How can you effectively treat a bad bruise on your leg. What are the most effective home remedies for bruise healing. When should you seek medical attention for a bruise. How long does it typically take for a bruise to heal completely. What are the best ways to prevent bruising in the first place.
Understanding Bruises: Causes and Formation
Bruises occur when small blood vessels beneath the skin break due to impact or injury. When these vessels rupture, blood leaks into surrounding tissues, causing the characteristic discoloration we associate with bruising. This process is your body’s natural response to trauma, and while bruises can be painful and unsightly, they are generally harmless and will heal on their own over time.
The typical lifespan of a bruise is about two weeks, during which it will change colors as it heals. Initially, you may notice swelling and tenderness in the affected area. The pain is usually most intense in the first few days following the injury.
The Stages of Bruise Healing
- Red or pink: Immediately after injury
- Blue or purple: Within a few hours
- Green: After a few days
- Yellow or brown: Final stage before fading
Immediate Care: The RICE Method for Bruise Treatment
When it comes to treating a bad bruise on the leg, one of the most effective immediate strategies is the RICE method. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This approach can help minimize swelling, reduce pain, and potentially speed up the healing process.
Rest
Resting the affected area is crucial in the early stages of bruise healing. When you get injured, stop your activity immediately. This prevents further damage and allows your body to begin the healing process. For a leg bruise, try to stay off your feet as much as possible in the first 24-48 hours.
Ice Therapy
Applying ice to a bruise immediately after injury can significantly reduce its size and severity. The cold temperature causes blood vessels to constrict, slowing blood flow to the area and potentially limiting the amount of blood that leaks out of the vessels.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/common-causes-of-foot-and-ankle-swelling-1337777-5c04ad02c9e77c0001b0f9e0.png)
How should you apply ice to a bruise? Wrap an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables in a thin towel and apply it to the bruised area for 10-15 minutes at a time. Repeat this process several times a day, but always allow your skin to return to normal temperature between applications to prevent tissue damage.
Compression
Applying gentle pressure to the bruised area can help reduce swelling and limit the spread of the bruise. Use an elastic bandage to wrap the area firmly, but be careful not to wrap it too tightly, as this could impair circulation. If you experience numbness, tingling, or increased pain, loosen the bandage immediately.
Elevation
Elevating the bruised area above the level of your heart can help minimize swelling and discoloration. For a leg bruise, try lying down and propping your leg up on pillows. This uses gravity to your advantage, encouraging blood to flow back towards your heart rather than pooling in the injured area.
Heat Therapy: When and How to Apply
While ice is beneficial in the immediate aftermath of an injury, heat therapy can be useful in the later stages of bruise healing. Heat increases blood flow to the area, which can help clear away the trapped blood that causes the bruise’s discoloration.
When should you start using heat on a bruise? It’s generally recommended to wait at least 48 hours after the injury before applying heat. After this initial period, you can use a heating pad or warm compress on the bruise for 10-15 minutes several times a day.
A warm bath can also be beneficial, not only for increasing blood flow to the bruised area but also for easing pain and relaxing tense muscles that may have tightened up in response to the injury.
Pain Management: Over-the-Counter Solutions
While bruises heal on their own, they can be quite painful, especially in the first few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage this discomfort. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen can be effective in reducing both pain and inflammation.
However, it’s important to note that these medications can slightly increase the risk of bleeding, particularly in older adults or those taking blood thinners. If you have concerns about using NSAIDs, acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be a good alternative for pain relief without the increased bleeding risk.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While most bruises are harmless and will heal on their own, there are some situations where medical attention may be necessary. Seek medical help if:
- The bruise is extremely large or painful
- You experience frequent, unexplained bruising
- The bruise doesn’t improve after two weeks
- You develop a fever or chills
- The bruised area becomes hot or inflamed
- You’re unable to move the affected limb normally
Natural Remedies: Complementary Approaches to Bruise Healing
In addition to conventional treatments, several natural remedies may help speed up bruise healing or alleviate symptoms. While scientific evidence for these treatments varies, many people find them helpful as complementary approaches.
Arnica
Arnica is a flowering plant that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Available as a cream or gel, arnica is believed to reduce inflammation and promote healing. Some studies suggest it may be effective in reducing bruise appearance and associated pain.
