BLACK AND BRUISED SKIN

If you’ve received a bad bruise, heavy exercise can also increase blood flow to the injury site and that could make the bruise worse. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an okay OTC option instead of taking an NSAID. These over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers also thin the blood, and that could make the bruise worse. If you need a pain-relieving medication, avoid taking too much NSAID therapy like aspirin (Bayer, Ecotrin) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). If you’ve been hit in the face, you’re likely in some pain. To increase blood flow to the injury site, hold a warm compress to your face a few times a day. Treatment after 36 hoursĪbout 36 hours after your injury and home treatment, change out the cold treatment with warmth. Follow this regimen a few times a day for the first 36 hours following the trauma. You should repeat this ice-on/ice-off cycle for about three hours.Īt the same time, you can keep additional pressure off the area by keeping your head elevated. Hold the ice or cold compress on the injury site for a minimum of 10 minutes and a maximum of 30 minutes. This will help to treat inflammation and limit swelling. If you’ve been struck in the face and you feel the hit was hard enough to cause a bruise, put an ice pack on the area as soon as possible. The faster and more complete the treatment, the sooner the bruise will fade away. (2018).Treating your bruised face is broken down into two periods: immediately after the injury and 36 hours after the injury.

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BLACK AND BRUISED SKIN

Chronic skin fragility of aging: Current concepts in the pathogenesis, recognition, and management of dermatoporosis. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. We link primary sources - including studies, scientific references, and statistics - within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Opt for sources low in saturated fats and cholesterol, such as:

Protein-rich foods: Protein helps strengthen blood vessels and other tissues.

To minimize the risk, eat vitamin K-rich foods, such as:

Foods rich in vitamin K: A vitamin K deficiency can cause a person to bruise easily.

The following foods are a good source of zinc:

Foods rich in zinc: This metal helps strengthen tissues and promote healing.

The following foods are good sources of quercetin:

Foods rich in quercetin: The plant pigment quercetin may help strengthen blood vessels and ease inflammation.

Pineapple: This contains a group of enzymes called bromelain, which may help prevent inflammation and reduce the severity and persistence of bruises.

Some foods that may help minimize, prevent, or heal bruises include: Having a bruise-healing dietĬertain foods may help strengthen blood vessels and promote overall skin health. Opt for ibuprofen (Advil) instead of aspirin, which can worsen bleeding and subsequent bruising. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, called NSAIDs, can help alleviate pain while reducing swelling around the bruise. To do this, try soaking a cotton pad in warm water and applying it to the bruise. Once the bruise has fully developed, applying gentle heat will boost blood flow to the area, helping to speed healing. Never apply ice or an ice pack directly to the skin, as it can cause skin damage.

This will help reduce immediate swelling. Wrap an ice pack in a towel and rest it gently against the eye for 10 minutes at a time, with at least 20 minutes between each application.

Stage 4: Between 10 and 14 days later, the bruise may be light brown or the color may not be noticeable.Ī person can use the following strategies to speed up the healing process: Applying ice.

After 5–10 days, the bruise may turn green or yellow in a person with lighter skin.

Stage 3: The body continues to break down the pooled blood.As the pooled blood loses oxygen, the bruise may turn blue or purple due to the creation of the compounds bilirubin and biliverdin. Stage 2: The body begins to break down a component of the blood called hemoglobin, which carries oxygen.Stage 1: Oxygen-rich blood pools at the site of the injury, creating a bump that may appear red or purple.Because the skin around the eye is thin, blood pooling there creates a noticeable bruise.īlack eyes and other types of bruise change color as they heal. Most black eyes form following blows to the eye area, which is delicate. Like other bruises, it occurs when tiny blood vessels beneath the skin rupture, causing blood to pool in surrounding tissues. Share on Pinterest Thomas Sidney/EyeEm/Getty ImagesĪ black eye is a bruise around the eye area.

Black and bruised