:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/VWH-GettyImages-2178492015-d1b495b8ea9a45c48269d7486a43e264.jpg?w=780&resize=780,470&ssl=1 "How long does it take for a bruise to heal?")
Main to remember
- The healing time for a bruise can vary depending on the way and how bruises have occurred, your overall health and other individual factors.
- Talk to your health care provider for advice on how to prevent and treat bruises.
Bruising, also called bruises, can be unsightly, but more than that, if you have one, you will want to know how long it will last. The good news is that most bruises disappear alone and that your skin will return to normal before knowing it.
How long does a bruise to heal?
Although time can vary depending on many circumstances such as the type, severity and location of bruises, many bruises last about two weeks. However, some can take more than two weeks, even up to a few months, to disappear completely. A bruising often follows this course:
- Bruising generally begins to feel tender and to appear in pink or reddish color
- In a few hours, bruising will become blue / purple
- As it heals, bruising changes the color due to a chemical reaction in the blood
- As the blood breaks down, different colors will appear. After the blue / purple phase, bruising will generally become yellow / green, then gradually fades to normal.
The healing process can be slower in the elderly, people who take anticoagulants or those who suffer from health problems that affect blood clotting.
What is a bruise?
A bruise is a discolored brand on the skin that forms when small blood vessels break, but the skin remains intact. When these blood vessels are damaged, the blood flees below the surface of the skin. A bruise can be painful and swollen, and there are different types of bruises:
- Intramuscular bruises occur in a muscle
- Periosteal bruises occur on a bone and are the most serious type of bruise
- Subcutaneous bruises occur just under the skin
What causes a bruise?
Bruising is generally caused by a kind of strength, such as:
- A car accident
- A sports injury
- Fall
- Be struck by a person or an object
Some people are more likely to obtain bruises. For example, people who take anticoagulants or drugs used to prevent blood clots are more sensitive to bruises. Older adults have more fragile skin, making bruises more likely. Some people have a medical condition that makes them more likely to make murderers, such as platform deficiency or liver disease. These factors can also affect the duration of a bruise.
How to help bruise to cure faster
Here are some tips to help your bruise to cure faster, which are summarized in the table below:
DO:
- Ice the contusion to help healing and to bring down swelling. Rather than applying ice directly to the skin, it is better to wrap the ice in a clean towel and apply up to 15 minutes per hour. After two days, you can add heat with a heating cushion or taking a hot bath, but first check with your health care provider, and avoid heat in the first 48 hours as it can really enlarge the bruise.
- Raise the bruised area above the heart. This helps to prevent blood from gathering in the bruised tissues.
- Rest the part of the bruised body.
- If necessary, take a medication against over -the -counter pain (OTC) such as tylenol (acetaminophen). If you do not know which over -the -counter analgesics you can take, consult your health care provider or pharmacist.
NOT:
- Do not try to drain the bruise with a needle.
- Do not be aware of pain and swelling.
- Do not continue to use the painful and bruised zone.
- Do not use heat in the first 48 hours.
| Do and make bruise healing | |
|---|---|
| Do | Not |
| Ice | Do not try to drain the bruises |
| Raise | Do not continue to use the bruised area |
| Rest | Do not be aware of pain and swelling |
| Take an over -the -counter pain medication if necessary | Do not use heat in the first 48 hours |
Ways to help prevent bruises
Although all bruises or injuries cannot be avoided, you can take certain safety measures to help prevent bruises:
- Avoid standing or kneeling on the counters
- Take measures to ensure the safety of your home, such as removing footprint and keeping the house well lit
- Use appropriate sports equipment, such as tibia protectors, knee pads and helmets when cycling
- Be cautious when you get on scales or other objects
- Wear safety belts in vehicles
You can ask your health care provider advice to prevent injury and bruise depending on the activities in which you participate. If you have already undergone an injury, your healthcare professional can recommend a personalized device to protect the bruised area and prevent other injuries.
When to call your health care provider
Get emergency medical aid if the bruised area is accompanied by extreme pressure, especially if the area is large or very painful. You should also obtain emergency or urgent medical aid for serious symptoms such as a bruise on or around the eye, an injury or an elbow or a bruise in the head, a difficulty in breathing or a broken bone. If in doubt or uncertain, it is better to be mistaken on the side of prudence and obtain medical aid. You should call your health care provider immediately for one of the following elements:
- A bruising appears without injury, fall or known cause, or if you have bruises often or have recurrent bruises
- There are signs of infection such as red streaks, pus, drainage or fever
- The bruising did not cure after two weeks
- The bruise is swollen and painful, or the pain and swelling wrapped
- The person with bruising has a blood clotting disorder or takes a blood decrease
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