What causes bruises and blood spots under the skin. How long do bruises typically last. When should you be concerned about a bruise that won’t go away. What are the best ways to treat bruises at home. How can you distinguish between normal bruising and more serious conditions.

The Nature of Bruises: Formation and Healing Process

Bruises, also known as contusions, are a common occurrence in our daily lives. They form when small blood vessels under the skin rupture, often due to a bump or fall. The leaking blood into surrounding tissues causes the characteristic black-and-blue coloration we associate with bruises.

How long does a typical bruise last? Most bruises heal within 2 to 4 weeks, during which time they may change colors. This color transformation often follows a predictable pattern:

• Purplish black
• Reddish blue
• Yellowish green

The location of a bruise can affect its healing time. For instance, a bruise on the leg tends to take longer to heal compared to one on the face or arms. This is partly due to gravity’s effect, which can cause the bruised area to spread downward.

Factors Influencing Bruise Formation and Healing

Several factors can influence how easily a person bruises and how quickly their bruises heal:

• Age: Older adults often bruise more easily due to less flexible and thinner skin
• Gender: Women tend to bruise more easily than men, especially on thighs, buttocks, and upper arms
• Genetics: A tendency to bruise easily can run in families
• Sun exposure: Skin damage from the sun can make blood vessels more prone to breaking
• Medication: Certain medications, like blood thinners, can increase bruising

Distinguishing Between Bruises and Other Skin Conditions

While most bruises are harmless and heal on their own, it’s important to distinguish them from other skin conditions that may require medical attention.

Hematomas vs. Regular Bruises

A hematoma occurs when blood collects and pools under the skin after an injury. Unlike a regular bruise, a hematoma may feel like a firm lump and have a spongy, rubbery texture. While usually not a cause for concern, hematomas differ from regular bruises in their appearance and feel.

Blood Spots: Purpura and Petechiae

Blood spots under the skin may be either purpura or petechiae. These differ from bruises in several ways:

• Purpura: May look like bruises but are not caused by injury
• Petechiae: Tiny, flat, red or purple spots in the skin, distinct from birthmarks

Sudden unexplained bruising or blood spots, or an increase in their frequency, could indicate underlying health issues and may require medical evaluation.

When to Be Concerned: Red Flags for Bruising

While most bruises are harmless, certain signs may indicate a need for medical attention:

1. Severe bruising, swelling, and pain beginning within 30 minutes of an injury
2. Bruises that don’t seem to be caused by an accidental injury
3. Unexplained bruises or blood spots appearing suddenly or frequently
4. Bruises accompanied by a fever or feeling unwell
5. Bruises that are extremely painful or limit your range of motion

These symptoms could indicate more serious conditions such as a severe sprain, fracture, or in some cases, a sign of abuse or underlying health issues.

Potential Causes of Abnormal Bruising

Unexplained or excessive bruising might be caused by:

• Blood disorders
• Certain medications
• Vitamin K deficiency
• Liver disease
• Some types of cancer

If you’re experiencing unusual bruising, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Home Treatment for Bruises: Speeding Up the Healing Process

While most bruises heal on their own, certain home remedies can help speed up the healing process and alleviate discomfort:

1. Apply ice immediately after the injury to reduce swelling
2. After 48 hours, switch to warm compresses to increase blood flow
3. Elevate the bruised area if possible
4. Use over-the-counter pain relievers if necessary
5. Apply arnica gel or cream, which may help reduce bruising

Remember, these treatments are most effective when applied soon after the injury occurs.

The RICE Method for Bruise Treatment

The RICE method is a commonly recommended approach for treating bruises and other minor injuries:

• Rest: Avoid using the injured area
• Ice: Apply cold packs to reduce swelling
• Compression: Use an elastic bandage to minimize swelling
• Elevation: Raise the injured area above the heart when possible

This method can be particularly effective for bruises on limbs or extremities.

Bruising in Special Populations: Children and Older Adults

Bruising can be a particular concern in certain populations, such as children and older adults.

Bruising in Children

Children often get bruises from their active lifestyles. However, unexplained bruising in children could be a sign of:

• A bleeding disorder
• Nutritional deficiencies
• In some cases, physical abuse

If you notice unusual bruising patterns in a child, it’s important to seek medical advice.

Bruising in Older Adults

Older adults are more prone to bruising due to several factors:

• Thinner skin
• Less fat under the skin
• More fragile blood vessels
• Increased use of blood-thinning medications

While increased bruising is often a normal part of aging, sudden changes in bruising patterns should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Preventing Bruises: Strategies for Reducing Bruise Occurrence

While it’s impossible to prevent all bruises, certain strategies can help reduce their occurrence:

1. Wear protective gear during sports and physical activities
2. Remove tripping hazards from your home
3. Ensure adequate lighting to prevent bumps and falls
4. Maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins C and K
5. Exercise regularly to improve balance and coordination

For those who bruise easily, taking extra precautions in daily activities can significantly reduce bruising incidents.

Dietary Considerations for Bruise Prevention

Certain nutrients can help strengthen blood vessels and promote healthy clotting, potentially reducing bruising:

• Vitamin C: Found in citrus fruits, berries, and leafy greens
• Vitamin K: Present in kale, spinach, and broccoli
• Flavonoids: Found in colorful fruits and vegetables
• Zinc: Present in lean meats, nuts, and seeds

Incorporating these nutrients into your diet may help improve your body’s resilience to bruising.

Medical Treatments for Abnormal Bruising

When bruising is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, treatment focuses on addressing the root cause. Medical interventions may include:

1. Adjusting or changing medications that may be causing excessive bruising
2. Treating underlying blood disorders
3. Addressing vitamin deficiencies through supplements or dietary changes
4. In some cases, using topical treatments to speed up bruise healing

The specific treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the abnormal bruising, as determined by a healthcare professional.

When to Seek Emergency Care

While most bruises are harmless, certain situations warrant immediate medical attention:

• A bruise that is rapidly spreading
• Severe pain and swelling
• Signs of infection, such as red streaks or pus
• Bruising accompanied by difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Bruising after a significant trauma or accident

In these cases, it’s crucial to seek emergency medical care to rule out more serious conditions.

Understanding the Link Between Bruising and Other Health Conditions

Bruising can sometimes be a symptom of underlying health issues. Conditions that may cause abnormal bruising include:

• Hemophilia: A genetic disorder that affects blood clotting
• Von Willebrand disease: Another inherited bleeding disorder
• Leukemia: A type of blood cancer that can cause easy bruising
• Liver disease: Can affect the production of clotting factors
• Thrombocytopenia: A condition characterized by low platelet count

If you’re experiencing unexplained or excessive bruising, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to rule out these conditions.

The Impact of Medications on Bruising

Certain medications can increase the likelihood of bruising. These include:

1. Blood thinners (anticoagulants)
2. Aspirin and other NSAIDs
3. Some antibiotics
4. Certain dietary supplements, such as fish oil or ginkgo biloba

If you’re taking any of these medications and notice increased bruising, consult with your healthcare provider. They may adjust your dosage or recommend alternative treatments.

Understanding the nature of bruises, their causes, and when to be concerned can help you better manage your health. While most bruises are harmless and heal on their own, being aware of the signs that indicate a need for medical attention is crucial. By implementing preventive strategies and knowing how to treat bruises effectively, you can minimize their impact on your daily life. Remember, if you have concerns about bruising, especially if it’s frequent or unexplained, don’t hesitate to seek medical advice.

Bruises and Blood Spots Under the Skin | CS Mott Children’s Hospital

Topic Overview

Bruises

Bruises develop when small blood vessels under the skin tear or rupture, most often from a bump or fall. Blood leaks into tissues under the skin and causes the black-and-blue color. As bruises (contusions) heal, usually within 2 to 4 weeks, they often turn colors, including purplish black, reddish blue, or yellowish green. Sometimes the area of the bruise spreads down the body in the direction of gravity. A bruise on a leg usually will take longer to heal than a bruise on the face or arms.

Most bruises are not a cause for concern and will go away on their own. Home treatment may speed healing and relieve the swelling and soreness that often accompany bruises that are caused by injury. But severe bruising, swelling, and pain that begin within 30 minutes of an injury may mean a more serious problem, such as a severe sprain or fracture.

If you bruise easily, you may not even remember what caused a bruise. Bruising easily does not mean you have a serious health problem, especially if bruising is minimal or only shows up once in a while.

• Older adults often bruise easily from minor injuries, especially injuries to the forearms, hands, legs, and feet. As a person ages, the skin becomes less flexible and thinner because there is less fat under the skin. The cushioning effect of the skin decreases as the fat under the skin decreases. These changes, along with skin damage from exposure to the sun, cause blood vessels to break easily. When blood vessels break, bruising occurs.
• Women bruise more easily than men, especially from minor injuries on the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms.
• A tendency to bruise easily sometimes runs in families.

Occasionally after an injury, blood collects and pools under the skin (hematoma), giving the skin a spongy, rubbery, lumpy feel. A regular bruise is more spread out and may not feel like a firm lump. A hematoma usually is not a cause for concern. It is not the same thing as a blood clot in a vein, and it does not cause blood clots.

Bruises that do not appear to be caused by an accidental injury may be caused by abuse. It is important to consider this possibility, especially if the bruises can’t be explained or if the explanations change or do not match the injury. Report this type of bruising and seek help to prevent further abuse.

Blood spots

Blood spots under the skin may be either purpura or petechiae. Purpura might look like bruises, but they are not caused by an injury as most regular bruises are. Petechiae don’t look like bruises. They are tiny, flat, red or purple spots in the skin, but they are different than the tiny, flat, red spots or birthmarks (hemangiomas) that are present all the time.

Sudden unexplained bruising or blood spots under the skin or a sudden increase in the frequency of bruising may be caused by:

Medical treatment for abnormal bruising or blood spots focuses on preventing or stopping bleeding, changing or adjusting a medicine that may be causing the bruising, or treating the medical problem that is causing the bruising.

If the skin is injured over a bruise, be sure to watch for signs of a skin infection.

Check Your Symptoms

Do you have bruises or blood spots under the skin?

If a bruise is rapidly spreading, you need try to stop the bleeding under the skin. Wrap the area (not too tightly) with an elastic bandage, such as an Ace wrap, and keep it on until you see a doctor. You can also put direct pressure on the area for 15 minutes at a time.

Yes

Bruises or blood spots under skin

No

Bruises or blood spots under skin

How old are you?

Less than 3 years

Less than 3 years

3 years or older

3 years or older

Are you male or female?

Why do we ask this question?

• If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
• If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
• If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as “male” and once as “female”). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.

Has there been a decrease in how alert or aware you are or how well you can think and respond?

Yes

Decreased level of consciousness

No

Decreased level of consciousness

Are there red streaks leading away from the area or pus draining from it?

Do you have diabetes, a weakened immune system, peripheral arterial disease, or any surgical hardware in the area?

“Hardware” includes things like artificial joints, plates or screws, catheters, and medicine pumps.

Yes

Diabetes, immune problems, peripheral arterial disease, or surgical hardware in affected area

No

Diabetes, immune problems, peripheral arterial disease, or surgical hardware in affected area

Do you think you may have a fever?

