Buzz
Skin Issues Image Collection In 2002, President Bush experienced a pretzel-related choking incident, fainted, and sustained a facial abrasion along with a bruised lower lip. During a later event in his presidency, he avoided injury by dodging a shoe thrown at him. Explore more images of common skin conditions.
Mark Wilson/Getty ImagesOuch! Perhaps you weren’t paying attention and bumped your thigh against the dining table. Or maybe you took a tumble while biking around a sharp turn. Alternatively, you might have missed catching a ball, and it struck your arm instead. Such accidents often lead to bruises. While the pain may fade quickly, the unsightly bruise remains as a lasting reminder of the mishap. But why does your skin turn shades of black and blue?
In medical terms, a bruise, also known as a contusion, occurs when blood vessels rupture due to an impact on the skin. This causes blood to seep out, leaving a red, purple, or black mark. Occasionally, the skin may swell as blood spreads into nearby tissues. For most healthy individuals, the body eventually absorbs the blood, and the bruise fades. Typically, the severity of the impact determines the bruise’s size, with arms and legs being the most commonly affected areas.
While most bruises are harmless, serving as temporary and unsightly reminders of clumsiness, they can sometimes signal serious medical conditions. On the following pages, we’ll explore what those conditions might be.
How do bruises develop? Why do their colors shift over time? What can speed up their healing? If you bruise easily, you’re likely eager to uncover the answers to these questions, along with the bigger mystery: Why do I bruise more easily than others?
Why Bruises Form and How They Heal
As previously mentioned, bruises occur when small blood vessels, or capillaries, rupture due to skin trauma. The color of a bruise evolves over time, providing clues about its age and healing stage. Typically, the skin returns to normal within two to three weeks after the injury.
- Fresh bruises appear reddish, reflecting the blood that has escaped from the capillaries beneath the skin.
- After one to two days, bruises turn bluish or purple as swelling reduces oxygen flow, causing hemoglobin, the iron-carrying component in blood, to change color.
- By day six, bruises take on a greenish hue as hemoglobin breaks down and the healing process advances.
- At eight to nine days, bruises transition to yellow or brown, marking the final phase of the body reabsorbing the blood.
What should you do if your bruise doesn’t change color or heal as expected? If the bruise stays firm, grows larger, or becomes more painful, it could indicate a hematoma. This occurs when blood pools under the skin or within a muscle, and instead of reabsorbing it, the body isolates the blood. In such cases, a doctor may need to drain the hematoma.
A rare reason for a persistent bruise is the deposition of calcium around the injury site, known as heterotopic ossification. This condition makes the bruised area firm and sensitive. A doctor can diagnose heterotopic ossification using an X-ray.
Typically, bruises are temporary nuisances, causing brief pain and lasting for a week or two. However, bruising can sometimes signal serious health issues. Continue reading to discover when a bruise might be cause for concern.
When to Worry About a Bruise
Northampton soccer player Ian Sampson with a black eye
Shaun Botterill/Getty ImagesWhile most of us have experienced bruises from bumps or falls, there are uncommon causes of bruising that require attention. If you notice any of the following types of bruising, seek medical advice promptly.
- Petechiae, tiny 1 to 3 millimeter blood spots under the skin, often appearing as red dots, usually on the legs. These can signal serious conditions like heart valve infections or blood clotting disorders.
- Bruising around the navel may suggest internal abdominal bleeding.
- Bruising behind the ear, known as Battle's Sign, could indicate a skull fracture.
- Unexplained, raised, and firm bruises may point to autoimmune diseases where the body attacks its own blood vessels. Immediate medical consultation is essential in such cases.
Additionally, if you experience intense pressure or pain in a bruised area, it could be compartment syndrome. This occurs when pressure builds up in the soft tissues, restricting blood and oxygen flow. This condition can be life-threatening, so seek medical help immediately.
Contact a doctor if the bruised area shows signs of infection, such as red streaks, fever, or discharge.
On the following page, we’ll explore factors that may increase your susceptibility to bruising.
Causes for Bruising
While anyone can bruise, certain individuals are more prone to bruising due to specific factors. Here are some key contributors:
- Medication: Blood-thinning medications like aspirin, clopidogrel (Playix), and warfarin (Coumadin) can increase bruising by delaying blood clotting, allowing more blood to escape into tissues. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, thin the skin and weaken blood vessels, making bruising more likely.
- Dietary Supplements: Supplements like fish oil or ginkgo can thin the blood, raising the risk of bruising. Inform your healthcare provider if you’re taking these, especially alongside blood-thinning medications.
- Medical Conditions: Conditions like hemophilia or liver disease can impair blood clotting, leading to more severe bruising.
- Age: As you age, blood vessels become more fragile, and skin thins, reducing protection against injury. Older adults may bruise from minor bumps, while younger individuals require more force.
Continue reading to discover effective treatments for bruises and tips to prevent them.
While the term 'bruising' applies to both human skin and fruit discoloration, the underlying processes differ. In fruit, cell wall and membrane rupture allows oxygen to interact with chemical compounds, leading to oxidation. Many of these oxidized compounds turn brown, creating the appearance of a bruise on the fruit's surface.
Bruise Treatment and Prevention
After bumping into a desk at work, you’re likely to develop a noticeable bruise. What steps can you take to reduce bruising after such an injury?
While most bruises fade naturally, certain measures can accelerate the healing process.
- Start by applying a cold compress to the injured area. If an ice pack isn’t available, use a plastic bag filled with ice, wrapped in a towel. The cold reduces blood flow, limiting bruise size, and decreases inflammation and swelling.
- If possible, elevate the injured area above heart level. This reduces blood flow to the area, preventing blood from pooling around the injury.
- Rest the affected area to avoid overworking nearby muscles.
- Apply gentle pressure to the area to help minimize bleeding.
- For pain relief, use acetaminophen (Tylenol, Excedrin) instead of blood-thinning medications like aspirin.
How can you avoid bruising altogether? While bruises are often accidental, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk. Start by teaching children safe play habits. Though it’s impossible to prevent all childhood scrapes, encouraging awareness and caution can help avoid serious injuries. Additionally, exercise caution during household tasks, such as having someone assist you when using ladders. Lastly, always use appropriate protective gear during sports, like shin guards, elbow pads, and knee pads, to shield vulnerable areas during physical activities.
While some believe placing a cold steak on a black eye reduces swelling, this practice can be risky, especially if there’s an open wound near the eye. This outdated remedy likely stems from a time when frozen meat was the only accessible cold item. However, using meat can introduce harmful bacteria, potentially causing infection rather than aiding healing.
