When are bruises serious?
Bruising may be an indication of a serious health condition in some cases.
Although most bruises are normal and not serious, there are some cases in which you should contact your doctor.
A person with bruises should contact a doctor in several cases, including:
- Bruises continue to appear for a long time: If bruises continue to appear for a long time without fading or improving, a doctor should be consulted to evaluate the condition and determine possible causes.
- Bruising with severe pain: If the bruising is causing severe and unbearable pain, this may be an indication of a more serious injury that needs immediate medical attention.
- Bruising in sensitive areas such as the head or abdomen: If you experience a bruise in a sensitive area such as the head or abdomen, you should consult a doctor immediately.
There may be a danger to the injured person's life and requires immediate evaluation and treatment. - Bruising accompanied by abnormal bleeding: If you suffer from abnormal bleeding accompanying a bruise, such as bleeding gums, frequent nosebleeds, or blood in your urine or stool, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.
These symptoms may indicate a serious health problem, such as a blood clotting problem or a blood disease.
Do not underestimate any type of bruise that is accompanied by abnormal symptoms or causes severe pain.
It is important to seek medical care when needed and follow your doctors' directions for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
What are the types of bruises?
- Subcutaneous bruising: This is the most common type of bruising and does not directly break the skin.
Blood pools under the surface and the color of the bruise ranges from red, purple, and blue.
These bruises are often painless and disappear after a period of time. - Muscle bruises: These bruises occur in the muscles underlying the skin.
Blood leaks from damaged blood vessels into the muscles, causing the bruise to increase in size.
These bruises are more severe and painful than direct subcutaneous bruises. - Bone bruises: This is the most severe and painful type of bruise, where the bone is directly hit.
The blood vessels surrounding the bone break, causing blood to pool beneath the surface.
These bruises appear red, blue, or black.
The duration and severity of bruising depends on several factors, including the severity of the injury.
Bruising may last from days to months before disappearing completely.
Some additional symptoms may appear when you have a bruise, such as numbness in the leg or arm and difficulty moving.
If symptoms worsen or the bruise persists for a long time without improvement, it may be necessary to consult a doctor.
How many days does it take for bruises to go away?
Bruises take a certain amount of time to heal depending on the area where the injury occurred and its severity.
Although minor bruising fades quickly, more severe bruising can return to normal color in up to about ten days.
After that, the skin regains its natural color in about two weeks.
If the bruises continue for more than two weeks, the necessary medical treatments must be resorted to.
One of these treatments includes applying an ice pack to the bruise immediately.
Healing usually takes about two weeks.
For eye bruises, they usually take two weeks to heal.
It may take a longer or shorter period depending on the severity of the injury, age, and general health.
As for facial and under-eye bruises, they are relatively minor bruises that heal on their own within three to five days.
On the other hand, you may notice the appearance of brown or yellow bruises about 5-10 days after the injury.
This new color is achieved as a result of specific substances produced by the body during the decomposition of blood collected in the affected area.
Although some bruises can last for months, during the healing period the body absorbs the clotted blood.
In some cases, it is possible to resort to applying a warm towel to the bruises after two days for several minutes several times daily, as this helps the skin absorb blood faster and speed up the healing process.
What diseases cause bruises in the body?
- Bleeding disorders: such as hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, or deficiency of clotting factors.
These conditions affect the ability of blood to thin and clot, leading to excessive bleeding into deep tissues.
People with these diseases must follow the doctor’s instructions and take prescribed medications to protect their health from possible complications. - Genetic diseases: such as coagulation deficiency disorder, which is a hereditary condition in which the body suffers from a deficiency in one of the clotting factors.
People with the disease develop excessive bleeding in deep tissues. - Effect of drugs: Taking some medications may be the cause of bruising.
If drugs are the cause, the appearance of bruises may be accompanied by digestive disorders such as bloating, gas, pain, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. - Cancer: Blue spots are rarely an indication of some types of cancer such as leukemia, which involve the production of a large amount of abnormal blood cells.
In addition to leukemia, vasculitis can be one of the possible causes of bruising in the body and can be accompanied by the appearance of blue spots on the skin, resulting from inflammation in the blood vessels, shortness of breath, numbness in the extremities, and stomach ulcers. - Having diabetes: High blood sugar can lead to damage to blood vessels and the appearance of bruises in the body.
Are bruises a symptom of a stroke?
Bruises are blue or dark marks that can appear on the skin as a result of trauma or injury, where blood collects under the skin.
These bruises are often not serious and fade over time.
However, in some cases, bruising may indicate problems with blood clotting.
- Repeated exposure to large bruises, especially if the bruise appears on the torso, back, or face, or if the bruise appears for no known reason.
- If you have no other symptoms of excessive bleeding such as bleeding from your gums or blood in your urine or stool.
- If you have new neurological symptoms in addition to bruising.
In order to diagnose the condition, the doctor may recommend laboratory tests such as examining the degree of blood clotting and special genetic tests.