Do you feel lightheaded or dizzy, like you are going to faint?

It’s normal for some people to feel a little lightheaded when they first stand up. But anything more than that may be serious.

Are you bleeding now?

Yes

Abnormal bleeding now present

No

Abnormal bleeding now present

Do you think that the bruising may have been caused by abuse?

Yes

Bruises may have been caused by abuse

No

Bruises may have been caused by abuse

Has the number or size of bruises or blood spots increased for no clear reason?

Yes

Unexplained increase in size or number of bruises or blood spots

No

Unexplained increase in size or number of bruises or blood spots

Was the increase in bruises or blood spots fast?

Yes

Rapid increase in the number or size of bruises or blood spots

No

Rapid increase in the number or size of bruises or blood spots

Do you take a medicine that affects the blood’s ability to clot?

This may include blood thinners and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can cause bleeding and can make it harder to control bleeding.

Yes

Medicine may be causing bruises

No

Medicine may be causing bruises

Were the bruises caused by an injury?

Yes

Bruises caused by injury

No

Bruises caused by injury

Did a large, painful, very swollen bruise develop within 30 minutes after the injury?

Yes

Bruising within 30 minutes of injury

No

Bruising within 30 minutes of injury

Have you had bruises or blood spots for more than 2 weeks?

Yes

Bruises or blood spots for more than 2 weeks

No

Bruises or blood spots for more than 2 weeks

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

• Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
• Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
• Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
• Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
• Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

• Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
• Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.

Shock is a life-threatening condition that may quickly occur after a sudden illness or injury.

Adults and older children often have several symptoms of shock. These include:

• Passing out (losing consciousness).
• Feeling very dizzy or lightheaded, like you may pass out.
• Feeling very weak or having trouble standing.
• Not feeling alert or able to think clearly. You may be confused, restless, fearful, or unable to respond to questions.

Shock is a life-threatening condition that may occur quickly after a sudden illness or injury.

Babies and young children often have several symptoms of shock. These include:

• Passing out (losing consciousness).
• Being very sleepy or hard to wake up.
• Not responding when being touched or talked to.
• Breathing much faster than usual.
• Acting confused. The child may not know where he or she is.

Abnormal bleeding means any heavy or frequent bleeding or any bleeding that is not normal for you. Examples of abnormal bleeding include:

• Nosebleeds.
• Vaginal bleeding that is different (heavier, more frequent, at a different time of month) than what you are used to.
• Rectal bleeding and bloody stools.
• Bloody or pink urine.
• Gums that bleed easily when you eat or gently brush your teeth.

When you have abnormal bleeding in one area of your body, it’s important to think about whether you have been bleeding anywhere else. This can be a symptom of a more serious health problem.

Many prescription and nonprescription medicines may reduce your blood’s ability to clot and cause bruising or bleeding under the skin. A few examples are:

• Aspirin and other medicines (called blood thinners) that prevent blood clots. Also, taking a nonprescription medicine with a blood thinner may increase your risk of bruising and bleeding.
• Medicines used to treat cancer.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen (for example, Advil or Motrin).
• Steroids, such as prednisone.

Symptoms of infection may include:

• Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in or around the area.
• Red streaks leading from the area.
• Pus draining from the area.
• A fever.

Symptoms of serious illness may include:

• A severe headache.
• A stiff neck.
• Mental changes, such as feeling confused or much less alert.
• Extreme fatigue (to the point where it’s hard for you to function).
• Shaking chills.

Symptoms of serious illness in a baby may include the following:

• The baby is limp and floppy like a rag doll.
• The baby doesn’t respond at all to being held, touched, or talked to.
• The baby is hard to wake up.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:

• Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
• Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
• Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
• Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
• Medicines taken after organ transplant.
• Not having a spleen.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Sometimes people don’t want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren’t serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

• Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care today.
• If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
• If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

• Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care in the next hour.
• You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
  • You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
  • You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Make an Appointment

Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.

• Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
• If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.
• If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. You may need care sooner.

Home Treatment

If your bruise does not require an evaluation by a doctor, you may be able to use home treatment to help relieve pain, swelling, and stiffness.

• Rest and protect a bruised area.
• Ice will reduce pain and swelling. Apply ice or cold packs immediately to prevent or minimize swelling. Apply the ice or cold pack for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 or more times a day.
  • For the first 48 hours after an injury, avoid things that might increase swelling, such as hot showers, hot tubs, hot packs, or alcoholic beverages.
  • After 48 to 72 hours, if swelling is gone, apply heat and begin gentle exercise with the aid of moist heat to help restore and maintain flexibility. Some experts recommend alternating between hot and cold treatments.
• Compression, or wrapping the bruised area with an elastic bandage (such as an Ace wrap), will help decrease swelling. Don’t wrap it too tightly, as this can cause more swelling below the affected area. Loosen the bandage if it gets too tight. Signs that the bandage is too tight include numbness, tingling, increased pain, coolness, or swelling in the area below the bandage. Talk to your doctor if you think you need to use a wrap for longer than 48 to 72 hours. A more serious problem may be present.
• Elevate the bruised area on pillows while applying ice and anytime you are sitting or lying down. Try to keep the area at or above the level of your heart to help minimize swelling.
• Gently massage or rub the area to relieve pain and encourage blood flow. Do not massage the bruised area if it causes pain.
• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• If desired, apply a natural product directly to the bruise.
• Do not smoke or use other tobacco products. Smoking slows healing because it decreases blood supply and delays tissue repair. For more information, see the topic Quitting Smoking.

Symptoms to watch for during home treatment

Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:

• A bruise lasts longer than 2 weeks.
• Signs of skin infection develop.
• Symptoms become more severe or frequent.
• New symptoms develop.

Prevention

You can’t always prevent bruises, but most of the time bruises are not a cause for concern.

• If you take aspirin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or blood-thinning medicines (anticoagulants), keep regular appointments with your doctor so that he or she can monitor your medicine dosages and make any necessary changes or adjustments.
• Eat a variety of foods to avoid dietary deficiencies. Nutritional deficiencies of vitamins C, K, or B12, or folic acid can affect blood clotting. Include a daily selection of:
  • Whole-grain and enriched breads, cereals, and grain products.
  • Vegetables.
  • Fruits.
  • Milk, cheese, and yogurt.
  • Meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dried beans and peas, and tofu.
• Do not take dietary supplements that may increase bruising, particularly if you take a blood-thinning medicine. Dietary supplements that may increase bruising include fish oil, vitamin E, garlic, ginger, and ginkgo biloba.

Bruises are often the first sign of abuse. You may be able to prevent further abuse by reporting it and seeking help.

• Call your local child or adult protective agency, police, or clergy or a health professional (such as a doctor, nurse, or counselor) if you suspect abuse.
• Seek help if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence.
• Seek help if you have trouble controlling your anger with a child in your care.

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• Do you have a personal or family history of bleeding disorders or bruising easily?
• Are you taking any prescription or nonprescription medicines? Bring a complete list of your medicines with you to your appointment.
• Do you take any vitamins or dietary supplements? Describe your diet.
• Have you had any recent injuries or blood transfusions?
• Have you had any nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine, unusual or unexpected heavy menstrual flow, or fever?
• Have you had any recent illness or changes in your health?
• Have you recently traveled outside the country or to a rural area?
• Do you have any health risks?

Credits

Current as of:
February 26, 2020

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP – Emergency Medicine
Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine

Current as of: February 26, 2020

Author:
Healthwise Staff

Medical Review:William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP – Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine

A Painful Bruise Wouldn’t Heal. It Took Several Hospital Visits to Discover Why.

The woman lay on the floor, too weak even to lift the phone to her ear. She could hear her sister calling her name through the phone’s tinny speaker, but she couldn’t reply. A rush of relief flooded over her when she heard her sister say to someone, “Call 911.” And then there was darkness.

She had been sick for months at that point. She had seen many doctors. She had been given a variety of diagnoses, but no one could tell her — a usually vigorous woman of 39 — exactly what was wrong.

A Bruise That Won’t Heal

It all seemed to start the previous autumn, when she dropped a can of paint on her foot. It gave her a big bruise. No surprise, but strangely, the bruise never went away. Instead, over the next several weeks, the purple discoloration and swelling snaked up her calf into her thigh and then over to her other leg. Now both limbs were painful and splashed with dark bruises.

Dr. Vivek Naranbhai, a doctor in his first year of training at Massachusetts General Hospital, was assigned to care for the patient once the ambulance brought her in. He opened her chart and saw that she’d been in the hospital twice recently. A couple of weeks before, she was in one closer to her home in the Boston suburbs. And just a few days earlier, she was seen at and discharged from this same hospital, Mass General. Each time, she had been worried about the huge bruises on her legs and the pain and numbness that traveled from foot to thigh when she walked.

During her visit to Mass General a few days earlier, doctors wanted her to see their physical therapists to help make walking easier until her bruising healed. But then something strange happened. As she waited in the E.R., her red-blood-cell count dropped, leaving her weak and pale; she was admitted for a transfusion and further evaluation. A CT scan of her swollen right leg revealed the reason for the drop: In her thigh, she now had a huge pool of blood that had leaked out of her vessels and into the muscle of her upper leg. She was bleeding internally. And no one knew why.

A Diagnostic Consensus

Like the patient herself, her doctors assumed all her symptoms were connected to the can she’d dropped on her foot. Why hadn’t that injury healed? And why was the entire right leg — and some of the left — so painful? None of the tests conducted in her nearly two weeks in the hospital explained it. Eventually her first Mass General doctors concluded that she had an unusual disorder called complex regional pain syndrome (C. R.P.S.). This disorder, which usually affects a limb after some trauma, is thought to be caused by injury to the nervous system. That damage in turn causes pain, swelling and changes in skin color and temperature. No one knows why the body has this extreme overreaction. Treatment has to focus on reducing pain rather than on treating the disorder. Recovery takes months, even years. Having made this diagnosis, the doctors sent the patient home to follow up with specialists to treat the pain.

In the days after this second hospitalization, the patient worsened. She felt exhausted and cold all the time. One morning upon waking, she felt so weak and tired that she couldn’t stand. She scooched herself along the floor toward the bathroom. Halfway there, she was so incapacitated that she lay down and called her sister. I think I’m dying, she told her. Her hand dropped weakly to the floor. Her sister asked for 911, and the E.M.T.s came and took her to the emergency room for the third time.

Loss of Blood

A blood test showed that she was bleeding internally again. She had less than half the blood she should have in her circulatory system. No wonder she was cold and tired and out of breath — these are classic signs of severe anemia. She was given more blood and then transported back again to Mass General.

As Naranbhai read through the records, he compiled a list of diseases that could bring this woman to the hospital three times over a month with severe pain and blood loss. It was a scary collection. At the top were cancers that could keep her from making blood. Next: diseases that interfered with her body’s ability to form clots and stop bleeding. All were terrible possibilities.

Dr. Leigh Simmons, the internist supervising Naranbhai, usually waited to see patients until after the resident developed his own thoughts about the case. But it was late, and this patient sounded particularly sick, so Simmons and Naranbhai went to visit the patient together.

