The keys to reducing bruising are prevention and treatment. Bruising severity varies with each injury, and the deeper the bruise, the more painful it is. Proper protection from accidents gives you the best recourse for preventing a bruise from forming. Once a bruise starts to form, quick treatment reduces how much bruising occurs.
Cause
Bruising is caused when you fall or sustain injuries from work, sports or accidents. People who take blood thinners or aspirin may bruise more easily than those who don't. Bruises are classified by severity, with subcutaneous bruises occurring just beneath the skin, intramuscular occurring within the muscle, and periosteal bruising forming within the bone. The symptoms of bruising include pain at the site, swelling, and the skin's turning pink initially before changing to a bluish or greenish-yellow color. Bruises can last from a few days to a few months. Since bone bruises are the most severe, they are likely to last the longest and cause the most pain.
Prevention
Wear a helmet along with shin and elbow guards to prevent bruising when riding a bicycle or participating in sports. Wear your seat belt when in a car. Practice safety at work and at home by using equipment properly and following safety guidelines. Climb ladders, stairs and other raised objects slowly and carefully.
Treatment
Apply ice right after you suffer the injury, to reduce swelling and slow blood flow to the tissue. Continue to apply ice to the area for a half-hour each day for up to two days after the bruise appears. Elevate the bruised area above your head after your injury and as much as possible over the next few days to prevent the blood from flowing into the tissue, to minimize bruising.
Warnings
Do not drain the bruise. Lower your activity level until the bruise heals if it's severe, particularly if the activity involves using the bruised part of your body. Contact your physician immediately if you feel excessive pressure at the bruising site; this may indicate a decrease in supply of blood or oxygen to the tissues -- a serious, life-threatening condition. Also contact your physician if you bruise without sustaining an injury, if the bruise doesn't go away within two weeks or if you notice drainage coming from the bruise site.
