Treating Bruises

The importance of treating bruises isn't lost on anyone who has suffered from them. Not only do they feel painful, their appearance can also be quite unsightly.

Black and blue? Learn how to treat it!

Bruises occur when blood is released from the capillaries into the skin's tissues, usually as a result of forceful contact with an object or even a person. If the impact is strong enough, it will injure the tissue beneath the skin. Initially, the bruise may appear red before developing into a blue-black or purple color. Eventually it will begin to fade, and may take on a yellow-tinged cast before disappearing completely.

If you have incurred some sort of trauma, you may suffer an inevitable bruise. If you suspect you're in for an injury of the black and blue variety, you can take comfort in knowing there are some steps you can take to possibly prevent or simply minimize the appearance of the bruise. Fortunately for everyone, treating bruises is a relatively simple business and does not typically require the attention of a medical professional. Everything you will need to treat your injury should be readily available in your home.

Your first line of defense is the cold compress. Ice will help stop the flow of blood to the injury site and may minimize the size of the bruise. You can try any of these options for applying cold pressure to the injury:

• Place an ice pack wrapped in a paper towel or washcloth to the injury site.
• In lieu of an ice pack, fill a Ziploc bag with ice, wrap it with a paper towel or washcloth and apply it to the injury site.
• If neither of these choices is possible, use a bag of frozen vegetables! It works just as well.

It's important to note that any cold compress should be wrapped in something to minimize the potential of suffering frostbite. Though unlikely, it is possible for prolonged application of any type of uncovered ice pack to cause permanent skin damage. This usually occurs because of the extreme temperature of the ice pack; as it numbs the skin, you become unaware that it could, in fact, be doing some serious damage.

Doctors recommend applying ice packs for no longer than 30 minutes at a time on fatty areas of the body. In circumstances where the injury has occurred on an area with little to no fat or muscle, the ice pack should be used for a maximum of 10 minutes. Cold compress application should continue for the first 24 to 72 hours following injury – this will not only minimize the bruise's severity, it will also reduce pain and limit swelling.

It is also helpful to elevate the injured area above the level of the heart, if at all possible. This will help prevent excess blood from collecting at the injury site and causing an even deeper bruise. Of course, this may not be possible with some injuries, but it is worth trying if you are able to comfortably position yourself.

After 48 to 72 hours, it's time to make use of heat therapy. Heat promotes healing and offers your skin some comfort. Apply a heating pad or hot water bottle (filled with warm water) to the injury site for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time. Take great care not to fall asleep with or lay down on a heating pad – this can result in severe burns.

Natural remedies are often used to speed up the healing process. Among them are the following:

• Cabbage is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Dip large leaves into hot water and apply them to the bruise.
• Comfrey tea may help simple bruises heal faster. Simply soak a bandage in comfrey tea and apply it to the injury for an hour.
• St. John's Wort has been used for centuries as a wound healer. Famous for its antibacterial and astringent properties, it can be applied to the bruise when mixed with a carrier oil or cream.

If your bruise worsens, begins to swell, does not fade or begin to fade within a week, occurs for no clear reason or occurs frequently for no explainable reason, you are advised to seek medical attention.

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