Seeing the Patient Anew

She was a small woman, quite thin and pale beneath a dark Mediterranean complexion. Her 15-year-old daughter stood holding her hand. Simmons introduced herself and then stepped back to let Naranbhai lead the investigation. Rather than focus his questions on her foot and leg, he cast a much wider net. Tell me everything that’s going on, he asked. She’d had her period for nearly a month now, the woman said. That had never happened before. And, her daughter added, she had these weird dots on her legs. They just popped up a few weeks before. Naranbhai looked carefully at the mother’s legs. They were covered with tiny freckle-size dots of blood trapped under the skin at the hair follicles.

Naranbhai looked at Dr. Simmons. Was she thinking what he was thinking? He looked back at the patient. Did her gums ever bleed when she brushed her teeth, he asked. All the time, she exclaimed.

Can I see? the young doctor asked. Her gums were swollen and beefy red. He felt as if they might start bleeding just by looking at them. He looked up to Simmons, who smiled back encouragingly. He knew what she had. And so did Simmons.

Clues in the Diet

What kind of foods do you eat? he asked. Every morning she had two scrambled eggs. For lunch she had tuna on crackers. And for dinner she had more scrambled eggs and rice. Did she ever eat any fruits or vegetables — especially oranges or lemons? Never, she told him. They gave her wicked heartburn.

She had something known as gastroparesis, she explained. Her stomach and intestines didn’t move food forward normally, and so food stayed in her stomach for hours. When food moves that slowly, you have to be careful that what you eat agrees with you.

No citrus for years. It was clear to Naranbhai that this modern woman had an ancient disease. She had scurvy — a disorder caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin C.

In the mid-18th century, a naval surgeon named James Lind proved that the juice of oranges and lemons would cure the bony aches, strange bleeding and sudden death of sailors afflicted with the illness, and the British Navy later mandated the use of lemon juice on all vessels. But it wasn’t until the 20th century that researchers recognized that the cause of scurvy was the lack of a certain nutrient, which they named vitamin C. Without this organic chemical, new connective tissue, essential for the repair or replacement of damaged or dying cells, cannot be made, and that causes the bleeding, the bruising, the telltale little red dots and the terrible fatigue. Our bodies can’t make vitamin C, and so we rely on the foods we eat to provide it. Avoiding these foods — as this woman did — can deplete the body’s supply in just a few months.

The Miracle of Vitamin C

The doctors sent off a blood test to measure her vitamin C, and they started the woman on large doses of the required vitamin. The improvement was almost immediate: her gums stopped bleeding within days; her bruises started to turn yellow and fade. And she started to feel stronger and less fatigued.

That was two months ago. Now she feels great. She still can’t eat oranges. But she takes her vitamin C tablets every single day.

Bruises (for Teens) – Nemours KidsHealth

What Is a Bruise?

A bruise, also called a contusion (pronounced: kun-TOO-zhen), happens when a part of the body is injured and blood from the damaged capillaries (small blood vessels leaks out. With no place to go, the blood gets trapped under the skin, forming a red or purplish mark that’s tender when you touch it — a bruise.

Bruises can happen for many reasons, but most are the result of bumping and banging into things — or having things bump and bang into you. Fortunately, as anyone who’s ever sported a shiner knows, the mark isn’t permanent.

How Long Do Bruises Last?

Bruises usually fade away in about 2 weeks. Over that time, the bruise changes color as the body breaks down and reabsorbs the blood. The color of the bruise can give you an idea how old it is:

• When you first get a bruise, it’s kind of reddish as the blood appears under the skin.
• Within 1 or 2 days, the hemoglobin (an iron-containing substance that carries oxygen) in the blood changes and your bruise turns bluish-purple or even blackish.
• After 5 to 10 days, the bruise turns greenish or yellowish.
• Then, after 10 or 14 days, it turns yellowish-brown or light brown.

Finally, after about 2 weeks, your bruise fades away.

Who Gets Bruises?

Anyone can get a bruise. Some people bruise easily, while others don’t. Why? Bruising depends on several things, such as:

• how tough the skin tissue is
• whether someone has certain diseases or conditions
• whether a person’s taking certain medications

Also, blood vessels tend to become fragile as people get older, which is why elderly people tend to bruise more easily.

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How Can I Help Myself Feel Better?

Apply a cold compress to the bruise to help slow down the blood that’s flowing to the area, which decreases the amount of blood that ends up leaking into the tissues. It also helps keep the inflammation and swelling down. All you have to do is apply cold to the bruise for 15 to 20 minutes every hour for a day or two after the bruise appears.

You don’t need to buy a special cold pack, although they’re great to keep on hand in the freezer. Just get some ice, put it in a plastic bag, and wrap the bag in a cloth or a towel and place it on the bruise (don’t apply the ice directly to the skin).

Another trick is to use a bag of frozen vegetables. It doesn’t matter what kind — carrots, peas, lima beans, whatever — as long as they’re frozen. A bag of frozen vegetables is easy to apply to the bruise because it can form to the shape of the injured area. Also, like a cold pack, it can be used and refrozen again and again (just pick your least-favorite vegetables and label the bag — you don’t want to keep thawing and freezing veggies that you plan to eat!).

To reduce swelling and bruising, elevate the bruised area above the level of your heart. In other words, if the bruise is on your shin, lie down on a couch or bed and prop up your leg. This will help prevent blood from pooling in the area because more of the blood will flow back toward your heart. If you keep standing, more blood will flow to your bruised shin and the bruise will be larger.

Take acetaminophen for pain, if needed.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Minor bruises are easily treated, but it’s probably best to talk to a doctor if:

• A bruise isn’t improving after 2 weeks.
• You bruise often and bruises seem to develop for no known reasons.
• Your bruise is swelling and very painful.
• You can’t move a joint or you think you may have a broken bone.
• The bruise is near your eye and you have difficulty moving your eyes or seeing.

Can Bruises Be Prevented?

Bruises are kind of hard to avoid completely. But if you’re playing sports, riding your bike, inline skating, or doing anything where you might bump, bang, crash, or smash into something, it’s smart to wear protective gear like pads, shin guards, and helmets. Taking just a few extra seconds to put on that gear might save you from a couple of weeks of aches and pains.

Dear Dr Nina: Will the lump on my shin ever go away?

I play camogie and a few months back was hit in the leg with a stick. It wasn’t particularly sore at the time but it did leave quite a bruise on the front of my left shin bone. However, now a number of months on from the incident, there is a permanent lump in the spot where I was hit. It is tender to the touch and it feels like loose cartilage under the skin or something. Could I have fractured the bone in some way? I’m worried it will never heal

Dr Nina replies: It is always worth having a swelling that is sticking around checked out by your doctor. Pain below the knee in the front of the leg is relatively common, especially in those who play sports that involve running, jumping and twisting.

A direct injury to the bone could cause some bone bruising which although not a fracture can cause pain, tenderness and swelling at the site. It is extremely unlikely that you have a fracture of your tibia as this bone is one of the stabilising ones of the leg and as such a fracture would make normal walking impossible. It is more likely that you have a strain injury.

Overuse of the quadriceps muscle at the front of the thigh puts pressure on the ligaments of the kneecap, which ultimately pulls on the top of the larger bone of the lower leg (the tibia). The point where the ligament attaches becomes inflamed and sore, leading to pain in this area.

The patella (or kneecap) is a disc of bone that protects the knee joint and helps the thigh muscles move the knee. The patella is one of three bones in the knee. The others are the tibia (lower leg) and femur (thigh).

The quadriceps tendon connects the upper leg through the knee to the lower leg. If the patella sits in an unbalanced way, it can slip out of the joint, putting pressure on the femur and structures of the knee. All of these can cause pain.

Tight thigh muscles can also lead to knee and kneecap pain. Knee pain is most common during periods of rapid growth and front-of-knee pain is more common in girls than boys.

Causes include joint inflammation, pain radiating from the hip, a misaligned patella or ligament bone, or tendon damage. Recurrent dislocation of the patella may be due to loose ligaments surrounding the joint. This is more common in young girls.

When the patella is in place, it can glide smoothly over the surface of the femur. Other symptoms may include pain that is worse with exercise but goes with rest, limping after exercise, and tightness of the muscles around the knee.

Rest is the best treatment. Taking a break from vigorous sports will allow the inflammation and soreness to settle down. Simple over the counter painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen may give some relief. Applying heat or ice may also help. Wearing gel pads over the bump may protect it from painful bangs. A physiotherapist may be able to help by easing the transition back to activity and teaching some appropriate stretching exercise for before and after activity.

Pain occurring at rest, pain that awakens one at night or pain in the thigh may be due to other conditions and a chat with your doctor is required.

An x-ray may be advised. MRIs are rarely needed. If initial tests are normal, then physiotherapy will be advised.

Physiotherapists are an excellent source of assessment and advice when it comes to muskuloskeletal injuries and pain.

It is important to note however that heeding their advice re exercise and rest is a really important part of recovery. A rest and recovery prescription can be as important a any medication prescribed.

Q. I had the flu back in early December and was in bed for a fortnight — it was a really bad dose. But I still have a lingering cough which gets worse at night. I don’t smoke, and am in good health.

Dr Nina replies: Influenza is a highly contagious virus that attacks the respiratory system and spreads rapidly from person to person. It occurs in all age groups all over the world but infections reach a peak during winter months with the peak flu season in the northern hemisphere running from October through April. We have had a particularly nasty flu season this year and lots of people have been unwell in recent months.

Flu symptoms last for about a week on average, however the tiredness felt with flu can continue for several weeks after the initial infection subsides.

Cough can be a frustrating lingering symptom.  Irritation anywhere from the throat to deep in the lungs will cause someone to cough. Coughs lasting two to three weeks are most often associated with a viral or bacterial respiratory infection. They can also last for some weeks after the initial infection has passed.

It is not always necessary to visit your doctor with a cough. However if you have fever, coloured phlegm, blood, wheeze, shortness of breath, weight loss or night sweats, or the cough lasts longer than a month, a doctor’s visit is essential.

Congestion in the sinus and airways causes dripping into the back of throat, also leading to irritation and coughing. This is often worse lying down. You can buy many treatments over the counter but always talk to your pharmacist. Older antihistamines can be very sedating and so the newer less sedating ones are preferred.

Nasal rinses may remove allergens and pollens from your nasal passages, which may help. Your doctor can prescribe you alternative antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops. Taking several medications together often works best.

Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Remedies, Prevention

Bruises Overview

A bruise is a common skin injury that results in a discoloration of the skin. Blood from damaged blood cells deep beneath the skin collects near the surface of the skin, resulting in what we think of as a black and blue mark.

Causes of a Bruise

People typically get bruises when they bump into something or when something bumps into them.

• Bruises can occur in some people who exercise vigorously, such as athletes and weight lifters. These bruises result from microscopic tears in blood vessels under the skin.
• Unexplained bruises that occur easily or for no apparent reason may indicate a bleeding disorder, especially if the bruising is accompanied by frequent nosebleeds or bleeding gums.
• Often, what are thought to be unexplained bruises on the shin or the thigh, for example, actually result from bumps into a bedpost or other object and failing to recall the injury.
• Bruises in elderly people frequently occur because their skin has become thinner with age. The tissues that support the underlying blood vessels have become more fragile.
• Bruises are also more common in those taking medicine to thin the blood.

