Bruises – causes, treatment and prevention

Bruises

Bruising is the most common form of hematoma . Injuries damage the blood vessels under the skin. The blood escaping into the tissue coagulates there and leads to the development of mostly bluish discolouration.

What is a bruise?

Bruises , bruises , or hematomas, occur when an injury breaks blood vessels and blood pools in tissue where it shouldn’t. A typical symptom is the characteristic bluish discoloration under the skin. Blood vessels are in a constant state of renewal and repair.

Minor damage is usually repaired immediately. However, the more severe the damage from an impact or bruise, the more blood will enter the tissue and the larger and darker the bruise will be. The degree of discoloration, swelling or pain is also dependent on the area of ​​the body where the damage occurred.

Causes

Most bruises are caused by trauma. This includes any type of injury or unusual movement that subsequently causes damage to the blood vessels. The amount of blood that then flows into the tissue and clots there is responsible for the size and intensity of the bruise.

Some blood vessels are more prone to injury than others, which is why they bruise more easily. Susceptibility to bruising can also vary from person to person. Regular use of blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin can reduce the blood’s ability to repair damage to the vessels. This is where bruises come more quickly.

Hematomas can occur anywhere on and in the body. Damage to blood vessels in the brain or other organs can remain completely undetected from the outside, but can lead to life-threatening bleeding. Only the superficial injuries under the skin and the resulting hematomas are referred to as bruises.

When to the doctor?

In most cases, bruising does not require a doctor’s consultation. If the region is spared, the spots heal within a few days or are already significantly reduced. Although there is a sensation of pain when pressure is applied to the bruises, this is usually not a cause for concern. If the bruises increase steadily over several days despite rest, the doctor should be consulted.

If the pain extends beyond the bruises or remains constant even when no pressure is applied to the damaged area, a doctor should also be consulted. The same applies if the experience of pain is perceived as particularly intense due to a stabbing pain. There is a risk of further and worse damage in these cases. If the bruises appear repeatedly and regularly over a longer period of time without any external influence, the advice of the doctor is also to be classified as sensible.

There may be mental stress, trauma or mental illness. Under certain circumstances, the person concerned can inflict the bruises themselves without consciously controlling it. If symptoms such as dizziness, impaired consciousness, high blood pressure or cardiac arrhythmias occur in addition to the bruises , these should be presented to a doctor. In these cases there may be serious problems that should be clarified.

Diagnosis and course

Most people have been familiar with the bruising phenomenon since childhood, so it does not require a special diagnosis. They occur after injuries, accidents, overstretching, etc. This is followed by local pain as a result of tissue damage and the healing process.

Injuries to the blood vessels are inevitable, especially with bumps and blows to the surface of the body. The blood leaks out, clots in the surrounding tissue and a bruise develops. These are usually associated with pain and irritation. Swelling can also occur, especially in sensitive areas of the face. After the bruise appears, various discolorations can develop during the healing phase. In addition to bluish discoloration, the injury can also turn yellowish, reddish or greenish. Increased unexplained spots on the skin may be related to other diseases. A doctor should be consulted here.

Complications

Bruises usually heal on their own in a few days or weeks. It is important that the bleeding is stopped as soon as possible. This works very well by immediately cooling the affected region. Further movements should be avoided, especially in the development phase of the bruises. This prevents further spread of the damaged blood vessels. Depending on the extent of the damaged region, it is necessary to check whether a doctor should be consulted.

As soon as the bleeding has stopped, the spots can no longer be expected to get worse. However, the associated pressure pain can increase during the healing process, especially in the first few days. However, if the pain and the spots continue to increase in size after two to three days, it can be assumed that the bleeding will continue. At this point, at the latest, a doctor should be consulted or another visit to the doctor should be considered.

The protection of the affected skin region is the focus of healing. Care should be taken not to apply further pressure to the affected region. Avoid wearing tight clothing on the damaged skin area. The blood vessels in the body usually regenerate themselves. A surgical intervention is not necessary. Ointments that promote regeneration can be used to support the body’s self-healing.

Treatment and therapy

Bruises don’t require any special treatment, but they can usually be treated with rest, cold, compresses, and an elevated position. The healing phase depends on how severe the injury is and how large and dark the spot is. In most cases, a spot will heal within a few days. It must be ensured that the affected region is not unnecessarily stressed or moved, which would reduce healing. Otherwise, the regeneration can slow down significantly.

People with a blood clotting disorder are also more prone to bruising because broken blood vessels heal more slowly. If bruises become exceptionally large and dark in this case, it may be advisable to seek medical attention.

Since the blood is a carrier of many nutrients, there is a risk of infection of the surrounding tissue. People with bruises should monitor their injuries for signs such as heat, worsening pain, or redness . It can be difficult to distinguish signs of inflammation or infection from the actual bruise.

If people also develop fever and red discoloration around the spot, additional treatment may be needed. This may include a doctor’s prescription of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.

Outlook and prognosis

Bruises are usually caused by temporary pressure or bruising. During this process, blood vessels are damaged, blood leaks out and bleeding occurs. Since the cause is usually not a permanent condition, it can be assumed that the bruises will reduce after just a few days. Once the bleeding has stopped, new bruises will no longer form. The blood that has escaped is slowly removed over the coming hours and days. The more advanced the process, the fewer bruises there are.

In some cases, there may be a temporary increase in bruising. An enlarged area of ​​the bruises usually develops within a day. This is because the bleeding is so minimal that it spreads slowly and the bleeding has continued.

In addition, it can happen that the bleeding from the deeper tissue layers is slowly transported to the superficial regions. Normally, the bruises have disappeared after a week at the latest if the region is protected. The damaged blood vessels regenerate themselves and close the blood outlet within a short time. Depending on the extent of the damage to the blood vessel, the regeneration process can take a little longer.

Prevention

Since most bruises are caused by injury, caution can only be advised in these cases. Accidents happen and no matter how careful you are or how well you protect yourself, you will always get a few bruises.

To avoid possible complications and inflammation, it is advisable to keep an eye on your bruises. For certain risk groups, it is certainly advisable to avoid some sports and activities. People with a blood clotting disorder should therefore not do contact sports, martial arts or similar sports with an increased risk of injury. The same applies to people who need to take anticoagulant medication.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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