Bromelain
Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple that has anti-inflammatory properties. It’s available as a dietary supplement and may help reduce swelling and speed up bruise healing. However, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before taking any new supplements, especially if you’re on blood thinners.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K plays a crucial role in blood clotting and may help speed up the healing of bruises. You can find vitamin K in leafy green vegetables, or it’s available as a topical cream. Some studies have shown that applying vitamin K cream to bruises can accelerate healing.
Aloe Vera
Known for its soothing properties, aloe vera gel may help reduce inflammation and promote healing when applied to bruises. It’s generally safe for topical use, but be sure to do a patch test first to check for any allergic reactions.
Prevention: Minimizing the Risk of Bruising
While it’s not always possible to prevent bruises entirely, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk:
- Wear protective gear during sports and physical activities
- Remove tripping hazards from your home
- Ensure adequate lighting to avoid bumping into objects
- Maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins C and K to support skin health
- Stay hydrated to keep your skin elastic and less prone to bruising
- Exercise regularly to improve circulation and overall skin health
Special Considerations: Bruising in Different Populations
While the basic principles of bruise treatment remain the same, certain populations may require special consideration when it comes to bruising.
Elderly Individuals
Older adults are more prone to bruising due to thinner skin and decreased elasticity. They may also be taking medications that increase bleeding risk. For seniors, it’s especially important to protect against falls and to consult a healthcare provider if bruising seems excessive.
Athletes
Athletes, particularly those in contact sports, may experience frequent bruising. In addition to standard treatment methods, they may benefit from sports massage and targeted stretching to prevent muscle tension that can exacerbate bruising.
People with Bleeding Disorders
Individuals with conditions like hemophilia or von Willebrand disease may bruise more easily and severely. These people should work closely with their healthcare team to manage bruising and may require specialized treatments.
Understanding the nature of bruises and knowing how to treat them effectively can significantly improve your comfort and potentially speed up healing. Remember, while most bruises are harmless and will heal on their own, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare provider if you have any concerns about a bruise or if it’s accompanied by other symptoms. By following these treatment tips and preventive measures, you can manage bruises more effectively and maintain healthier skin overall.
Treatment Tips To Get A Bruise To Heal
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on September 09, 2022
- Ice Therapy
- Heat Therapy
- Rest
- Elevation
- Compression
- Pain Relievers
- Natural Treatments
- More
When someone hits you — or you bump into something hard — it can break the small blood vessels beneath your skin. That’s where a bruise forms. This happens because the blood leaks out and has nowhere else to go. It stays there until your body absorbs it while you’re healing.
Once you’re bruised, you’ll have that telltale black-and-blue mark on your skin for up to 2 weeks. The bruise should change colors as it heals. You may also have some pain and swelling. It will hurt most in the first few days after your injury.
When you’re bruised, there are simple things you can do to try to help the healing process along. Here are some tips that may help your bruise go away more quickly.
Put ice on your bruise right after you get injured. That can reduce the size of your bruise, which may allow it to heal faster. The cold temperature from an ice pack makes the blood in that area flow more slowly. It may reduce the amount of blood that leaks out of your vessels.
Don’t put ice directly on your bruise. Protect your skin by wrapping the ice in a washcloth or paper towel. Take the ice off after about 10 minutes. Leaving it on too long could harm your skin. It’s OK to put ice on your bruise several times a day, as long as you take a break after every time you do it.
Peas, yes. Steak, no. You may have seen people in old movies or cartoons putting raw steaks on their bruises — especially on black eyes. Don’t do this yourself. It’s not safe to handle raw meat or place it against your eye or another body part, since it may be loaded with bacteria. Steaks and other raw meats don’t have special healing powers that can help a bruise.
Raw meat tends to be cold, so that’s why it may have been used to soothe sore spots in decades past. If you don’t have any ice in your freezer, reach for a bag of frozen peas instead of a steak. Place the whole bag of veggies on your bruise for 10 minutes at a time to ease the pain, just like you would with ice.
Heat boosts blood flow, and that can help clear up a bruise. Wait until 48 hours after the bruise appeared, then put a heating pad or warm compress on it several times a day. You also might soak in a hot bath to ease pain and loosen up your muscles.
Stop what you’re doing when you get hurt. That can keep the bruise from getting worse. If you get kicked during a soccer game, get off the field. Get off your feet. This slows down the blood flow to your bruise. That should keep it from becoming worse than if you kept running around.