Symptoms of a Bruise

• Initially, a fresh bruise may actually be reddish. It will then turn blue or dark purple within a few hours, then yellow or green after a few days as it heals.
• A bruise is commonly tender, and sometimes even painful for the first few days, but the pain usually goes away as the color fades.
• Because the skin is not broken in a bruise, there is no risk of infection.

When to Seek Medical Care

• Call the doctor if the bruise is accompanied by swelling and extreme pain, especially if you take a blood-thinning medication for a medical condition.
• Call the doctor if bruising occurs easily or for no apparent reason.
• Call the doctor if the bruise is painful and under a toenail or fingernail.
• Call the doctor if a bruise does not improve within two weeks or fails to completely clear after three or four weeks.
• Go to an emergency room if you think you have a broken bone along with the bruise.
• Some bruises, such as those on the head or the eye, can cause a lot of anxiety.
  • If a bruise (sometimes called a “goose egg”) occurs on the head, but the person did not black out and is able to remember the accident, it is unlikely that a serious head injury has resulted. On the other hand, if the person cannot remember what happened and you suspect the person may have a concussion, they should be taken to the nearest emergency room.
  • If a bruise occurs just above the eye, you can expect the bruise to travel to the area just under the eye, possibly causing a black eye, because of the effects of gravity. As long as you are able to move the affected eye in all directions and do not have changes in your vision, it is unlikely to be a serious injury that requires a visit to the hospital.

Exams and Tests

If an injury is obviously a bruise and the doctor does not suspect any broken bones, the doctor will probably not perform any tests.

• If there is swelling or severe pain, the doctor may want to get an X-ray of the area to make sure there are no broken bones.
• If bruising occurs frequently and for no apparent reason, the doctor may have your blood tested to look for a bleeding disorder.
• Certain bruises, a pattern of bruises over time and in various stages of healing may alert a doctor to the possibility of physical abuse.

Bruises Treatment — Home Remedies

The treatment for a bruise is most effective right after the injury, while the bruise is still reddish.

• A cold compress such as an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables should be applied to the affected area for 20-30 minutes in order to speed healing and reduce swelling. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Wrap the ice pack in a towel.
• If the bruise takes up a large area of the leg or foot, the leg should be kept elevated as much as possible during the first 24 hours after the injury.
• Acetaminophen may be taken for pain as instructed on the bottle. Avoid aspirin or ibuprofen because they slow the blood from clotting and may, in fact, prolong the bleeding.
• After about 48 hours, heat in the form of a warm washcloth applied to the bruise for 10 minutes or so two to three times a day may increase blood flow to the bruised area, allowing the skin to reabsorb the blood more quickly. Ultimately, the bruise will fade in color.

Medical Treatment for a Bruise

Doctors have no special treatment for bruises other than the techniques described above: ice packs and later heat, over-the-counter medications for pain, and elevation of the bruised area, if possible.

A suspected victim of domestic abuse may be referred to a social worker.

Bruise Prevention

To prevent a bruise:

• Wear protective gear (like shin guards) while playing contact sports such as soccer.
• Place furniture away from doorways and common walking paths within your home.
• Keep phone and electrical cords away from open areas where you may trip and fall.
• Be sure floors are kept dry and that rugs are slip resistant.
• Keep floors free of clutter.
• Plug in a small night light or use a flashlight if you need to walk to the bathroom during the night.
• If your doctor has prescribed blood-thinning drugs, be sure to have regular monitoring and adjust medications as necessary.

Outlook

Bruises typically take about two weeks to disappear.

Types, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

Overview

What is a bruise?

A bruise, or contusion, is skin discoloration from a skin or tissue injury. This injury damages blood vessels underneath the skin, causing them to leak.

When blood pools under the skin, it causes black, blue, purple, brown, or yellow discoloration. There’s no external bleeding unless the skin breaks open.

Who might get a bruise?

Everyone experiences bruising. Bruises can occur from a fall, accident, sports injury or medical procedure. Older people are more likely to bruise. There are some bleeding disorders that can lead to excessive bruising. There are also some medical conditions that may make you more prone to bruising.

You may be more prone to bruising if you:

• Have cancer or liver disease.
• Have family members who bruise easily.
• Take medications to thin blood or stop clotting, such as aspirin or blood thinners.
• Regularly take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief, including ibuprofen (Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®).
• Have a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia, von Willebrand disease or another blood clotting disorder.
• Experience a low blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia).
• Are deficient in vitamin C or vitamin K.

What are the types of bruises?

Your healthcare provider may refer to bruising by its medical term: ecchymosis (ech-e-moe-sis). Bruises are also called contusions. The different types of bruises include:

• Hematoma: Trauma, such as a car accident or major fall, can cause severe bruising and skin and tissue damage. A hematoma is a collection of blood outside the blood vessels that causes pain and swelling..
• Purpura: This type of bruising typically involves small bleeding that occurs under the skin.
• Petechiae: These are pinpoint areas (less than 2 mm) of reddish dots on the skin that do not turn white after applying gentle pressure.
• Senile purpura: As you age, your skin becomes thinner, dryer and more prone to tearing. Your skin also bruises more easily. This condition is known as senile purpura.
• Black eye: A blow to the head can cause a black eye (or two black eyes). Blood and fluids pool under the eye. This condition causes swelling and a bruise, or discolored ring, to form around the eye. A black eye can sometimes indicate a more serious eye injury, such as bleeding in the eye (hyphema), or a facial fracture.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes bruising?

After an internal blood vessel injury, blood pools under the skin causing the discolored, bruised look.

What are the signs of bruising?

Bruises are sometimes called black-and-blue marks. They may appear red or purplish at first. If you have darker skin, you may notice purple, dark brown or black bruising. As the area heals, the bruise may turn a lighter shade of brown, green or yellow. The bruised area and surrounding skin may also be tender to touch. A hematoma causes a swollen, raised, painful bump.

Diagnosis and Tests

How are bruises diagnosed?

You and your healthcare provider can identify a bruise by its distinct look and coloring. If you experience frequent or unexplained bruising, your provider may order tests to rule out possible causes. These tests include:

• X-rays to check for bone fractures.
• Blood tests to check for clotting disorders and vitamin deficiencies.

Management and Treatment

How is bruising managed or treated?

Most bruises fade away within two weeks without treatment. More severe bruising and hematomas may last a month or longer. These steps can help you heal faster:

• Rest and elevate the injured area to prevent swelling and relieve pain.
• Apply ice packs for the first 24 to 48 hours after injury. Wrap the ice pack in a towel and apply ice for no more than 15 minutes at a time. Repeat throughout the day.
• Apply a heating pad or warm compress to the injured area after two days. You can apply heat several times throughout the day.
• Take over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®). Check with your doctor prior to using NSAIDs.

Prevention

How can I prevent bruising?

Everyone experiences bruising. You can take these steps to lower your risk of injury and bruising:

• Keep floors and rooms clear of tripping hazards like throw rugs and shoes.
• Move furniture away from doorways and walkways to avoid bumping into hard surfaces.
• Turn on a light or flashlight when walking through poorly lit areas.
• Get enough vitamins in your diet.
• Wear protective gear like helmets and pads when playing contact sports, bicycling or riding a motorcycle.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with bruising?

Bruises can be unsightly, but most bruises fade without treatment. Sometimes bruising is a sign of a more serious problem, so please talk to your doctor if you experience unexplained or large bruises. Certain types of bruises, such as hematomas and black eyes, may require medical attention.

Living With

When should I call the doctor?

You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:

• A black eye with vision problems.
• Bruising that lasts more than two weeks.
• Frequent large bruises.
• A lump in the bruised area (hematoma).
• Painful swelling.
• Pain that lingers days after the injury.
• A recurring bruise in the same location.
• Unexplained bruising.
• Unusual bleeding, such as nosebleeds, blood in the urine, or blood with bowel movements.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

• What is causing the bruising?
• Why am I prone to bruising?
• Should I have blood tests to see if a condition is causing the bruises?
• What steps can I take to lower my risk of bruising?
• Should I look out for signs of complications?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Bruising is a common condition that affects everyone at some point. You should see your healthcare provider if you seem to bruise excessively or have unexplained bruising. Your provider will want to rule out certain conditions that may require treatment. Applying ice soon after an injury can minimize bruising. Most bruises go away without treatment within a couple of weeks.

Board Certified Vein and Vascular Specialists

Bruising tends to look worse than it is, and its appearance changes over time. Bruises are part of your body’s natural response to injury and healing process. Let’s look at the normal course of bruising after laser vein treatment, so you can watch for anything out of the ordinary and get proper care.

What Is Vein Bruising?

A vein bruise isn’t really different from a regular bruise. All bruises involve blood vessels (capillaries and veins) leaking blood under the skin. In a sense, all bruises could be called vein or capillary bruises. The colors you see in bruises are caused by the visible bleeding (trapped blood) beneath your skin, in response to a bump/pressure from an outside object, or from skin penetration or trauma. Over time, the trapped blood (now outside your veins but under the skin) pools, and then firms or clots. The bruise remains until the bleeding stops–and until the body clears away all the clotted/leaked blood.

Why Bruises Change

As the body heals, bruises change color, shape, and size. These changes occur as the blood’s hemoglobin loses oxygen, and is broken down by your body. Bruising can take weeks to fade away, and the amount of time is different for each person. Bruised areas can swell and get worse in the first few days. After that, all symptoms should gradually diminish. If you have severe or increasing pain and swelling, fever, call your doctor for advice (and treatment if needed). Firmness (a lump in the bruised area) could be normal, or maybe a hematoma (serious bruise), which could go away on its own, or may require your doctor’s care.  

How to Prevent or Heal Bruises

• Realize that some people bruise more easily than others, and stay bruised longer. This could be due to genetics, age, underlying illness or other causes.
• Press on the injured area to help keep bruising to a minimum, by preventing some of the blood leakages out of your vessels. (That’s partly why you’ll wear compression socks after Cincinnati vein treatments.)
• Apply ice. This can slow down the rate of bleeding under the skin and help with pain/inflammation. 
• Put your feet up.  Raise the injured area above your heart to limit bleeding and swelling. 
• Try arnica and/or bromelain, only after checking with your doctor. In pills or creams, these are said to (but not proven to) reduce bruising and swelling. Bromelain is also found in pineapple juice.
• Follow the doctor’s instructions. The quicker your body heals, the quicker the bruise and other symptoms fade away.

Visit Your Nearby Cincinnati Vein Treatment Clinic

As bruising subsides, your legs will look (and feel) better each day, and you’ll have final results after a few weeks. Check out our Before & After photos. Recovery is typically problem free, but you can call your vein doctor anytime if you have concerns after your procedure. Find out which vein treatment is right for you at VIA Vein Center. Contact Vascular and Interventional Associates today.

