Thin Skin That Bruises Easily
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Worried about your symptoms?
Start the test with our free AI Symptom Checker.
This will help us personalize your assessment.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Try one of these related symptoms.
Skin bleeding
Purple color spots on the skin
Purpura
Has internal bleeding on the skin
About the Symptom
Easy bruising is defined as the occurrence of visible bruises, without any particular or remembered trauma.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Difficulty breathing / breathlessness
- Muscle weakness in the limbs
- Numbness / sensory disorder
- Swelling of the affected area
- Repeated fever above 38 ℃
- Recent weight loss
Possible Causes
Generally, Thin skin that bruises easily can be related to:
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a type of arthritis that occurs in children under 16 years old. It's a chronic condition characterized by joint pain and swelling that can last for months or years. It affects one or more joints for at least 6 weeks. JIA occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own tissues The cause of JIA is unknown.
- Cushing's Syndrome
This condition is caused by excessive amounts of a hormone called cortisol. It may be caused by the consumption of some steroid medications or the body producing too much cortisol because of a tumor. It can present with a fatty hump between the shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on the skin. Cushing syndrome also can cause high blood pressure bone loss or diabetes.
- Drug-Induced Obesity
Drug-induced weight gain is a side effect of many commonly used drugs, such as long-term steroid medication. This often leads to obesity-related health problems. Due to the weight gain, some patients discontinue the medication.
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Thin skin that bruises easily may be related to these serious diseases:
- Niemann-Pick Disease
Niemann-Pick disease is a rare genetic disease that affects the body's ability to break down fat (cholesterol and lipids) within cells, causing these cells to malfunction and eventually die. The brain, nerves, liver, spleen, bone marrow, and, in severe cases, the lungs, can all be affected by Niemann-Pick disease.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you bruise more easily or have thinner skin than before?
- How has your symptom of thin or easily bruised skin evolved?
- How long have you had thin or easily bruised skin this time?
- Have you experienced thin or easily bruised skin before?
Reviewed By:
Sarita Nori, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Sarita Nori was drawn to dermatology because of the intersection of science and medicine that is at the heart of dermatology. She feels this is what really allows her to help her patients. “There is a lot of problem-solving in dermatology and I like that,” she explains. “It’s also a profession where you can help people quickly and really make a difference in their lives.” | Some of the typical skin problems that Dr. Nori treats include skin cancers, psoriasis, acne, eczema, rashes, and contact dermatitis. Dr Nori believes in using all possible avenues of treatment, such as biologics, especially in patients with chronic diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. “These medications can work superbly, and they are really life-changing for many patients.” | Dr. Nori feels it’s important for patients to have a good understanding of the disease or condition that is affecting them. “I like to educate my patients on their problem and have them really understand it so they can take the best course of action. Patients always do better when they understand their skin condition, and how to treat it.”
Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
Was this page helpful?
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizHow Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Blood bleeds from under the skin
- Blood spots under the skin
- Blood spots on the skin
Find Similar Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from similar body parts
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Our symptom checker AI is continuously refined with input from experienced physicians, empowering them to make more accurate diagnoses.
Ubie is recognized by healthcare and tech leaders
“World’s Best Digital
Health Companies”
Newsweek 2024
“Best With AI”
Google Play Best of 2023
“Best in Class”
Digital Health Awards 2023 (Quarterfinalist)
Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Kraut EH. Easy bruising. In: UpToDate, Post TW (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA. (Accessed on Dec 6, 2023)