You may want to massage the sore spot when you’re resting, but it’s a bad idea. That can make the injured spot worse. You may break more blood vessels under the skin and make the bruised area larger.
After you’re injured, it helps if you raise it above the level of your heart. This trick uses gravity to help keep your bruise as small as can be. When the sore spot is below the level of your heart, the blood there pools more easily, which can make the bruise larger. But when the sore spot is lifted above your heart, more blood will flow back to your heart.
For best results, combine steps: Rest the bruise and raise it above the level of your heart.
Compression is when you put pressure on the injured area. It can help ease any swelling caused by the bruise. It’s best to use an elastic bandage and wrap the area firmly but not too tight.
Your pain should begin to subside about 3 days after you were bruised. In the meantime, if the bruise really hurts or is swollen, you can take over-the-counter drugs to relieve your pain. NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen can be used, though there is a slight increase in bleeding especially in elderly patients or in those already on a blood thinner.
A few natural substances may help get rid of a bruise more quickly, including:
- Arnica: This cream made with this flower may help lessen the effects of a bruise.
- Bromelain: A group of enzymes found in the pineapple, may help make a bruise go away faster.
- Aloe vera: This plant has vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that soothe and moisturize the skin. It’s used to treat many types of skin conditions, including bruises.
- Vitamin K: Studies have shown that phytonadione, or vitamin K1, can speed up the healing of bruising.
Top Picks
Treatment Tips To Get A Bruise To Heal
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on September 09, 2022
- Ice Therapy
- Heat Therapy
- Rest
- Elevation
- Compression
- Pain Relievers
- Natural Treatments
- More
When someone hits you — or you bump into something hard — it can break the small blood vessels beneath your skin. That’s where a bruise forms. This happens because the blood leaks out and has nowhere else to go. It stays there until your body absorbs it while you’re healing.
Once you’re bruised, you’ll have that telltale black-and-blue mark on your skin for up to 2 weeks. The bruise should change colors as it heals. You may also have some pain and swelling. It will hurt most in the first few days after your injury.
When you’re bruised, there are simple things you can do to try to help the healing process along. Here are some tips that may help your bruise go away more quickly.
Put ice on your bruise right after you get injured. That can reduce the size of your bruise, which may allow it to heal faster. The cold temperature from an ice pack makes the blood in that area flow more slowly. It may reduce the amount of blood that leaks out of your vessels.
Don’t put ice directly on your bruise. Protect your skin by wrapping the ice in a washcloth or paper towel. Take the ice off after about 10 minutes. Leaving it on too long could harm your skin. It’s OK to put ice on your bruise several times a day, as long as you take a break after every time you do it.
Peas, yes. Steak, no. You may have seen people in old movies or cartoons putting raw steaks on their bruises — especially on black eyes. Don’t do this yourself. It’s not safe to handle raw meat or place it against your eye or another body part, since it may be loaded with bacteria. Steaks and other raw meats don’t have special healing powers that can help a bruise. Raw meat tends to be cold, so that’s why it may have been used to soothe sore spots in decades past. If you don’t have any ice in your freezer, reach for a bag of frozen peas instead of a steak. Place the whole bag of veggies on your bruise for 10 minutes at a time to ease the pain, just like you would with ice.
Heat boosts blood flow, and that can help clear up a bruise. Wait until 48 hours after the bruise appeared, then put a heating pad or warm compress on it several times a day. You also might soak in a hot bath to ease pain and loosen up your muscles.
Stop what you’re doing when you get hurt. That can keep the bruise from getting worse. If you get kicked during a soccer game, get off the field. Get off your feet. This slows down the blood flow to your bruise. That should keep it from becoming worse than if you kept running around.
You may want to massage the sore spot when you’re resting, but it’s a bad idea. That can make the injured spot worse. You may break more blood vessels under the skin and make the bruised area larger.
After you’re injured, it helps if you raise it above the level of your heart. This trick uses gravity to help keep your bruise as small as can be. When the sore spot is below the level of your heart, the blood there pools more easily, which can make the bruise larger. But when the sore spot is lifted above your heart, more blood will flow back to your heart.
For best results, combine steps: Rest the bruise and raise it above the level of your heart.
