Bruises: symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment

What is a bruise?

A bruise, also known as a contusion, is a discoloured area of skin that develops as a result of tissue damage. As a result of this injury, the blood vessels beneath the skin become damaged and begin to leak.
Discolouration occurs when blood pools beneath the skin, resulting in a variety of shades of black, blue, purple, brown or yellow. Unless the bruised skin is broken open, there is no external bleeding.
This can happen at any age, and bruises can be caused by anything. Some are so minor that you might not even notice they exist. You should be aware of your bruise treatment options and whether your illness necessitates immediate medical intervention.

What types of bruising are there?

The medical name for the blue mark on the skin is ecchymosis, which your doctor may use (ech-e-moe-sis). An injury known as a concussion is a bruise.

1. Hematoma: Injuries, such as a vehicle accident or a big fall, can result in bleeding and damage to the skin and tissues. When blood pools outside of the blood arteries, it causes pain and swelling.
2. Purpura: This type develops when there is a small amount of bleeding beneath the bruised skin.
3. Petechiae: Tiny crimson spots on the skin that don’t become white when gently pressed are known as Petechiae.
4. Senile purpura: Skin gets thinner, dryer, and more prone to tearing as we age, resulting in senile purpura. Your skin is also more prone to bruising. Senile purpura is the medical term for this disorder.
5. Black eye: Blows to the head can result in the formation of a black eye (or two black eyes). An accumulation of blood and fluids can be seen directly under the eye. Swelling and a bruise-like ring of discolouration formed around the eye as a result of this disorder. A facial fracture or bleeding in the eye (hyphema) can be signs of a more serious eye injury than a simple black eye.

What are the symptoms and signs of a bruise?

They can have a wide range of symptoms, depending on what caused them. Often, the first sign of skin cancer is discolouration. Bruising on legs can appear in a variety of colours in addition to the standard black and blue:

• red
• green
• purple
• brown
• As the bruising on the legs heal, the colour turns yellowish.

Pain and soreness may also accompany a blue mark on the skin. As the bruised hand heals, these symptoms tend to go away. Learn more about the many stages of a bruise’s healing process.

Severe symptoms of a bruise

Other signs point to a more serious problem if you are experiencing bruises on your legs for no reason. If you’re having any of the following symptoms, you should see your doctor:

• Aspirin or other blood thinners may cause more bruising.
• The bruised hand is swollen and painful.
• forceful falls or blows might cause bruising.
• associated bruising with a suspected fracture
• bruising without a cause
• The four-week-old bruising on legs that has not healed
• a swollen area under your fingernails
• mouth, nose, or gum bleeding in addition to bruising on legs
• bleeding in the urine, stool, or eyes as a result of bruising

Also, if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• repeated bruising, especially if there is no obvious cause
• bruises that don’t hurt
• no-injury bruises that emerge in the same place over and over again
• The bruised face that is dark in colour

Varicose veins can cause blue bruising on the legs, but a blood clot in the deep veins of your legs can cause a black blue mark on the skin. Life-threatening consequences can result from this.

Causes of a bruise

In most cases, bruised skin is the result of a minor injury or contusion to the skin. Because your legs are more vulnerable to damage and gravity affects blood flow. You may notice that you have easy bruising on your legs. The tiny scrapes or bumps could leave you with bruising on your legs.
Sometimes, bruising might be an indicator of a life-threatening illness that requires quick attention in an emergency room.

• Bruising caused by an accident
• Everyday injuries and more acute trauma can induce bruising.
• A strike to the face,
• Domestic or child abuse
• Falling
• An accident involving a vehicle.
• Severe injuries while participating in a sport

Bruising as a result of characteristics such as age, gender, and way of life

• wrinkling and deterioration of the bruised skin
• Alcoholism is a major problem in the United (decreases blood clotting)
• The female sex (women bruise more easily than men)

Bumps and bruises caused by major medical conditions
It’s possible to have an unexplained blue mark on the skin and purpura from a wide range of diseases, ailments, and situations. When capillaries spontaneously bleed blood, it results in purple or red flat spots or patches on the bruised skin or mucous membranes.

Unknown bruising or purpura can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Aplastic anaemia
• Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are two examples of autoimmune disorders.
• Meningitis, mononucleosis, and measles are examples of infectious disorders.
• Idiopathic steroids
• Haemophilia (inherited bleeding disorder)
• Bites by insects
• Leukaemia
• Organ failure

Make an appointment with your child’s doctor if they have unexplained bruising. A child’s unexplained bruising on the legs could indicate a serious disease or possible abuse.
A higher risk of bruised hands is associated with the use of certain drugs. Blood thinners and corticosteroids are two examples where this is particularly true. Fish oil, for example, has blood-thinning properties similar to those of herbal supplements, which can result in bruising. After receiving an injection or wearing tight clothing, you may experience bruising on your legs.

Bruises diagnosis

Assuming the injury is obvious and there are no signs of fractured bones, the doctor will most likely not order any testing for bruise treatment.

• If there is significant swelling or pain, the doctor may order an X-ray to rule out fractures.
• A doctor may prescribe a blood test to rule out a bleeding disease if you experience frequent and unexplained bruising on your legs.
• A doctor may suspect physical abuse if they see a certain bruised hand or a pattern of injuries that appear to have developed over time and at various stages of healing.

Bruises treatment

Without bruise treatment, most of it disappears within two weeks. A month or more may pass if the bruising and hematomas are severe. Following these measures will help you recover faster:

• An ice pack might help alleviate any oedema that has occurred. Protect your bruised skin from the pack by wrapping it in a handkerchief. For 15 minutes, apply ice to the bruising on the legs. If necessary, repeat this process every hour.
• Rest the injured area.
• Keep blood from pooling in the injured area by elevating it above your heart, if possible.
• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for bruise treatment, an over-the-counter pain reliever, to ease the discomfort. Ibuprofen and aspirin can raise the risk of blood clots.
• Protect your arms and legs by wearing long-sleeved clothing and leggings.

Bruises prevention

Along with the various bruise treatments, keep the following things in mind:

• While playing contact sports like soccer, wear protective gear like shin guards to avoid getting a bruised face.
• Keep furniture out of the way of walkways and doorways in your house.
• To avoid tripping over the phone and electrical cords, keep them out of reach of open places.
• Make sure the floors are dry and the rugs are non-slip.
• Avoid putting things on the floor.
• Use a flashlight or a nightlight to get to the bathroom in the dark if necessary.
• Regular monitoring and adjustments to your blood-thinning medications are essential if your doctor has prescribed them.

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