Most people get enough vitamin C and Vitamin K from a healthy diet,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

A more common vitamin deficiency, which is also prevalent in our diet, is iron deficiency. Iron is a vital chemical for producing healthy red blood cells. When levels are low, your body may not create enough of these blood cells – known as anemia. Like a vitamin K deficiency, Iron deficiency anemia can reduce clotting. The Iron Clinic explains: “As well as not being able to make enough red blood cells (anemia), there can also be a reduction in platelet production.”

Iron deficiency is more common in women, especially pregnant women. According to the Mayo Clinic, pregnant women are at increased risk of iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a condition in which you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues. Some other symptoms that might occur due to anemia are tiredness and lack of energy, shortness of breath, noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations) and, pale skin. A simple blood test might easily detect low iron levels in your blood.

In elderly people, random and easy bruising is more frequent because the skin gets thinner, dryer, and tears more easily. The skin also tends to bruise easier. Random and easy bruising in elderly people is more often associated with their age than with a lack of vitamin C, Vitamin K or iron deficiency.