Does it just seem that way or do we women actually get bruises more often than men? We got to the bottom of this myth.
Why women are more likely to get bruises than men
It's true: women are more likely to get bruises than men! But why is that? There is a network of collagen fibers in the dermis, which holds the rest of the skin together like a net. It also ensures that our skin remains firm. The blood vessels lie beneath this mesh. And now comes the big difference between men and women: The collagen mesh differs considerably between the sexes.
Female skin naturally has a higher fat content and less collagen. The reason for this is that the skin has to be able to stretch during pregnancy.In men, on the other hand, the connective tissue is firmer and the collagen layer thicker and more impermeable. As a result, their underlying blood vessels are much better protected than in women. If we bump into something, the connective tissue absorbs much less pressure and our blood vessels are affected more quickly than is the case with men.
Incidentally, these differences in skin structure mean that women have cellulite much more often than men. Another reason why women are more prone to hematomas: The hormone oestrogen in the female body weakens the walls of the blood vessels. This is why we women unfortunately get varicose veins more often.
>> Read also: Removing calluses: the best tricks
Bruises: These factors also promote them
- Age: With increasing age, the blood vessel walls become more fragile and the skin thinner due to the breakdown of collagen.
- Medication: Certain blood-thinning preparations such as acetylsalicylic acid, which is contained in aspirin, for example, can reduce blood clotting. This can promote the formation of bruises.
- Different connective tissue: Every skin is different, which is why some people are more prone to bruising than others.
- Blood clotting and circulatory disorders: In rare cases, even the slightest touch can lead to bleeding under the skin due to a low number of platelets.