Compression is when you put pressure on the injured area. It can help ease any swelling caused by the bruise. It’s best to use an elastic bandage and wrap the area firmly but not too tight.
Your pain should begin to subside about 3 days after you were bruised. In the meantime, if the bruise really hurts or is swollen, you can take over-the-counter drugs to relieve your pain. NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen can be used, though there is a slight increase in bleeding especially in elderly patients or in those already on a blood thinner.
A few natural substances may help get rid of a bruise more quickly, including:
- Arnica: This cream made with this flower may help lessen the effects of a bruise.
- Bromelain: A group of enzymes found in the pineapple, may help make a bruise go away faster.
- Aloe vera: This plant has vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that soothe and moisturize the skin. It’s used to treat many types of skin conditions, including bruises.
- Vitamin K: Studies have shown that phytonadione, or vitamin K1, can speed up the healing of bruising.
Top Picks
How to quickly remove a bruise: only scientific methods
Likbez
Health
May 9, 2018
The main thing is to do everything on time.
What are bruises
A bruise is one of the types of hematomas. But if the hematoma as a whole is an internal hemorrhage that occurs due to damage to blood vessels and can be quite extensive and serious, then bruises are relatively harmless damage to the smallest subcutaneous vessels – capillaries.
When bruised, the capillaries break, burst and blood flows out of them. The more leaked, the larger the size of the bruise.
How quickly bruises go away
On average, it takes our body two to three weeks to get rid of a bruise. All this time, the spilled blood is absorbed by the surrounding tissues.
At the same time, the more blood is under the skin, the more time it will take for the body to resolve the hematoma. Fortunately, the process can be accelerated.
But for this it is important to know at what stage of healing the bruise is.
Something that will help two days after the bruise cannot be done on the first day.
How to remove a bruise if less than a day has passed after the bruise
The bruise has not yet formed completely. The bruised area was slightly swollen and became reddish-pink. The color lasts from several hours to days.
The main task at this time is to prevent the bruise from growing.
1. Relax!
Try to limit movements, especially those involving the affected area of the body. The more movement, the stronger the blood flow and the more extensive the hematoma.
2. Apply a cold compress
Right after the injury! The faster, the less bruising. Under the influence of cold, the blood flow slows down, which means that less will flow into the subcutaneous tissues. In addition, a cold compress reduces pain.
An ice pack or frozen vegetables can be used as a compress. Wrap it in a thin cloth or towel and apply it to the injured area for 10 minutes. The procedure can be repeated after a 20-minute break.
On the first day, in no case should you warm up the bruised area, let alone massage it. This will increase blood flow and the bruise will grow.
3. Apply a pharmacy cream or gel for bruises without a warming effect
These drugs have anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effects. Look for dimethyl sulfoxide, heparin and dexpanthenol in the list of active ingredients.
4. Try to keep the bruised area above the level of the heart
Naturally, if possible. For example, if your leg is injured, lie down on the sofa and place your feet on a cushion or armrest. Gravity will force the blood to drain from the bruise, which means that the size of the bruise will be smaller.
5. If the pain is severe, take painkillers
But not aspirin or ibuprofen. They thin the blood and can lead to an increase in the size of the hematoma.
How to remove a bruise if more than a day has passed since the bruise
As a rule, after 24 hours the bruise has already formed. The blood at the site of the bruise has darkened and shines through the skin with a blue, purple, or (if several days have passed since the injury) greenish tint.
1 / 0
The bruise begins to heal, the spilled blood loses oxygen and darkens. This takes up to 5 days.
2 / 0
These bruises begin around the sixth day.
This is a sign of the final destruction of hemoglobin.
3 / 0
This is how a hematoma looks like about a week after the injury. The bruise will not change anymore, except that it will slowly lighten.
Now the main task is to accelerate the resorption of the hematoma. The easiest way to achieve this is with heat.
1. Warm up
Warm compresses (you can apply a heating pad or a cloth moistened with warm water to the bruise), massages, as well as creams with a warming effect – containing badyaga, capsaicin (pepper alkaloid) and bee and snake venoms, have proven themselves well.
To speed up recovery, you can go to a hot bath. Unless, of course, you have no contraindications to this.
2. If it still hurts, take a pain reliever with a decongestant effect
For example, aspirin and ibuprofen (now possible). They are indicated if the bruise looks swollen. Of course, strictly follow the instructions for frequency and dosage!
