Key points
- Ask about medication and health conditions during negotiation
- Blood thinners and some other medicines make bruising much heavier
- Thin or fragile skin tears and bruises more easily
- Redness is harder to see on darker skin, so check by touch too
- Never stop or skip medication to make a scene easier
In detail
- Medicines that increase bleeding include anticoagulants, aspirin, anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen, and some antidepressants. A pharmacist can tell you whether yours do
- Long-term steroid use, older age and some connective tissue conditions thin the skin, so it can bruise or tear under light impact
- Bleeding disorders, diabetes, lupus and skin conditions such as eczema change how skin reacts and heals. Reduced sensation means a person may not feel when it is too much
- On darker skin, redness and early bruising can be hard to see. Feel for heat, swelling and tenderness, and ask often
- Darker skin can keep marks longer, and some people form raised scars. Start lighter and watch how the skin responds
- Stick to well-padded areas such as the buttocks and upper thighs, and avoid the kidneys, spine, joints, belly and head for everyone
- Start slowly and build up over several sessions rather than finding the limit in one
Warnings
- A bruise that keeps growing, hard painful swelling or a large lump needs a medical check
- Dark brown urine, severe muscle pain or weakness after heavy impact needs urgent medical care
- Anyone on blood thinners should avoid impact near the head, and any fall or head knock needs medical advice
- Avoid impact on the belly during pregnancy
Resources and next steps
- A pharmacist or your doctor for questions about medication and bleeding
- The guide on marks and bruising on this site
- The guide on impact play safe zones on this site
- A kink-aware doctor, for example through the NCSF Kink Aware Professionals directory