This guide outlines how to get rid of bruises more quickly, and when you should consult a doctor.
Some people find it easy to bruise on their body. They are spots on the skin that initially appear purple, well defined, sometimes painful and sometimes slightly hardened. Over time, they become blurred, with less defined edges, and change color to dark green, brown and brownish-yellow, then fade away.
Most of the time bruises are the result of small traumas, such as falls or bumping into an object or piece of furniture that may or may not be remembered. When trauma is strong enough to rupture blood vessels in the skin, causing them to leak, they form what are popularly called bruises.
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How to get rid of bruises: overview
Is it a bruise or a hematoma?
A hematoma by definition must have some palpable blood content (often feels like it is in a sac) and the bruise is a mark without the blood content (there is not enough bleeding to have liquid collection). Sometimes there is confusion between one and the other.
A hematoma is actually a vascular injury with the formation of a collection of blood that can be very small or larger, requiring drainage, and it can even be a complication of a surgical procedure.
Other frequent complaints from older patients are those that appear on the forearms and back of the hands in the skin of the elderly due to “thinning”, sagging and vascular fragility of the skin resulting from intrinsic aging (caused by age) and extrinsic (caused by the sun), when any small “tap” ends up leading to the formation of extensive purple spots and sometimes even tearing the thin skin.
In these cases, the dermatologist may prescribe, in addition to specific moisturizers, local care and dermatological products to improve the quality of the skin, including sunscreen, which is essential for everyone.
Other times, these wounds occur more frequently when the patient uses medications that “thin” the blood, such as acetylsalicylic acid (aspririn), anti-inflammatories, excessive vitamins, excessive homeopathic medicines.
How to get rid of bruises quickly: treatments
Applying ice, warm compresses and massages are measures that help in how to get rid of bruises more quickly. Check out below how to apply these treatments and get rid of purple, yellow and brown spots on your body.
Elevation
This is a strategy that works mainly at the time of injury, because it helps to drain accumulated fluids and reduce the risk of developing a large hematoma.
Simply elevate the affected limb above heart level.
Ice compress
Immediately after the trauma, it is useful to treat the area with a cold compress or ice covered with a cloth or towel (to avoid skin burns from the cold). Localized cooling is intended to constrict the blood vessel in how to get rid of bruises, reducing or stopping blood loss. If a hematoma has already formed, the cream can help, but in cases with a large volume of blood, there is a need, in some cases, for medical intervention.
Warm compress
When the bruise is older, warm compresses can help to “soften” it, trying to accelerate the local “cleaning” process; that is, the absorption of the blood and resolution of the process. There are not many really effective topical options (creams) for improving the condition except for the one mentioned in the next section.
Massage
Massage for how to get rid of bruises should be done on the second day after the stain appears, to stimulate blood flow in the area and reduce bruising.
Massage the area gently, in circles. Localized massage with a mucopolysaccharide-based cream can also help, as long as the person does not have an allergy to mucopolysaccharide.
Arnica
Arnica is claimed to reduce inflammation, swelling and bruising in injured areas. It is possible to make compresses with arnica or use a gel or ointment that contains this plant in its composition, however there is no scientific proof that arnica is effective.
Procedures
In some specific cases, dermatologists can use medical LED devices, specific lasers, intense pulsed light and some aesthetic ultrasound devices in how to get rid of bruises, to prevent skin pigmentation and shorten the convalescence period.
Final words
Bruises are normal symptoms of injuries caused by trauma, such as blows to the skin. However, you need to be alert: in some cases, these spots could be signs of a more serious illness, which can also lead to blood clotting disorders.
A hematoma is a problem that must be analyzed by a doctor, especially when it appears in more than one location on the body without being caused by trauma, including when there is very intense pain, local swelling and redness.
Such additional symptoms may be associated with serious illnesses such as thrombosis. Therefore, be suspicious if you identify these problems in your body and consult a doctor.
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