Some other causes of bruising are:
- Increased blood fluidity: Diseases that increase blood fluidity may be a reason for the appearance of bruises or blue spots on the body.
- Bleeding disorders: Some diseases that affect the blood's ability to clot can cause bruising.
- Take some nutritional supplements: Some nutritional supplements can affect blood clotting and cause bruising.
Although bruising may be a sign of blood clotting problems, it does not necessarily mean a clot has occurred.
You should consult a doctor to check the condition and rule out other possible causes.
What is the cause of sudden bruising?
The cause of sudden bruises on the body can be many and varied.
According to information available online, one of the most common reasons for the appearance of bruises is a lack of vitamins in the body, as some vitamins play an important role in the body’s healing and blood clotting process.
Therefore, a deficiency in these vitamins is a possible cause of bruising.
Bruising can also be caused by circulatory disorders such as varicose veins, platelet dysfunction, blood-related diseases, and clotting disorders.
These disorders can lead to damage and rupture of blood vessels under the skin, leading to blood leakage and bruising.
Other possible reasons for the appearance of sudden bruises on the body, according to sources, are genetics, chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, blood disorders, and taking certain medications.
Experts also point out that hormonal fluctuations can be a common cause of sudden bruising, especially when estrogen decreases in women.
Determining the exact cause of bruising may require additional tests to uncover possible causes.
Therefore, if sudden bruises appear frequently or unexplained, it is best to consult a doctor to evaluate the condition and direct appropriate treatment if necessary.
Do bruises come out from anger?
Although there is no clear research proving a direct relationship between sadness and the appearance of bruises, there are some factors that can contribute to the appearance of bruises in cases of sadness or extreme stress.
One of these factors is a high level of stress and tension that can cause the blood vessels under the skin to shrink and become damaged, making them more susceptible to injury and bruising.
It is worth noting that women tend to have more depression than men, and this increases the chances of bruises appearing suddenly or unexplained.
Some medications used to treat depression, such as antidepressants, may also affect blood consistency and increase the likelihood of bruising.
However, it is important to note that any unexplained or persistent bruising should be taken to a doctor for evaluation.
Bruises may be the result of other causes unrelated to the upset, such as sports accidents, car accidents, or even muscle strain.
How do blue bruises go away?
- Use cold water compresses: When injury or trauma occurs, apply cold water compresses to the affected area for 15 to 30 minutes.
You can use ice packs available at home or a frozen ice bag wrapped in a clean cloth.
This method is repeated regularly to reduce swelling and pain. - Use of digestive bromelain: Pineapple and papaya contain a digestive enzyme called bromelain, which works to soften proteins that trap blood and fluids under the skin.
Therefore, it is recommended to eat these fruits regularly to speed up the healing of blue bruises. - Using parsley: Crush the parsley leaves and place them on the bruised area.
Parsley works to soothe bruises and provide warmth to the affected area. - Applying warm compresses: Two days after the injury, warm water compresses can be applied to the affected area for ten minutes.
Apple cider vinegar mixed with water can be used as a warm compress.
What is the best treatment for bruises?
1- Use of ointments and creams: Ointments and creams that contain bromelain can be used, as it has an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces pain, swelling and bruising.
2- Ice therapy: Ice helps reduce blood flow in the affected area, because ice contributes to cooling the blood vessels, which leads to reducing the amount of leaking blood and thus helps relieve pain and swelling.
3- Heat therapy: Heat is used to accelerate blood circulation and enhance blood flow to the affected area.
Things such as warm baths or hot towels can be used to apply heat to the bruise.
4- Rest: Exposure to pressure or excessive movement in the affected area should be avoided for a period of time to facilitate healing and relieve pain.
5- Elevating the affected area: A pillow or raised pillow can be placed under the affected area to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
6- Pressure on the affected area: A compressed bandage can be used to apply light pressure to the affected area, in order to contribute to reducing the excessive spread of blood and swelling.
7- Painkillers: If the pain is severe, painkillers available in pharmacies can be used to relieve the pain associated with bruises.
8- Medical procedures: In the case of severe bruising or that lasts for a long time without improvement, you must consult a doctor to obtain appropriate treatment and ensure that there are no other serious injuries.
Is it possible to use bruise treatment without consulting a doctor?
When a bruise occurs, blood vessels under the skin are broken, causing blood to leak out and pool under the skin, turning it blue or black.
The bruise usually disappears gradually as the body absorbs the blood accumulated under the skin.
However, there are some methods that can be followed to speed up the healing process and relieve the pain associated with the bruise without the need to visit a doctor.
Among these methods:
- Applying cold compresses: Cold compresses or cold gel pads can be used on the affected area for 15-20 minutes several times a day.
Cold compresses reduce swelling of the affected area and relieve pain. - Use of analgesics: Over-the-counter analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to relieve the pain associated with bruises.
However, you should follow the instructions on the package and refrain from using in excess. - Rest: The bruised area should be given rest and any activity that might aggravate the pain or increase the bruising should be avoided.
