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A black eye is not only painful but can also be embarrassing. Fortunately, it’s not a serious issue and often heals easily without requiring extensive treatment. In reality, there’s little you can do to speed up the healing process. However, there are several strategies to accelerate recovery, and you can also use makeup to reduce the color disparity when going out.
Steps
Initial Treatment Process
Apply ice to the area around the eye. Use a cold compress, wrap ice in a cloth, or use a frozen vegetable bag pressed against the swelling for 10 minutes at a time. Apply the ice pack for about 20 minutes every hour during the first few days of treatment.
- Start immediately and continue this process for the next 24 to 48 hours.
- Press gently on the skin around the eye, avoiding direct pressure on the eye itself.
- Always wrap the ice pack in a towel or cloth, as applying it directly to the skin can cause damage and frostbite.
Take pain relievers. If the discomfort or pain from the bruise is unbearable, consider using over-the-counter pain medication. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is often the best choice. Ibuprofen (Advil) is also effective, and you can choose either based on availability. These medications can be purchased without a prescription at local pharmacies.
- Avoid aspirin as it can interfere with blood clotting.
- Follow the dosage instructions on the packaging, typically taking two pills every 4 to 6 hours.
- Do not exceed 4 grams of any combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen within 24 hours to prevent liver damage.
Avoid forcing the eye open. A black eye often comes with significant swelling around the area. If this happens, it may be difficult to open the eye, and there’s no need to force it. As long as you’re sure there’s no serious issue beyond the bruising (meaning no other medical concerns), keeping the eye closed is fine if opening it causes pain.
Protect the eye from risky activities. While the eye is healing (usually taking one to two weeks), ensure you wear protective eyewear or gear if there’s a chance of further injury. If the injury occurred during sports, pause participation until the eye has fully recovered.
Check for additional injuries. A black eye is bad enough, but it doesn’t always indicate a severe issue. However, if accompanied by other injuries, seek professional medical treatment as soon as possible. There’s a possibility of a serious injury to the eye or head.
- Examine the white and colored parts of the eye. If you notice blood, it could indicate a severe injury, requiring immediate attention from an eye specialist.
- If you experience vision problems like blurriness, dizziness, or increased light sensitivity, consult an eye doctor.
- Other signs of potential injury include severe pain when moving the eye, intense headaches, facial numbness, swelling or indentation around the eye or socket, nosebleeds, and/or dizziness.
Continuing Eye Care
Avoid applying pressure or causing further injury to the eye. The injured area will remain highly sensitive until it nearly returns to its normal color. Applying pressure can increase pain and worsen the damage to the blood vessels beneath the skin, potentially delaying healing or making the injury more severe.
- Refrain from keeping the eye open for extended periods until the swelling subsides.
Switch to warm, moist compresses after 24 to 48 hours. After a day or two of using ice packs to reduce swelling, transition to applying warm, damp cloths to the bruised area.
- Soak a washcloth or gauze in warm water and gently place it on the injury. Avoid heating pads, as they produce dry heat that can be too intense and may harm sensitive skin.
- Apply the warm compress for 10 minutes at a time, resting for at least 10 minutes between applications.
- Do not place the warm compress directly on the eye; instead, focus on the surrounding area.
- Warm compresses improve blood circulation to the damaged vessels and help reabsorb pooled blood, speeding up the healing process.
Contact your doctor if the condition worsens or the discoloration doesn’t fade. A black eye should show significant improvement within about a week and a half. If the discoloration persists, schedule a medical examination.
- Black eyes often appear worse before they begin to heal, so don’t be alarmed if the condition seems to deteriorate in the first few days. However, if you suspect internal bleeding, seek medical attention immediately.
Using Makeup to Conceal a Black Eye
Wait until the swelling subsides. Immediately after the injury, prioritize treatment over makeup. Applying makeup while the eye is still swollen can irritate the skin and cause redness.
- Additionally, makeup used to conceal a black eye may easily smudge or wear off when applying ice packs, making it pointless to apply before treatment.
- Wait until the warm compress stage to use makeup, and apply as little as possible. If you feel the need to cover the bruise when going out or receiving guests, go ahead, but avoid makeup when at home alone.
Select the right concealer makeup. For optimal results, opt for a liquid-based product with yellow or green undertones. Liquid concealers are easier to apply and blend compared to cream-based alternatives, and you should avoid using too much pressure during application.
- Apply concealer before your standard foundation if you aim to cover a black eye. Standard foundation matches your skin tone and can only blend uneven tones. In contrast, concealer creates a base layer to correct discolored areas.
- Yellow-toned concealers work best for early-stage bruises when the skin appears purplish. As the bruise fades to reddish or yellowish-brown, switch to a green-toned concealer.
- Use your finger to apply the concealer. Dab a small amount with your fingertip and gently blend it around the darkened area. Apply light pressure and blend thoroughly to cover the entire affected region.
Next, apply your regular foundation. Once the concealer has dried, apply a foundation that matches your skin tone. The foundation helps blend the uneven tones created by the concealer.
Add additional makeup only if desired. The two products mentioned above are sufficient to cover a black eye without extra makeup. However, if you prefer to continue with your daily makeup routine, feel free to do so.