How to cure bruises quickly – Medical and Diagnostic Center Neuron (Taganrog)

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Author: LDC Neuron

Published: 10 November 2015

“I would have known where you will fall, I would have laid a straw” – this folk aphorism perfectly reflects the whole meaning of bruises, since no one can predict where they will work, but it is in the interests of everyone to learn how to heal bruises quickly and without consequences.

By itself and by its nature, a bruise is nothing more than a hemorrhage, which can threaten with serious hematomas, up to tumors. A bluish focus, like a “traitor” who will immediately tell about all the injuries and bruises suffered the day before. Moreover, these “lanterns” go down for a long time, gradually moving from one eerie color to another. However, armed with some useful knowledge, you can speed up the healing and healing process several times. So what is needed for this?

The sooner the better

Everyone decides for himself how to heal bruises quickly, and whether it is worth taking any urgent measures at all.Most people think the bruises will go away on their own. Well, of course, except for the cases when such “beauty” disfigures the face.

In reality, a slight bruise will disappear no earlier than a series of two weeks – only when the leukocytes remove a specific pigment from the tissues. On the sensitive skin of the face, the bruise may even linger. But those who are not used to waiting can use a few tips.

• · Treat bruises as soon as they appear.
• · The first assistant will be ice from the refrigerator. If not, you can use any frozen product. But rubbing with snow is contraindicated, because of the risk of getting frostbite.
• · When there is no freezer at hand (it sometimes happens that an injury is received on the street or in a car), it is recommended to use a bottle of cool water, a napkin moistened with water, metal objects as a cold compress.
• · The time of exposure to lotions with skin should be at least half an hour.Further, the procedure will have to be repeated for several days.
• · Never use warm compresses, especially on the face.

Cold will relieve pain, swelling and speed up bruising. This is due to the narrowing of capillaries and blood vessels under the influence of low temperatures. As a result: less blood enters the skin, which means that the size of the hematoma will not spread far and wide.

But if the case is severe, only a traumatologist can prescribe adequate treatment.Sometimes a harmless bruise threatens with dangerous consequences. For example, if the face is injured, then eye injury is not excluded. Therefore, if you do not like something about the hematoma or the temperature suddenly starts to rise, and you also have a headache, then it is better to immediately consult a doctor.

If you anoint, you will get the result

It is clear that you cannot defeat a colorful hematoma by cold alone. And perhaps the most important means of how to more effectively cure any bruises very quickly are medical ointments.They are on the list of required drugs in all pharmacies and are quite affordable.

It remains only to choose which ointment is better to take. But that will depend on the bruise itself.

• Troxevasin ointment – applied for 5 days to bruised soft tissues. But there is one taboo: it is forbidden to rub this ointment into the skin, since you can also get a complication to the bruise;
• · Heparin Ointment is the most effective of all. It is able to remove even the most severe subcutaneous hematomas.However, to achieve a quick result, you will have to use the ointment every hour for 5 days and trying not to injure the already damaged skin surface.
• · Vitamin K has a targeted effect. Medicines containing large amounts of this miraculous vitamin quickly restore the elasticity of blood vessels, strengthen them and improve the condition of injured skin.

Piggy bank of folk recipes

People have received bruises at all times, and therefore healers and healers keep many useful recipes for how to remove bruises quickly.However, with all the safety of these funds, it is worth paying attention to the fact that some herbs can cause allergies.

Burnet grass is a stimulant and rapidly breaks down hematomas and microthrombi. In addition, it is considered an effective hemostatic medicine. With regular use of lotions from the burnet, the bruise leaves after 4 days.

Anise seeds will help not only remove hematoma, but also swelling. Within 4 days, you need to apply dressings soaked in a steep broth of anise seeds to the injured area.The duration of exposure is at least 20 minutes.

Warming up is advised to start applying on the second or third day after the appearance of a bruise. The procedure restores blood circulation in the affected area and promotes resorption of the hematoma. As a rule, a bottle of warm water or a specially sewn linen bag with heated table salt is used as a heating pad. The bruises disappear on the third day.

Bodyaga is the most popular remedy. For lotions, use a gruel prepared from dry powder diluted in water in a ratio of 1 to 2.However, it is strictly forbidden to apply bodyagu to the face area and even more so to the eyes.

Calendula perfectly relieves bruises on the arms and legs. The herb tincture is applied using the “mesh” method or spread over the area of ​​the bruise.

Iodine is the most widespread, cheap and effective remedy. The iodine mesh will instantly improve matters and make the bruises recede already for 3-4 days. However, “drawing” will have to be dealt with at an enviable frequency.

Vodka compress can also be called among the helpers.Its production will not take long. All you need to do is soak a piece of gauze in vodka and apply it to the affected area, wrapping the hearth with plastic wrap. Keep it for no more than half an hour.

In addition to external remedies, you need to review your diet, in which you need to include foods containing vitamins C and K. Usually these include red and cherry fruits.

ldc “Neuron”

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Bruises and bruises: how to quickly remove a hematoma

Bruises disappear by themselves within 2-3 weeks.The experts described how this process can be accelerated.

According to experts, it is important to know at what stage of healing the bruise is. Because the methods that can be used two days after the injury are categorically inappropriate if the hematoma is fresh.

So, to remove a bruise that is less than a day old, you need to apply a cold compress to it. It is best to do this immediately after the injury. Under the influence of cold, the blood flow will slow down, which will significantly reduce the size of the hematoma.The compress must be kept for at least 10 minutes. You can repeat the procedure after a 20-minute break.

It is useful to restrict the movement of the affected area of ​​the body so as not to increase blood flow. For the same reason, if possible, it is better to try to keep the bruised area above the level of the heart.

Also, a cream or gel from bruises, which contains dimethyl sulfoxide, heparin and dexpanthenol, will help to reduce a fresh hematoma.

According to experts, if you have to resort to pain relievers for severe pain, it should not be aspirin or ibuprofen.These drugs thin the blood and can cause the hematoma to enlarge.

Bruises, which are more than a day old, are called already formed. In this case, the main task is to speed up their resorption. The easiest way to achieve this is with heat. For example, you can apply a heating pad or a cloth soaked in warm water to the site of a bruise, or take a hot bath. It’s still high time to resort to massage using a warming ointment, which contains badyaga or capsaicin.

In addition, creams or compresses with herbal extracts and vitamins can be used.Experts advise a gel based on arnica or pineapple extract, which will reduce swelling and accelerate regeneration. Another remedy can be a cream with vitamin K, which will help restore damaged capillaries and blood vessels.

As a household remedy for a formed bruise, you can use a compress made of finely chopped onions wrapped in gauze. Vitamin C, contained in onion juice, will have a positive effect, according to the website “Lifehacker”.

See Also: 5 Custom Mustard Uses.

How to remove a bruise – Sibmeda medical portal – Sibmeda

What are the reasons for the appearance of hematomas – bruises? How does nutrition affect their appearance? What to do to quickly get rid of a bruise? Says expert – doctor-methodologist of the Regional Center for Medical Prevention Evgenia Morozova.

Hematoma – it is also a bruise, from the ancient Greek “blood” and ομα “tumor” – is a limited accumulation of blood with closed and open injuries of organs and tissues with rupture or injury of blood vessels and the formation of a cavity containing liquid or clotted blood.

What is a bruise

Any traumatic injury, such as a fall or bruise, can rupture the capillaries, from which blood flows into the subcutaneous layers. This leads to the appearance of purple-red spots on the skin – bruises. As the body heals, the bruise begins to bloom, turning green, yellow, or brown until it disappears completely.

Bruising from time to time is almost inevitable. But, if they appear often enough, and you cannot explain what is the reason for their appearance, then you should think about the reason for their occurrence.

You may have just hit your hand or foot and forgot about it, but it could also be something completely different. What are the reasons that can become a source of bruises on the human body? Let’s figure it out.

Causes of bruises

With age, the skin loses some of the protective fat layer, which, like a pillow, protects against the effects of bumps and falls. In addition, the skin becomes thinner as collagen production slows down.This means it takes far less force to bruise than it did when you were younger.

Purpurous dermatitis, a vascular disease more common in older people, results in many tiny bruises, most commonly on the shins. From a distance, it looks like they were sprinkled with red pepper. Bruises are the result of “sweating” of erythrocytes through the thinned walls of blood vessels and the deposition of hemosiderin pigment in the tissues.

Bruises are often one of the first symptoms of disorders of the hematopoietic system or blood clotting.Conditions such as hemophilia and leukemia can cause unexplained bruising, usually because blood does not clot properly.

If you often develop severe and unexplained bruising, you should see your doctor to rule out such disorders, especially if they start to appear suddenly.

People with diabetes may develop dark age spots, often in areas where the skin is in contact with other parts of the body.These spots may be mistaken for bruising, but they are actually caused by insulin resistance. This phenomenon is called acanthosis – black age spots on the ankles, knees, elbows, and sometimes the back of the head. Acanthosis indicates that the disease has developed into a chronic form.

Excessive muscle tension during exercise, such as lifting heavy weights, can rupture blood vessels and cause bruising.

Bruises can occur as a result of microscopic tears in muscle tissue.In addition, when playing sports or doing vigorous exercise, you can quietly get bumps and minor injuries that cause bruising.

Sometimes you can hear the following phrase: “You have a lot of bruises on your body because your skin is pale.”

This statement is not entirely true. Pale skin itself is not prone to bruising. It’s just that on her, any bruising is much more noticeable than on people with darker skin.

What drugs can cause bruising?

Perhaps, we have listed the main causes of hematomas emanating from the human body, but there are also so-called exogenous factors, that is, those that affect the processes of the body from the outside.

Often, certain groups of drugs, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticoagulants, and antiplatelet drugs, reduce blood clotting and increase the likelihood of bruising. And hormones and oral contraceptives can weaken blood vessel walls, with the same effects.

It is well known that the sun’s rays help our body in the production of vitamin D, but excessive exposure to the sun, especially with burns, leads to the fact that the skin loses its plasticity and resistance to damage.This, in turn, makes bruising easier and more visible.

How are nutrition and bruising related?

Most often, the reason people get bruised is because of the increased fragility of the capillary walls. The reason for this is the wrong diet. Healthy skin starts from the inside out, so one of the best ways to keep your capillaries strong and flexible is to get flavonoids into the body.

Green tea, dark berries, dark leafy greens, garlic and onions are excellent sources of these substances. As a rule, correction of the diet and the introduction of vegetables and fruits into it will be more than enough to strengthen the vascular wall.

But, if, despite the measures taken, you still notice that you bruise easily, then you will have to resort to chemical analogues of flavonoids. Rutin or vitamin P is a bioflavonoid that is known to strengthen blood vessels, only the effect of taking this drug will be much higher if a sufficient amount of vitamin C is supplied to the body along with it.But for detailed advice on taking routine medications, you better contact your doctor.

Treatment of bruises

We figured out the causes of bruising and how to prevent it. But, if a bruise has already appeared, and even more than one, what can be done to make it disappear faster?

There is nothing difficult in the fight against this phenomenon, nature has taken care of everything for a long time. First, apply a cold compress to the affected area immediately after injury.This will help reduce swelling and pain. The sooner you apply the compress, the less the consequences will be.

