How to Treat Bruises

Bruises often come and go on their own, but they can also be frustrating. This article will show you how to treat bruises faster.

Table of Contents

Recommended treatments

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Apply ice cubes. Putting a cold object on the bruise reduces swelling and helps the bruise heal faster. You should apply ice as soon as possible to prevent the bruise from spreading.

Place ice cubes in a zippered plastic bag or use a bag of frozen food (like corn or beans). Wrap the cold pack in a towel or t-shirt before applying it to the bruise.
Sports stores sell ice packs containing gels designed specifically for trauma. Athletes often have several ice packs ready in case they get bruised.
Apply ice to the bruise for about 15 minutes every hour. Applying cold for too long can cause frostbite.

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Elevate the bruise site. Reducing blood circulation to the bruise by gravity can help. Elevating the bruise above the heart will help prevent blood flow to the bruise and reduce skin discoloration. ^{[1] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

For example, if the bruise is on your leg, you can put your foot on a chair or high pillow. Just put your feet a few centimeters higher than your heart.
If you have bruises in your arm, you can rest your hands on a palm rest box or a stack of pillows so that your hand is above your heart.
However, if you are unfortunate enough to have bruises on your body, you can only apply ice.

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Take Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. If the bruise is painful, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Read the product label carefully and take the recommended dose.

Avoid aspirin because it thins the blood and makes bruises worse.

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Rest. Muscle exercise will increase blood circulation to the bruise and that will not be good . You should take a day off to avoid further injury and help the bruise heal faster.

Rest on a chair. You can watch a movie, play a game, or read a book, as long as the activity doesn’t require much movement.
Go to bed early. The body needs sleep to heal itself. Therefore, you should go to bed as soon as you feel tired.

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Know when to see a doctor. Most bruises are not a sign of a serious health problem and can be safely treated at home. However, you should see a doctor immediately if: ^{[2] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source}

There is a bruise, but there are signs of swelling or other injury.
High fever or signs of infection around the bruise (redness, pus, or discharge).
See your doctor right away if you feel intense pressure around the bruise. A condition in which the blood and oxygen supply is significantly reduced to a bruise is called compartment syndrome and can be life-threatening.

Bruise control

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Gently massage the bruise and surrounding area. You should do this step several times a day, starting from the day the bruise appeared. This helps the normal lymph node process to heal the bruise.

Remember that massage should not be so intense that it causes pain. Stop massaging if the bruise is too painful.

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Exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet rays help break down bilirubin, the product of the breakdown of hemoglobin, which gives bruises a yellowish color. If possible, expose the bruise to the sun (to a safe level, to avoid sunburn) to speed up the assimilation of the remaining bilirubin.

It is recommended to be exposed to direct sunlight for 10-15 minutes per day. This time is enough to help the bruise without causing sunburn.

Homemade ingredients

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Apply apple cider vinegar. Mix apple cider vinegar with warm water and apply it on the bruise. Apple cider vinegar helps increase blood circulation near the surface of the skin, so it can dissolve the blood that accumulates in the bruise. Witch hazel has a similar effect.

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Eat pineapple. The digestive enzyme bromelain in pineapple helps break down proteins that are accumulating fluid in tissues after injury.

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Add coriander. You can prepare a handful of fresh coriander leaves and then crush them to apply on the bruise. Then, wrap an elastic bandage around the bruise. Some experts claim that coriander helps reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and dissolve bruises faster.

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Use Arnica ointment or gel every day. Arnica is an herb that has long been recommended for bruises. This herb contains a compound that helps reduce inflammation and reduce swelling. You can find an ointment containing Arnica and apply it to the bruise 1-2 times per day.

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Use live leeches. You can ask to buy live leeches at a holistic health store or a Chinese pharmacy. Live leeches help to dissolve bruises in seconds. The leech’s saliva acts as a mild pain reliever so you won’t feel anything when bitten. Apply Isopropyl alcohol or moisturizing wax to remove the leech.

This method is only recommended when you are sure that the leech is cultured and does not carry disease.

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Hot compress. Place a pillow underneath to elevate the bruised area. Then, apply a heat pack to the bruise (use a reusable one); electric blankets should not be used. Moist heat is better than dry heat.

Only apply heat packs to the bruise for a few minutes and when cold cannot be used. You should only use heat if applying ice causes severe bruising or skin pain. In some cases, ice cubes can stimulate the skin to react to cold.

Advice

Do not prick, pat or scratch the bruise. These effects only cause the bruise to spread or even hurt more.
Try applying a banana peel to the bruise for 10-15 minutes. This will help reduce skin discoloration on the bruise.
Vitamin K cream can help dissolve bruises.
Aloe vera gel has a soothing effect.
Do not touch the bruise repeatedly to avoid causing pain.
Always elevate the bruised site. Do not exercise or be active to avoid making the bruise worse.
Apply ice cubes to the bruise but do not apply it for too long as it will cause the skin to turn red.
If the bruise is too painful and cannot be massaged, you should see your doctor for advice.
See your doctor right away if the bruise begins to swell or is in severe pain.
Try not to use a bruised hand/leg to avoid further injury or irritation.

Warning

See your doctor right away if bruises appear for no apparent reason.
Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a medication.
You need to make sure that you are not allergic to the above method/material to treat bruises.
Do not apply Arnica ointment or gel to cuts or open wounds.
See a doctor right away if the bruise spreads or becomes painful because it could be a serious injury.
Home remedies used to prevent bruises are not medically validated and may carry potential risks. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Steps

Recommended treatments

Bruise control

Homemade ingredients

Advice

Warning

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