3.
Use creams or compresses with herbal extracts and vitamins
- Ointment or gel based on arnica extract reduces swelling and accelerates regeneration.
- Vitamin K cream improves blood clotting and promotes the restoration of damaged capillaries and blood vessels.
- Aloe gel reduces pain and reduces inflammation. Gels with the highest possible content (up to 99%) of pure aloe juice work best.
- Vitamin C cream has anti-inflammatory properties and improves wound healing.
- Products based on pineapple extract, thanks to the plant enzyme bromelain contained in this fruit, have an anti-inflammatory effect and accelerate the disappearance of bruises. Pineapple doesn’t hurt either.
It is not necessary to use pharmacy products for restoration. For example, a compress of finely chopped onions (chopped, wrapped in gauze, pressed a little so that the onion releases juice, applied to the bruised area) will also give a positive effect due to the content of vitamin C.
4. Mask
A few days after the bruise, when the color fades, the bruise can be hidden with foundation. Choose a product with a yellowish undertone.
When to take a bruise to the doctor
Bruises do not always go away on their own. In addition, sometimes they can be symptoms of not the most pleasant diseases. Be sure to consult a therapist as soon as possible if the bruise:
- Does not disappear, although more than two weeks have passed since the bruise.
- Feels hard to the touch.
- Begins to increase in size and/or becomes more painful.
- Adds pain to the movement of the joint next to which it is located.
- Located next to the eye and seems to impair vision.
- Appeared for no apparent reason. And not only that: you regularly notice more and more bruises on the skin of an origin that is not entirely clear to you.
- Begins to show signs of infection: there is some discharge from the skin on the damaged area, the temperature rises.
All this may indicate that the hemorrhage is much deeper and more extensive than you thought, and for some reason the body tissues cannot cope with such an amount of blood. In this case, to get rid of the hematoma, you will need the help of a doctor.
Diseases of internal organs and physiological fragility of blood vessels are also not excluded. These situations also require the attention of a specialist.
Read also 🧐
- How to remove bumps from injections
- What to do when nose bleeds
- How to remove bags under the eyes: 10 effective ways
Treatment of hematoma on the leg
Hematoma is an accumulation of blood in the tissues of the human body, and its occurrence is caused by damage due to falls and blows. In some cases, the appearance of a hematoma is not associated with physical effects, but is explained by the presence of a specific disease in a person.
In most situations (this applies to small hematomas), there are no serious consequences, and the inflammation itself disappears after a while.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/talus-fractures-2549436_final-3b5774c8102f4aa58615e0df5e2af0f7.png)
However, cases that require medical advice and qualified treatment are not uncommon. Ignoring a bruise can lead to cysts or tissue necrosis.
Signs of a hematoma on the leg after an injury
- pain at the site of the injury;
- tissue redness;
- appearance of edema;
- tension, pulsation in the impact area;
- difficulty in movement at the site of injury;
- fever.
Types of hematomas on the leg
There are two types of hematomas according to the nature of their manifestation: subcutaneous and internal. The first occurs when the vessels are damaged, it is easy to detect, due to the bright color of the skin (from red to purple in the early days, and in yellow-green tones in the future). The second is more difficult to diagnose, since the place of its occurrence is the muscles themselves, and there are no traces on the skin.
Why it is not recommended to treat a hematoma on the leg at home
If there is a large accumulation of blood under the skin, it must be removed.
There are enough videos and articles on the Internet describing this procedure at home, but it is absolutely impossible to follow such advice. Firstly, a person runs the risk of injuring the leg even more and disrupting its normal functioning, up to disability. Secondly, and more likely, you can introduce an infection into the body and provoke even more inflammation. Thirdly, only an experienced doctor using special devices will do this carefully, but independent attempts can permanently disfigure the skin and leave unaesthetic scars on it.
Methods for diagnosing a hematoma on the leg
First of all, the specialist examines the hematoma. To clarify the severity of the injury, an x-ray may be ordered to ensure the integrity of the bone structures.
In case of damage to the knee joint, a puncture is performed – the joint is pierced to analyze the contents of the hematoma. If blood is found in the fluid, this indicates a hemorrhage into the cavity.
Treatment of a hematoma on the leg
Usually, a hematoma on the leg after an injury is treated by two methods: conservative and surgical.