Large outer leaves of white cabbage help with bruises well. Break the lumps on them and dip them in very hot water, then apply them to the bruise (just let them cool so as not to burn yourself).

Well, of course, everyone already knows aloe vera plant. Fresh gel from the leaves of the plant helps to relieve skin irritation and speed up the resorption of hematoma.

In general, it will not be difficult to cope with two or three bruises. But, if, nevertheless, you began to notice that they appear on your skin regularly and mostly for no apparent reason, then you should pay attention to this and ask the doctor your questions. After all, as we just found out, the bruise may not be so trifling!

The bruise is not a trifle

Did you go around the corner of the table or fireplace unsuccessfully? Too actively honing your hula hoop waist? And now he is a bruise – a hematoma.It’s unpleasant, of course, but we know for sure – it will pass. And that’s where the spontaneous bruises come from, which seem to form for no reason. They are not “hand made” by an opponent in the boxing ring and not the result of falling off rollers or snowboards. Then what’s the deal? It turns out that things can be much more serious than expected …

Ice Blue

“Let’s decide right away – there are no unreasonable bruises. However, the reason for their appearance is not always obvious. Meanwhile, any hematoma is a hemorrhage into the skin and subcutaneous tissue, when the thinnest and most vulnerable vessels – capillaries – are damaged.It happens that the integrity of the veins is impaired. And here it is obvious: the larger the vessel, the greater the hemorrhage, – the head of the 2nd Department of Internal Diseases of the Belarusian State Medical University, Professor Nikolai Soroka, introduces .
– One of the most common causes of bruising is Shenlein-Henoch disease (the old name for hemorrhagic vasculitis). The disease leads to fragility of blood vessels, which is why bruises appear on the legs, abdomen, and back. For example, in children, this is caused by a past viral infection and taking medications.They caught a sore throat or ARVI, they take antipyretic and antibiotics, and after 1 – 2 days, small-point bruises are strewn over the body. It is difficult to say what was the root cause of their appearance, infection or the effect of drugs. ”

Disruption of the blood coagulation system is another serious reason for spontaneous bruising. A classic example: hemophilia is an incurable hereditary disease. Minor blow or compression – hematoma bruises instantly appear on the skin. Even more worrisome is the threat of bleeding into internal organs.

This is what the doctor ordered

Large, spilled bruises can occur in people who are prescribed anticoagulants – drugs that thin the blood. Including the well-known warfarin and even aspirin. “It has long been recommended to prevent the development of thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes. However, today doctors refuse the widespread use of this drug as a method of primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, – says Nikolai Fedorovich.- In Europe, studies were conducted with the participation of 10 thousand patients. As a result, it was confirmed: if a person has not suffered a vascular accident, while taking aspirin for prevention, this does not affect the risk of stroke or heart attack. However, it increases the likelihood of bleeding. After all, the drug changes the function of platelets, which provokes hemorrhages. ”

Because today doctors are much more strict about such appointments. More often using aspirin as secondary prevention. This means it is effective for people who have had myocardial infarction who already have angina pectoris or heart rhythm disturbances.In short, just in case, drinking aspirin is risky and unjustified. By the way, not only this drug can cause sudden hemorrhages, but also other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are taken to get rid of headaches, tangible discomfort in the joints, spine.

Blood Interest

The function of the blood balls – platelets – is extremely important. During a wound – domestic or military – these assistants help the formation of a microthrombus, which prevents the body from losing a lot of blood.When there are not enough platelets (their norm is 150 – 350 thousand per microliter of blood; the indicator is considered to be less than 100; when it is even lower – less than 70, this is regarded as a clear threat to health), there is a danger of vascular damage and hemorrhage. This condition is called thrombocytopenia.

It happens that with a quantitative norm, platelets “in bad faith” fulfill their obligations. This happens, as already noted, with unjustified intake of aspirin. Hence the microcirculatory bruising.They look like multiple small hemorrhages up to 1 – 3 mm. Usually appear in front of the lower leg, on the flexion surfaces of the knee and elbow joints, sometimes on the buttocks.

Nikolay Soroka

Alarm

The appearance of small punctate bruises on the skin is associated with a malfunction of the liver, where factors of the blood coagulation system are formed. With cirrhosis and hepatitis, this function is impaired. This is the root of all evil – the true cause of bruising even with pressure and touch on the skin.Moreover, such hematomas do not disappear for a long time. A blood test for liver enzymes helps to clarify the situation.

When in older people, small-point bruises suddenly sprinkle on the skin of the legs, doctors prescribe an examination for cancer. After all, this is often one of the first symptoms of lung cancer.

There is a reason

The diagnosis of varicose veins is already a considerable likelihood of hemorrhage. After all, the blood pressure in the veins increases! Hence hematomas without injuries and bruises.Varicose veins should not be taken lightly. In consultation with a phlebologist, you can decide on a treatment plan from professionally selected compression hosiery to surgery.

Finally, a banal lack of vitamins C and P in the body again gives rise to bruising. Since the deficiency of ascorbic acid inhibits the synthesis of collagen in the connective tissue, which prevents the vessels from remaining elastic and not being injured. When the deficiency of vitamins is replenished, blood vessels are strengthened, their permeability decreases.This means that the risks of hemorrhage are minimal. Therefore, doctors often prescribe the well-known ascorutin. This drug is a combination of ascorbic acid and rutin, which has a targeted effect on the thickening of the vascular wall.

In short, the causes of sudden bruising can be very different – from vascular inflammation to a malignant tumor. The diagnostics prescribed by the doctor will help to dot the “i’s” in this complex issue.

Flowering time

Over time, the bruise changes noticeably outwardly, it seems to bloom.This happens under the influence of enzymes that destroy hemoglobin. First it has a reddish tint, then blue and purple. Later, it turns noticeably green, turns brownish and finally turns yellow. Usually, it takes 10-14 days from hemorrhage to resorption of the hematoma.

Action Plan

Small hematomas from physical trauma can be easily managed at home using ice, heparin ointment, or troxevasin gel. If it is extensive, it must be removed surgically.Otherwise, a large amount of blood – sometimes up to 200 ml stagnates, which can cause suppuration and abscess. This happens with – hemophilia or an overdose of anticoagulants. For example, warfarin, a drug that is often prescribed after aortic or mitral valve replacement.

Author: Alla MARTINKEVICH
Soviet Belarus No. 128, July 9, 2015

A brown spot on the leg looks like a bruise and does not go away – Question to the dermatologist

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Bruises on the legs quickly appear. Why do bruises appear on the legs for no apparent reason? Bruises on different parts of the body

Identification of the cause and treatment of bruises.

There are situations when bruises on your legs come out of nowhere. Learn about the causes and methods of treating bruises on the legs in this article.

Types of bruises on the legs without bruises, for no reason: yellow and black

A bruise, in medical terminology, sounds like a hematoma that appears when blood soaks into soft tissue. Typically, bruising occurs with tissue trauma and rupture of blood vessels from which blood flows. But also hematomas on the legs are due to:

• Increased vascular fragility or purpura, but the reason for such fragility should already be clarified with a thorough examination at the hospital
• Acanthoratoderma – in case of such a disease, black bruises appear on the skin.This may be due to high insulin levels, so a thorough examination should be carried out to identify abnormalities in the body
• Anemia – due to low hemoglobin, bruises may appear for no reason, at first they are normal blue, then they turn yellow
• Oncology – One of the worst causes of bruising is cancer. Therefore, if you notice that hematomas often appear out of nowhere, go through a thorough examination
• Prolonged exposure to the sun – due to overheating, the fatty tissues that protect the body from ultraviolet radiation are destroyed or even destroyed, the vessels become unprotected.This leads to bruising on the body for an unexplained reason
• Vitamin deficiency – due to a decrease in the amount of necessary vitamins in the body, barely noticeable yellow or yellow-green bruises may appear on the legs
• Taking medications – medications that thin the blood can cause bruising on the legs for no apparent reason

Now you know most of the reasons due to which bruises can appear on the legs. If you have not had an injury, and bruises continue to appear, be sure to see a doctor to rule out the possibility of a serious illness.

Video: Bruises on the legs for no reason. Why are there?

Why do women often have bruises on their legs, after childbirth, during pregnancy?

You will not surprise anyone with the appearance of bruises after childbirth and during pregnancy, since there is a natural explanation for this – during pregnancy, certain changes occur in a woman’s body, the consequences of which are also manifested after childbirth. The appearance of hematomas in an interesting position and after the birth of a child can occur due to:

• thrombophilic disorders
• hemorrhagic diathesis
• varicose veins
• drug intake
• vitamin deficiency
• liver diseases

Take a contrast shower to prevent bruising on your legs, but be very careful not to get sick.After all, now you should worry not only about your health, but also about the health of your baby.

Bruises for no reason in men

If bruises appear on your body, but you do not know their obvious cause, then consider the most likely causes, not taking into account bruises from blows or bruises:

• In case of blood diseases
  , it may be related to platelet count. It is imperative to undergo a thorough examination and take a blood test
• Vessels are located close to the skin
• Vitamin deficiency
• Taking drugs that thin the blood or cause vascular fragility
• The initial degree of manifestation of varicose veins
• Disruption of the nervous or endocrine system

Do not be careless about your health, go through a thorough examination if you observe symptoms such as unreasonable bruising.All reasons, except for the close location of the vessels, are subject to drug treatment.

Post-workout bruises: causes

Sport is very important, both for overall well-being and for the formation of a beautiful figure. But there are situations when bruises appear on the body after training, the reason for this may be:

• Bruising while exercising – The simplest explanation for bruising is bruising while exercising. You can hit the projectile or, if it is a doubles sport, from partner
• Brittle vessels – this option also cannot be ruled out, from strong loads or active training, the vessels can burst, which leads to hemorrhages, and as a result, to bruising
• Improper nutrition – if you are exercising hard, then you must definitely eat right.During training, you lose a lot of energy, which must be restored, otherwise fragile blood vessels and a weakened body will be the result of your training

Take care of your body and body, but do not overwork or exercise until you are exhausted, otherwise the consequences may not be the best.

The child has bruises on the legs: causes

Bruises on the feet of a child are one of the childhood memories. Due to the active spending of time, the appearance of hematomas on children’s legs is not at all surprising, such bruises do not require increased attention and, with proper treatment at home, quickly disappear.
But if bruises appear on their own, then this is a cause for concern, because this may be the reason:

• Blood clotting disorders – this may be due to an insufficient number of platelets. To find out, you need to conduct a medical examination
• Lack of vitamin C, K or P – these vitamins are responsible for clotting, vascular strength, proper blood flow. Thus, their lack leads to problems with blood vessels and the appearance of hematomas
• Lack of calcium – the strength of blood vessels depends on it, so pay attention to foods or vitamins containing this trace element
• Heredity – if your relatives had similar symptoms, then you should not be surprised at bruises.But you should still consult a doctor to get professional advice and prevent too frequent manifestations of hematomas on the body

Bruises on the knees – childhood memories

Not always the manifestation of bruises on the legs in children is something terrible, but for personal complacency, it is better not to lose sight of such manifestations. After all, hematomas can be a signal of the initial stage of the disease, which, with proper treatment, can be prevented.

