How long until bruise appears

The size and severity of a bruise depend on how much force was applied during the injury. You can often tell the age of a bruise from the color. As the body breaks down the red blood cells, the bruise changes color and is a natural part of the healing process. Here are the colors a typical bruise goes through and what it means:.

Bruises are also called contusions. Hematomas are similar to bruises, except they are more serious and symptoms develop much more rapidly. They are also larger, deeper and tend to have more significant swelling than a typical bruise. Hematomas in the head, face and abdomen can cause severe symptoms. If you experience any of the following symptoms after a head, face or abdomen trauma, visit State Urgent Care as soon as possible to avoid further complications:.

Bruises are typically surface injuries that heal on their own without medical attention, and people can treat them safely at home. See your doctor or visit State Urgent Care right away if you notice any of the following symptoms:.

People taking prescription blood thinners should also talk to their doctor if they suffer a fall or significant injury, as they have a higher risk of bruising and complications from bruising.

Bruising depends on several things, such as:. Also, blood vessels tend to become fragile as people get older, which is why elderly people tend to bruise more easily. 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!

Often, they are a surface injury that requires no medical attention, and people can treat them at home. One common issue is a hematoma. A hematoma is a large collection of blood that becomes trapped within tissues. It is often related to more significant trauma. When a hematoma occurs, the body cannot heal the bruise as easily or quickly as a minor injury. As a result, a hematoma stays the same color, firmness, and causes the same level of pain even after several days.

People may want to try to speed healing or lessen any pain associated with bruising. There are some potential at-home methods they can try, as described here:. One of the first steps to helping a bruise heal is to apply ice to the area. People can ice the area with anything frozen, such as a freezer pack or a bag of frozen vegetables. Wrap the cold object in a towel or cloth and apply to the affected area. Do not apply a cold pack directly to the skin, as this can cause further injury.

When a person applies ice to a new bruise, it helps to slow bleeding down and lessen the swelling. This can reduce the overall size of the bruise, as it prevents blood from leaking further and reduces inflammation. Many people use arnica, quercetin, vitamin B-3, or vitamin K creams to help speed up bruise healing times.

People can also use over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen Tylenol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs to reduce pain and inflammation around the bruise. Avoid aspirin , as it can increase bleeding. Avoiding NSAIDs may also be necessary when bruising occurs after surgery or with extensive bruises, as these drugs risk worsening the bleeding.

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