What are bruises?
Bruises are also known as ecchymoses or contusions. They take place when the muscle fibers and connective tissue are crushed, but the skin doesn’t break. After a muscle and a tissue are struck, the small blood vessels start leaking under the skin. As there is no place to go, the blood gets trapped and forms a red mark, which is called a bruise.
How long does a bruise last?
If your bruise changes its color, it means that it will disappear soon. When you just get a bruise, its color is reddish, but within 1 or 2 days it turns bluish-purple or even blackish. After 5-10 days, your bruise will turn greenish or yellowish and after 10-14 days, it becomes yellowish-brown, light brown and then fades away.
At higher risk to bruise easily are people:
- with a soft and sensitive skin tissue
- with certain conditions and diseases
- who take certain medications
Instant Remedies For Bruises
- apply ice when you first get a bruise for half an hour to an hour; ice reduces the inflammation, swelling and the amount of blood that leaks into the tissues
- use a bag of frozen vegetables if you don’t have ice
- elevate the bruised area above the level of your heart
Although bruises are not a problem and they heal by themselves, there are cases when you should see a doctor if:
- your bruise is swelling
- your bruise is more painful and increases in size
- you bruise without bumping into things
- the bruise is right near your eye
- a bruise doesn’t fade away after 2 weeks
- you can’t move a joint
- you take blood thinners or aspirin
Unfortunately, bruises can’t be avoided completely as you may bump into things very often. If you play sports, this is almost impossible, so wear protective gear like pads, helmets and shin guards that will save you from a lot of pain and complications.
Additionally, if the skin is injured over a bruise, cleanse the area to prevent a skin infection. Keep in mind that sudden and unexplained bruises may be caused by various diseases, so you should see a doctor if you have this problem.
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When you discover that you have bruises, it is very important to know how to react to their apparition and what to do in order to have them covered up and treated. These are very valuable and useful information, as they can help you a lot in a variety of situations. However, you should start by thinking about how you got that specific bruise and, if you cannot remember, a trip to the doctor’s office is strongly recommended, as you must find out if you hit yourself at some point or if you are bruising due to the fact that you have a more dangerous health problem.
After an accident, you may remain for quite some time with bruises, especially if it was a serious one. The best part about getting bruised is thinking that it could have been worse that is actually is. Think about this if you want to see the silver lining. You can use lotions and hydrating creams prescribed by a doctor to speed the healing process, but there is nothing more you can do in order to get rid of the awful spots on your body. These may have different colors and may change in time before actually disappear, but you have to be patient, because it takes a long time to completely cure. Do not forget that your skin was hurt and your blood vessels broken and be patient. Time is essential in this matter. No matter what type of accident you had, if you were guilty or not, you need to be aware of the fact that these things happen and there is nothing you can do now, just wait.