amay256

And I think I read somewhere that ecchymosis and purpura can be caused by medications as well? Not 100% on that though so don't quote me on it. But maybe that's what your co-worker meant when she was saying it was of ecchymotic origin and not simply a bruise from scratching? :)

Well actually in my studies I've learnt that bruising is commonly but mistakenly called ecchymosis - brusies are caused by trauma (such as an elderly person scratching too hard, or someone knocking themselves or hitting an area and bursting blood vessels. e.g trauma caused by something outside the body). However ecchymosis is a form of purpura, and is caused by something internal to the body, such as vascular, platelet or coagulation disorders. So just to clarify, bruises are caused by trauma to an area where as ecchymosis is the rupturing of blood vessels due to an issue internally.