Women have a reputation for being soft, delicate creatures that bruise like a peach, and although in many ways we’re a lot tougher than we look when it comes to bruises it’s true: we really do get them more often and more easily than men do.

The reasons why are complicated but have to do with a couple of different things: that women’s skin is generally thinner than men’s and that the structure of the skin is slightly different between the sexes (which also happens to be why men don’t get cellulite the way women do). Men don’t bruise as easily as women because they have a denser collagen layer that holds the blood vessels more securely, which makes them less susceptible to bumps and ruptures.

Of course there are other factors that can contribute to bruising like skin damage, aging, and certain medical conditions or medications, but for the most part bruising is normal part of life.

There are things you can do to minimize the severity of a bruise, though, so next time you bump your shin on the coffee table try these tips:

• Apply ice for 10-20 minutes to reduce the flow of blood leaking out into the tissue
• Elevate the area to discourage excess blood flow and pooling
• Eat a diet rich in Vitamin K (broccoli, blueberries), Vitamin C (citrus), Vitamin B12 (eggs, dairy, fish), and folic acid (leafy greens) to promote healthy clotting and healing
• After about 24hrs start applying a warm compress intermittently to stimulate blood flow and help the bruise resolve more quickly

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