Treatment of bruises on the legs: ointments, creams

Any serious injury should see a doctor immediately.But the first help for bruises after a bruise is a variety of ointments and creams, the most effective of which are:

• Express bruise – cosmetic remedy for bruises. The main component is badyaga, when applied immediately after a bruise, it prevents the appearance of a bruise, apply in a couple of hours – the bruise will pass in 2 days
• Bruise off – the main component is leech extract, due to which bruises disappear faster, puffiness decreases
• With Indovazine
  reduce swelling and pain, as the agent has an analgesic effect and also relieves inflammation
• All products in which the main component is arnica
  , used by athletes for injuries, so naturally such ointments are very effective
• When using heparin ointment
  you can get rid of bruises and muscle bruises
• Troxevasin ointment not only relieves swelling and pain from bruises, but, thanks to its components, reduces the fragility of blood vessels
• Lyoton and Lavenum contain heparin, which promotes rapid healing of bruises and reduces swelling from the resulting hematomas
• A very useful and effective remedy will be Heparoid ointment, which not only relieves swelling, but also prevents the appearance of blood clots

All of these drugs are extremely effective in the fight against hematomas.Use the indicated ointments in case of bruises and be healthy!

How to remove a bruise on a leg: how to cover up

If you are planning an important event, and there is an ugly bruise on your leg, then in addition to medications, you can use folk and cosmetics:

• A cold object can be ice, or even frozen chicken. The main thing is to wrap the item with a cloth so that you do not get frostbite in the company to the bruise
• Warm compress – this can be done only a day after the injury, so the swelling and bruising will soon dissolve
• Concealing with foundation
• Cabbage leaf with honey – spread honey on the leg overnight and place the cabbage leaf on the bruise.This method can speed up the resorption of the ill-fated bruise
• Iodine net – with the help of iodine, improve blood circulation and speed up the healing of a bruised area
• Badyaga – apply gruel from the powder to the damage. If you use 2 rubles per day, you will see a quick effect

The main thing is to do everything on time and correctly. Do not smear the bruise too often with ointment or use folk remedies, so, among other things, you can get allergies.
A bruise is not only not aesthetically pleasing, but also dangerous. If you observe a frequent manifestation of hematomas on the legs, this is the first signal for a thorough examination. Do not neglect your health, take time to visit the doctor and be healthy!

Video: Recipe for an ointment for bruises

A person is constantly exposed to physical stress. As a result of a blow, hematomas are often formed and this does not surprise anyone. But sometimes it happens that hematomas appear on the legs for no reason and this is very alarming.Experts say that they appear for a reason and there is a reason for this.

The skin of the lower limbs is rather soft and tender, especially in a child.

Slight pressure, bruising or just touching, can cause a hematoma. This suggests that pathological processes develop in the human body that disrupt the structure of blood vessels. Their fragility is the result of bruising.

Bruises sometimes appear on the legs on their own, which indicates a lack of nutrients or the development of pathologies.Unpleasant cyanotic spots are the result of vascular destruction. With an insufficient amount of some elements, the walls of the capillaries become more vulnerable, therefore, at the slightest pressure, they can burst. The blood spreads under the upper layers of the skin, forming a hematoma. Sometimes a bruise can be simply scratched to make it disappear, but this is only if the capillary network is not very noticeable.

Bruises can occur with sepsis, asphyxia, as well as hypothermia or as a result of taking certain drug groups.Regular aspirin, which disrupts the clotting process and also contributes to internal bleeding. Especially if the capillaries have lost their elasticity due to the lack of vitamins. Other medicines of this group or its analogues can have a similar effect.

Sometimes bruises on the legs, even for no reason, can appear in men or girls. This indicates an insufficient amount of vitamin C in the body, which affects the strength of blood vessels. This vitamin is found in lemon juice, for example.To restore its volume, you can regularly drink lemon juice diluted with water, no more than a glass in total.

Lack of vitamin K affects blood clotting. Thanks to him, it normally folds, and with its deficiency, a person experiences subcutaneous bleeding from burst capillaries. Usually, an insufficient amount of vitamins is observed in the body after the winter season, when all its supplies have already been spent. You can replenish them with ordinary cabbage or medications.To do this, you need to visit a specialist who will prescribe the intake of vitamin complexes.

Diseases causing hematomas

Why do bruises appear on the legs for no reason? Hematomas on the lower extremities can occur with diseases of a genetic nature, which from the very birth make you think about caution. The slightest physical contact can provoke a rupture of capillaries and cause the appearance of cyanotic spots. Below is a list of diseases that can cause bruising on the legs.

1. Problems with blood clotting.
2. Varicose veins.
3. Pathological disorders associated with diseases of the blood vessels.
4. Extremely high vessel fragility.
5. Allergic or inflammatory processes of the walls of blood vessels and subcutaneous fat.
6. Violation of blood flow associated with a decrease in the lumen between the walls of blood vessels.

Avitaminosis or unhealthy diet can also cause cyanotic spots.A nervous breakdown can contribute to this process, causing fatigue or sudden weight loss.

Bruises may appear after childbirth, during breastfeeding, when the immune system is weakened. This is facilitated by the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. Hematomas often appear if there is not enough calcium in the human body or after injections, which indicates low blood clotting.

Treatment

How to quickly get rid of a bruise that has appeared on a leg if it is not caused by an injury? In this case, the hematoma is a symptom of the disease.To get rid of it, you need to use proven means.

1. Heparin ointment.
2. Troxevasin.
3. Indovazin gel.
4. Ointments containing arnica extract.
5. Lifeguard.
6. Bruise-off.

These medications can clear up hematomas, but not cure the underlying disease. If you do not take measures to treat the lesion itself, then bruises may reappear after a while. Sometimes ointments have contraindications in the treatment of hematomas provoked by poor blood clotting.They can be used for varicose veins, hypovitaminosis or menopause.

In case of hypovitaminosis, the patient is prescribed complexes containing vitamins C and P: Ascorbic acid, Ascorutin. The diet should include foods rich in them.

In case of thrombocytopenia, it is worth stopping the medication that caused the disease. If it was caused by any medication, then after 7-20 days the platelet level will return to normal. It’s like alcohol – until it is completely eliminated from the body.When thrombocytopenia is provoked by other pathological disorders, it will be much more difficult to cure it.

In case of varicose veins, surgery will be required – sclerotherapy or phlebectomy. The first method involves the intravenous administration of medications, which contribute to the narrowing and healing of the affected vessels. In the second case, the damaged veins are surgically removed.

During menopause, hormonal treatment is used to stabilize the amount of estrogen.There are many homemade recipes that can help you heal, but they should only be used with the approval of your healthcare professional.

Alternative medicine

Many are interested in how to quickly remove a bruise on the leg using traditional methods at home. There are many of them, but only a few effective and affordable ones. The simplest of these is the onion compress. To prepare it, you need to grate one onion on a fine grater, and then mix with 1 tbsp. l.salt. The resulting gruel is wrapped and applied to the affected area for 10 minutes at least 2 times a day.

A good bruise remover is potato starch. It is diluted with water and then spread over the damaged area. The bruise should disappear in a few days. Another affordable, effective remedy that can easily remove bruises is salt diluted in vinegar. For cooking, you need a glass of vinegar and 1 tsp. salt. Lotions are made from the solution for 30 minutes, twice a day.

For the next recipe you will need castor oil and propolis, which are mixed in equal parts and used as a compress overnight. It will help to quickly remove the hematoma.

Red clover is an excellent remedy for bruising during menopause. It contains a large amount of substances similar in composition to female sex hormones, and is rich in vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the vascular walls. To prepare a medicine, you need 2 tbsp. l. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over the herbs, then let it brew for 8 hours.Take 50 ml orally 30 minutes before meals.

Another component that is used for menopause is dill. 1.5 tbsp. l. the seeds are poured with boiling water and insisted in a thermos for 1 hour. Before use, dilute with water and drink 100 g three times a day, after eating. This recipe is not recommended for use with low blood pressure.

Prevention

For any illness, it is always better to prevent it than to go through a grueling deliverance later. As already found out, the most common causes of bruising are blood vessel problems.For the prevention of venous diseases, experts recommend regularly exercising, spending more time walking in the fresh air, cycling, and visiting massage parlors. After the first physical exertion, the muscles will ache, but over time they will tone up.

Bruises on the legs that appear for no apparent reason are usually alarming, and, of course, the person wants to know the cause. Bruises can appear anywhere on the body and their location can be a symptom of an illness.Various factors can lead to bruising, but timely examination can save lives.

Bruises on the legs appear as discolored skin, blue, black, or a combination of the two. Damaged blood vessels in the legs cause blood to rise to the surface, which is a bruise. Hematomas usually heal within 2-4 weeks. When the bruise heals, there are various color changes, a range of shades: from yellowish-green, brown, reddish-blue to blue-black.

Causes of bruises on the legs

1. Physical activity or injury
   

Seemingly minor injuries can lead to bruising and contusions. It can take several days for a bruise to form, which is often a cause for concern. Intense physical activity can damage small blood vessels. Then the blood seeps out and forms a bruise on the leg or other part of the body.

1. Sun
   

Solar UV radiation damages the skin and blood vessels, which leads to bruising, especially in the elderly.

1. Drug side effects
   

Various medicines can affect the clotting ability of the blood. The function of blood cell platelets is impaired by many anti-inflammatory drugs. Aspirin and ibuprofen affect platelet function. Other medications that cause inflammation in tissues and blood vessels can also cause blood to leak, causing blue legs. Examples are contraceptives and corticosteroids.

1. Aging
   

Tissues lose their elasticity with age, and even minor minor injuries can lead to bruises on the legs for no apparent reason.

1. Vitamin deficiency
   

Vitamins are important factors in various body processes. Lack of vitamins B12, C, K and folate can lead to internal tissue damage or weak blood vessels, resulting in bruising on the legs.

1. Fat reduction
   

Fat is the natural damping of the body. People who are thin or who are prone to rapid weight loss are more prone to bruising for no reason on various parts of the body, including the legs.

1. Diabetes mellitus
   

Having a medical condition such as diabetes leads to vascular disease and can cause easy bruising. Acanthosis blackis is a dark bruise that appears in the folds of the body and around the neck.Many believe that the presence of this color in a bruise is a warning sign of the impending development of diabetes.

1. Blood diseases
   

Various blood diseases can lead to bruising for no apparent reason. These diseases include sepsis, thrombocytopenia, hemophilia, leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, and platelet dysfunction. Blood cancer can cause either an excess or a deficiency of certain blood cells, which can also lead to bruising, fatigue, weight loss and weakness.Any suspicion of one of these types of diseases requires immediate medical attention, as they can be fatal.

1. Graves’ disease
   

An overactive thyroid gland leads to global changes in the physiology of the body. People with Graves’ disease quickly lose weight, which is often accompanied by the development of small bruises in the form of cobwebs.

