What is a bruise? Bruises or hematomas are subcutaneous extravasations of blood that occur most often after mechanical injuries, after an impact. Formed during the rupture of small blood capillaries. Do not cause serious health effects, rather a cosmetic defect. They disappear a few days after the injury.
What is a bruise?
Bruises are changes in the skin that occur after an injury. As a result of the bruise, spots appear on the skin of a dark blue color. They occur, most often, after a mechanical injury, for example, an impact, stretching or falling from a height. As a rule, they have a diameter of 1 cm or more.
Bruises - what are the causes?
The causes of bruising are damage to small capillaries located in the skin and subcutaneous tissue as a result of trauma. Blood from these vessels penetrates the surrounding tissue. The color of the bruise depends on the intensity of the injury and the amount of blood that has left the capillaries. The more intense the injury, the darker the discoloration of the change on the skin will be. The color scheme of bruises is very diverse - from weak bruises of dark blue, purple to black spots. Later they acquire shades of yellow and green. This is due to the decomposition of hemoglobin in red blood cells.
The size of the bruise depends on the surface of the injury. Not necessarily a bruising should be associated with the site of the injury. If a large amount of blood flows from the vascular capillaries, it can move under the skin and spread over a significant area.
Bruises on the skin do not appear immediately, but only 1-2 days after the injury. This is due to the process in which they occur. Cyanotic staining occurs due to the main component of red blood cells, that is, hemoglobin, which contains an iron atom. Over time, bruising is susceptible to resorption by the body. After what time do they disappear? The resorption time of the bruise depends on its size. It usually ranges from 7 to 14 days.
When to go to the doctor?
Bruising by itself is not something formidable. They do not have any consequences, except for a cosmetic defect, which disappears at the moment the bruise disappears. Their appearance does not require a visit to a doctor. However, there are some provisions that should encourage you to visit a doctor. Such a case is often appearing bruises that you are not able to associate with a particular bruise.
Their appearance with minor bruises, which, as a rule, should not cause bruising, may be an occasion for increased caution. These conditions require diagnostic procedures to exclude reduced blood coagulation and hemorrhagic defect. For this purpose, a blood test and a coagulation test are most often performed.
Other similar changes in the skin should be distinguished from bruises and bruises. Bruising on the extremities has a mesh circle. And regular changes on it, scattered over a large area, may indicate acne. In this condition, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
How to treat hematomas?
The first action associated with the treatment of bruises is to prevent their formation. Unfortunately, injuries, as a rule, cannot be predicted. However, you can act after it is received, reducing or completely preventing the formation of a hematoma.
How to remove a bruise at home? First, you need to cool the bruise. This reduces the flow of blood to this place and frees its flow. Light pressure also works in a similar way. People who experience frequent injuries (for example, playing sports) can purchase drugs with a cooling effect in case of bruises in the form of ointment or spray. They can be used quickly at the site of injury. They are ideal for treating hematomas, sprains, bruises.
In addition to preventing bruising, they reduce swelling and act as an anesthetic. If you do not have any gel or cooling ointment from bruises, you can use special gel dressings that are cooled in the refrigerator before use. A good way to prevent bruising is, for example, wraps made quickly with any chilled liquid or frozen object. You should periodically remove the compress so as not to cause too much hypothermia of the tissues.
In addition to the compress, it is necessary to apply pressure to the site of injury in order to reduce its blood supply. You can apply an elastic bandage to the bruise and leave it for the first hour after the injury. The lowering of blood supply is also facilitated by the position of the limb higher than the rest of the body (raise arms, legs). Of course, you should not make intense movements, as this increases the flow of blood in the damaged area and the growth of the bruise.
At the stage of resorption of bruises, heating of the limb and acceleration of the blood supply to the damaged site are more favorable. This increases the flow of leukocyte cells and accelerates the outflow of hemoglobin degradation products.
Ointments for hematomas
Bruises tend to disappear on their own without additional intervention. However, you can speed up the process of resorption by applying ointments and compresses to the skin. One of the most effective methods is heparin ointment. It accelerates the decomposition of the hematoma. For a long time with any bruises, bruises, an ointment with calendula is also used. These medicines are sold in pharmacies. They accelerate the process of resorption of the bruise and the healing of blood vessels. They are used several times a day on the surface of the injury site.
Dark circles under the eyes
Bruises are not always associated with trauma. Dark circles under the eyes after a sleepless night or with prolonged fatigue of the body are also widely known. What is a black eye and why does it occur? It appears as a result of a weakening of the strength of collagen fibers that form the vessels and surrounding the connective tissue in the skin of the eyes. The dark circles of the eyelids often with concomitant edema can occur as a symptom of many diseases or represent a feature due to a genetic predisposition.
Basically, this symptom is not a change that is dangerous to health or life, it is just a cosmetic defect. However, it is worth paying attention to it, because we can assume a deterioration in the state of the body or the occurrence of the disease as a whole. Especially if the bags under the eyes appeared for the first time in my life, and at the same time, the swelling intensifies intensely.
This is an alarming signal and it is worth considering that in addition to taking independent actions to eliminate bruises under the eyes, you should consult a specialist.
Bruises under the eyes as a symptom of the disease?
What is a black eye and what diseases does it appear in? Diseases that can manifest themselves with such "shadows" include dermatomyositis (a rheumatic disease).
The result of trauma associated with damage to tissues, skin or bones of the face (fracture of the nasal bones) is a bruise. A photo of such bruising is presented below.
In addition to these conditions, dark circles under the eyes can accompany many pathologies, including:
- heart failure;
- hypertension
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- hypothyroidism;
- diabetes;
- vitamin deficiency;
- parasitic infections.
Ways to deal with dark circles
How to get rid of bruises under the eyes? First of all, you should think about what is the cause of this condition. If the symptom appears after a long day or a sleepless night, then the best way to treat it is to rest and have a healthy sleep. You can also use ointments containing collagen and nourishing the skin.
If these actions prove to be ineffective in eliminating bruises under the eyes, cooling masks or compresses from slices of cucumber or chilled tea bags and body powder can be useful.
Cream against dark circles under the eyes
Pharmacies and stores offer a wide range of ointments, gels and creams that eliminate swelling, lighten the skin and help cure dark circles under the eyes. Preparations containing arnica extract and cornflower have proven themselves very well.
If the methods used for bruising under the eyes at home are not enough, carefully considering the risk factors for developing systemic diseases that cause such symptoms, and making sure that you are in good health, you can consult a cosmetologist. The specialist will give recommendations on how to eliminate a cosmetic defect using professional products and procedures. But for starters, it’s still worth going to a consultation with a therapist.