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Every winter, like clockwork, I start hearing the same thing in the office:
“I haven’t bruised with our last three appointments, what’s going on?”
And you’re not imagining it. Many people really are more prone to bruising in the colder months. If you’ve noticed a little extra purple after injectables, blood draws, or even bumping into the kitchen counter you’ve somehow hit for the last 15 years… winter may be partly to blame.
Let’s talk about why.
In colder temperatures, your body naturally constricts blood vessels near the surface of the skin. This is called vasoconstriction, and it helps conserve heat.
Sounds helpful, right? Yes… but there’s a trade-off.
When vessels constrict and then re-expand (like when you go from freezing outside to a warm room), they can become more fragile. More fragile vessels = more likely to leak a little blood into surrounding tissue when irritated, bumped, or poked with a tiny needle (hi, injectables).
So even minor trauma can show up as a more noticeable bruise.
Cold air outside + dry indoor heat = dehydrated skin.
When skin is dry:
Think of well-hydrated skin like a firm, supportive mattress. Winter skin? More like an old couch cushion that’s lost its bounce.
Less support means vessels are more easily injured and bruises can look darker or linger longer.
During the winter, people tend to get:
Vitamin C, in particular, plays a role in collagen production and blood vessel integrity. When levels are low, capillaries can be a bit more fragile, making bruising more likely.
I’m not saying your orange is personally responsible for your under-eye bruise… but nutrition does matter more than we think.
Winter is also the season of:
Many of these thin the blood or affect platelet function, which can make bruising easier and bruises more dramatic.
So yes, that “one little Advil” before your appointment can be part of the story.
You can’t control the weather, but you can stack the odds in your favor.
Hydrated skin is more resilient skin. Drink water consistently, but also think topically.
Winter is when I start joking that I want to bathe in Triple Lipid. And honestly? I’m only half kidding. Rich barrier-repair moisturizers help support the skin structure around those tiny vessels so they’re better protected.
Great winter options include:
Well-hydrated skin = better cushion for blood vessels.
If your skin feels tight, dull, or extra dry, it’s not just cosmetic. Dehydrated skin is more reactive and fragile.
A hydration-focused Diamond Glow facial is one of my favorite winter skin resets. It deeply cleans, exfoliates, and infuses hydrating serums so skin is healthier and more resilient overall — which helps everything, including how skin handles procedures.
A balanced diet with adequate:
helps maintain vessel strength and tissue repair.
If medically safe for you, consider avoiding (for about a week before procedures):
Always check with your physician first, especially if you’re on prescription medications.
If you have a wedding, photos, or a big event, don’t schedule injectables the day before and hope for the best. Winter skin sometimes needs a little more grace period.
More bruising in winter doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you. It’s usually a combination of:
Your body is just doing its winter thing. We just notice it more when there’s a tiny needle involved.
The good news? Bruises are temporary. Confidence is longer lasting. And a little planning goes a long way.
As always, if you bruise easily or notice a sudden major change, let your primary care physician and me know. But for most people, this is just another charming feature of Midwest winter… right up there with dry hands and static hair.