1. Other reasons
   

Home remedies for bruising

Cold Compressor.
The cold shrinks damaged blood vessels, which stops bleeding and reduces inflammation. Try applying an ice pack to the injured surface for 15 minutes, three times a day.

Warm Compressor.

Warming compresses may be applied 48 hours after injury. You can apply a warm towel or heating pad for 10 minutes three times a day to a bruise that has appeared for no reason, to speed up resorption.

Leg Raise.

Large bruises on the legs are not uncommon due to edema. Raising your legs can help reduce bruising and swelling.

OTC drugs.

Acetaminophen is the best choice for pain relief from bruising on the legs without cause. Medications such as aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs, which can inhibit blood clotting and lead to increased bruising, should be avoided.

The appearance of bruises on the legs for no reason cause anxiety and discomfort to all women, regardless of age. Moreover, the cause of their appearance is not always shock and damage. The appeared blue spots serve as a “decoration” of the legs, which does not allow wearing skirts with thin tights. The bruising must be due to some reason.

Of course, when it comes to the spontaneous, causeless appearance of blue spots on the legs, it means the absence of external influences – a direct blow to the lower limbs.

Nothing can happen in the human body just like that, so you need to understand the real causes of bruising, many of which are caused by disease, lack of nutrients and other health problems.

Unreasonable bruising on the legs is dangerous for women

It should be noted that in women who do not have health problems, the appearance of such a cosmetic defect is usually associated with deviations. Bruising is usually caused by minor injuries to the legs that go unnoticed.Owners of thin, fair skin are most susceptible to this.

The location of thin blood vessels – capillaries – is also of great importance: when they are located close to the epidermis, a bruise may appear even from a slight pressure. To avoid their appearance, you should be as careful and attentive as possible.

The appearance of bruises in women can also be due to the uncontrolled intake of certain medications. For example, aspirin slows down blood clotting, which causes hemorrhages.Various pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and others, also contribute to the appearance of blue spots. Therefore, do not abuse them.

Why are vein problems fraught with bruises?

Diseases of veins are accompanied by both blue spots and “asterisks” – nodules on the surface of the skin. The patient experiences breaking pain in the legs, which intensifies in the evening. This problem cannot be ignored, you should consult a phlebologist.

Having passed an ultrasound of the vessels of the legs, it is possible to identify which veins are affected, deep or superficial.If the woman is really sick, then the doctor prescribes special treatment, while the following recommendations must be observed:

• Wear compression hosiery regularly;
• Drink drugs that increase the elasticity of the veins, reduce capillary fragility;
• Sclerotherapy – a procedure for introducing needles into the veins with a drug that sticks together diseased vessels. This method has only a cosmetic effect, while it has no effect on the cause of the disease.

Performing surgery for venous diseases is an extremely rare measure, and only in serious cases.

How does capillary fragility affect the appearance of blue spots on the legs?

Capillary fragility is a very popular cause of bruising on the skin of the legs. Usually, the weaker sex faces this problem during the warm season, when it is important to wear skirts and shorts, and at the same time you need to hide your legs. This is because in the spring-summer period the body experiences discomfort from a deficiency of vitamins, in particular vitamin C. Thus, for prevention, it is recommended to take ascorutin or ascorbic acid.

How do blood disorders affect the appearance of blue spots on the legs?

Diseases of the blood rarely cause blue spots on the legs in women, but they are quite dangerous. If, during the examination of the legs, varicose veins or other vein diseases are not found, then most likely the reason is hidden by such serious ailments (thrombocytopenia (platelet deficiency) or von Willebrand disease).

These diseases are characterized by slow healing of minor wounds and abrasions, nosebleeds.In this case, it is necessary to constantly monitor the state of the body.

Please consult your doctor before using any medications listed on the website.

In the summer we become especially active: outdoor recreation, trips to the sea, outdoor games. With this rhythm, no, no, but you find a bruise on your body. But in the heat, I don’t want to put on closed things in order to hide the treacherous hematoma that has appeared. What to do? There are several effective ways.

But first you need to understand why women get bruises on their legs without blows
.Since with a bluish skin defect obtained with a bruise, everything is clear. But sometimes they appear for no reason. More precisely, the source of the appearance may turn out to be much more serious, indicating health problems.

What we are dealing with

A hematoma (bluish defect in the epidermis) is the result of damage to blood vessels that are close to the surface of the dermis. Blood, getting into the subcutaneous layer, acquires a purple color, but erythrocytes in this state tend to quickly break down. Therefore, when a hematoma is detected, it already has a bluish tint.

Over time, the color changes to a greenish, and after a while to a yellowish tint. The site of injury rarely causes pain, except in cases where a large area of ​​skin is damaged.

Medium-sized hematomas resolve in two weeks. But there is an opportunity to speed up the process at home if you follow the recommendations.

Damage to the surface of the skin develops for two reasons: contusion or decreased elasticity of the subcutaneous vessels. The elasticity of tubular formations in the body can be influenced by temporary or more significant factors, such as blood diseases or pathologies of internal organs.

Medical attention is also required if other symptoms appear. For example: high fever, induration in the area of ​​a bluish defect, pain.

Bad habits

Smoking negatively affects the elasticity of the vascular walls. Nicotine addiction leads to hypertension, vasospasm from which hematomas appear, and then varicose veins develop.

Elderly age

With age, the elasticity of the vascular network decreases, this is an irreversible age-related change in the body.But more often than not, unpleasant skin defects are associated not only with aging, but are also accompanied by other health problems.

Avitaminosis

Lack of vitamins and minerals leads to significant disruptions in the body. Vitamins P, C, B5, E, A are involved in strengthening vascular tissues.

Vitamins PP, group B, omega-3, potassium, sodium, magnesium and selenium reduce the formation of blood clots. They also remove cholesterol fractions that accumulate on the inner surface of the walls.

Viral infections

Influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, colds negatively affect the state of the vascular walls, increasing their permeability. This leads to the formation of bluish dots, often painless. They are outlined in the stage of illness and in the process of recovery.

Hormonal disorders

A decrease in hormone levels and a lack of vitamins lead to a decrease in vascular strength. Similar situations occur in pregnant women and during menopause.

Medicines

Medicines aimed at thinning the blood provoke the appearance of hematomas.But other medications can cause similar side effects.

More common with headache pills. It is recommended that you carefully study the side effects and consult your doctor when prescribing medications.

Varicose veins

Varicose veins are inextricably linked with bluish patches. A similar pathology causes swelling and spider veins. Self-medication is not recommended, since the complication can lead to serious consequences, both physiological and aesthetic.

Diseases of the blood

A blood test will help to pinpoint the disease. Delay is unacceptable, since such diseases are accompanied by difficult healing of abrasions. A small wound can lead to significant blood loss.

Pathologies of internal organs

Diseases of the kidneys and liver reduce the elasticity of blood vessels. Small hematomas show up sharply. More often found in hypertensive patients and in chronic tonsillitis.

How to get rid of bruises on your feet quickly at home: 5 tips

Apply cold

Got it.It remains to be seen how to treat them. Ice is a traditional, effective method. When bruised, blood vessels are damaged, their permeability increases, or hemorrhage occurs. Because of this, fluid enters the surrounding tissues, increasing edema, impedes blood circulation and presses on pain receptors.

Cold contributes to the narrowing of the vascular network, reduces permeability. Thanks to this, the painful sensations decrease, and the hematoma itself disappears much faster.

You need to keep the ice for no more than twenty minutes, after which you should take a break.After one and a half to two hours, it is advisable to repeat the procedure.

Important! It makes sense to apply cold only on the first day after the appearance of a bluish tint. If the moment is lost, go to tip number two.

Warm the bruised area

What to do if there was no ice on hand in time? Wait for the swelling to subside (usually on the second day after the injury). Now the damaged area needs to be warmed up. So dilate the blood vessels and help them heal from the blood and lymph accumulated under the skin.

Use a heating pad or a towel soaked in hot water. You can also purchase special warming ointments.

The duration of the procedures is the same as in the case of the cold compress – twenty minutes, break for several hours, repeat.

Use essential oils

For more effective cold and warm wraps, use essential oils. Immediately after the appearance of a hematoma (during the “cold” period), it is best to use sedatives such as lavender, hyssop and fennel.Later, when the damaged area begins to change color, you can massage with oils that stimulate blood circulation, such as rosemary or chamomile.

When using aromatherapy, do not forget that some tinctures are contraindicated for certain diseases. For example, lavender oil is not recommended for pregnant women.

Make an iodine grid

A regular iodine grid helps to speed up healing well. Acts as a warm compress – dilates blood vessels and helps remove excess blood.The mesh should be applied to the affected area of ​​the skin, preferably at night – this way the remedy will work, and you will not have to go with an iodine tattoo.

Strengthen the vessels

Sometimes the best way to get rid of a problem is to prevent it. If you notice that bluish spots are often outlined, you may have weak blood vessels. It is quite easy to strengthen them. To do this, add more citrus fruits, cabbage, carrots, bell peppers and onions to your diet, periodically take a contrast shower. Take care of prevention, take vitamin complexes regularly.

There are a lot of remedies that will help to cure the unpleasant consequences of pleasant activities. If the injury has nothing to do with it, it is recommended to find out the reasons at the doctor’s appointment.

What helped you?

90,000 Bruises on the body indicate dangerous diseases

Irina Khodkevich from Chekhov applied to the program “On the Most Important”. She cannot, as before, wear her favorite sundresses and skirts, because bruises began to appear on her arms, legs and even stomach.On the air of the Russia 1 channel, Sergei Agapkin and Mikhail Politseimako, together with hepatologist, gastroenterologist, and candidate of medical sciences Pavel Bogomolov, discussed diseases that may be evidenced by accidental hematomas.

Spontaneous bruising is one of the symptoms of liver disease. Other signs that this organ is out of order include swelling, drowsiness, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, and impaired concentration. The heroine is already familiar with some of these symptoms.

“Spontaneous bleeding, bruising is either a rather aggressive course of hepatitis, or an emerging or already formed cirrhosis of the liver,” the doctor said.

He added that when liver function is impaired due to disease, the synthesis of coagulation factors is reduced, which can manifest itself in the form of bleeding. In patients with liver diseases, not only plasma factors of the blood coagulation system decrease, but also cellular ones. These people have low platelet counts, so minimal or no exposure leads to changes in the skin that resemble bruises.

The viewer showed a slight increase in the size of the liver, but no other data were found that indicate hepatitis.The doctor recommended that she undergo an additional examination.

If you are faced with cirrhosis of the liver, first of all, according to Pavel Bogomolov, you must give up alcohol. Carbonated sweet drinks are also banned. In addition, Bogomolov advises a diet with limited salt intake. Fermented milk products should appear in the diet, which will help prevent hepatic encephalopathy and infectious complications of liver cirrhosis.

As for the treatment of liver cirrhosis, hepatoprotectors should not be used.”If the cause of the disease is viruses, then we prescribe only antiviral therapy. If the cause of the disease is overweight, insulin resistance, then we prescribe drugs that affect insulin resistance. If it is autoimmune hepatitis, we prescribe hormonal drugs,” the doctor said.

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