How to Reduce Bruising

Bruising, also called contusion or hematoma, occurs when the small blood vessels break and leak, in the soft tissues under the skin. The bruise looks like a reddish, bluish or purplish scar on the skin and one often gets swelling and pain along with the bruise. Helping reduce bruising is one of the first steps of first aid.

Causes of Bruising
There are three kinds of bruises, the most common are the subcutaneous ones which occur beneath the skin. The second are intramuscular ones, which occur under the muscles. The last are periosteal or bone bruises, which can last for long, and cause the most severe pain. Listed below, are the bruise causes:

• Falls
• Accidents
• Injuries while playing sports
• Blows from objects or other people

Medicines like aspirin or warfarin, which are blood thinners and are often given for treatment in heart disease are also one of the causes of bruising.

Reducing Bruising and Swelling
A person experiences pain and swelling in the bruised body part, which makes the movement of the body part difficult. Whenever trying any remedy, make sure you don't use any of the major remedies around the eye, mouth and the nostrils area. Also, it is important that you don't drain out the bruise by inserting anything sharp in it, and avoid any strong physical activity to further aggravate the bruising. Here, are some treatments which you can use at home to reduce bruising on face and body parts:

Ice: One of the easiest and most effective ways of reducing bruising is by using an ice pack. Take some ice and wrap it in a cloth, you can also freeze ice in a bowl, wrap the bowl in the cloth and use. Press this pad on the bruised area for 15 minutes every 1 hour, for reducing bruising fast. This will also help to bring down the swelling of the bruised part, and provide good relief from the pain.

Hot Compresses: Like ice compresses you can try hot compresses to reduce bruising. Make a hot compress and press it to the affected area, to reduce bruising and the pain. If you have been bruised on the limbs, raise the limbs so that you can keep the bruised part above your heart, as this will help prevent the blood from getting stored in the bruised tissue.

Medicine: Do not take painkillers like aspirin or warfarin on a long-term basis, instead to reduce pain take acetaminophen (Tylenol). This medicine you can find over-the-counter and it will help in skin, muscle and bone bruise treatment.

Arnica: Arnica is a homeopahty medicine that is used for treatment for bruises, which you can buy over-the-counter and helps to reduce bruising after surgery. For dark or swollen bruises, apply Arnica gel after every 3 hours to the affected bruised area. This will help to reduce bruising, swelling, stiffness and the coloration of the affected area. However, after the first use, if you experience any redness or itching, this means your skin is allergic to Arnica and you should discontinue using it.

Eating Healthy Foods: Eat foodstuffs rich in vitamin C and vitamin K, as vitamin C helps to prevent bruising and vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting and healing. The foodstuffs rich in vitamin C are lemons, blackcurrants, strawberries, oranges, etc. and the foodstuffs rich in vitamin K are dark green vegetables like spinach, broccoli, cabbage etc. You can also include grape seed in your diet, as it has strong antioxidant properties which helps to reduce chronic bruising.

Tips for Avoiding Bruising
Bruises are mostly caused due to physical injuries, so follow these precautions to reduce the occurrence of bruising:

• Children should be made aware about child safety, so they can avoid injuries
• You can use protective pads like arm pads and knee pads, to prevent injuries and bruises
• Be careful to avoid falls in or around the house, and especially careful when climbing up or down the ladder
• Do ensure you wear safety belts, when inside a car

So use the above remedies to reduce bruising and swelling, which will also reduce the pain, and follow the above safety tips to prevent bruises.