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Everyone gets bruised at one time or another, some people more than others. A skin bruise forms when a blow ruptures the tiny blood vessels near the skin’s surface, causing bleeding into the skin and underlying tissues. The trapped blood appears as a black-and-blue mark, also known as a contusion, hematoma or ecchymosis. Bruises can also affect your muscles and bones. In some cases, easy bruising may signal an underlying medical problem.
CHANGING COLORS
Skin bruises first appear as irregular, red marks with nondistinct borders. With time, the bruise changes color as the trapped blood breaks down and is carried away by your body's cleanup cells. Most skin bruises progress from red to purple to yellowish-green as they heal. During the healing process, you may notice a mixture of these colors in a bruise.
BONE AND MUSCLE BRUISES
Forceful blows can cause muscle and bone bruises, with bleeding into the injured area. These injuries can cause intense pain that may limit your activities. Bone bruises are generally the most painful type of bruise. The healing process for a bone or muscle bruise is similar to that of a skin bruise, although these injuries generally take longer to heal.
HEALING TIME
The time it takes for a bruise to heal varies, depending on the severity of the injury. The greater the amount of tissue injury, the longer it takes to heal a bruise. Small skin bruises usually disappear in a week or two. Severe bone bruises may take months to completely heal.
FIRST AID
An ice pack or instant cold pack helps reduce the pain and swelling associated with a bruise. Applying a cold pack immediately after an injury may limit the extent of bruising by reducing blood flow to the injured area. Elevating the injured area also helps limit swelling and the extent of bruising. Do not attempt to drain a bruise; puncturing the skin may lead to a serious infection.
THE AGE FACTOR
Bruises occur more frequently as you age. A layer of fat underlies your skin; as you age, this fat layer thins, making your skin more vulnerable to injury and bruising. The tendency to bruise easily is augmented if you take aspirin or a blood thinner.
BRUISING AS A MEDICAL SYMPTOM
Although most bruises represent a normal reaction to trauma, easy bruising may signal the presence of an underlying medical condition. For example, a nutritional deficiency of vitamin C, vitamin K or zinc can cause easy bruising. Medical conditions that may lead to easy bruising include leukemia, hereditary clotting disorders, blood infections and cirrhosis of the liver. If you notice multiple bruises on your body for no apparent reason, see your health care provider.
