Bruises are very common on your body especially when you have bumped into an object or when you have been hit by an object. Read on to find out how you can get rid of them fast at home.
What is a Bruise
Also referred to as contusion, a bruise an injury appearing as an area of discolored skin on the body, caused by impact rupturing underlying blood vessels resulting to a colored mark on the largest organ of the human body: the skin
Types
Healthline lists three types of bruise basing on where they are from surface of the skin. The deepest type occurs on the bones.
- Subcutaneous-this type normally occur just beneath the skin.
- Intramuscular bruises occur on underlying muscles between the skin and bone.
- Periosteal bruises occur very deep on the bones.
Causes
- Tearing of blood vessels under the skin during intense exercising or sports
- Bumping into objects such as bedposts
- Car accidents
- Objects that bump into you, metals, stones, timber, blows
- Supplements
- Aging which results to fragile tissues
- Some medications such as blood thinners for example aspirin or Coumadin
- Some bruises also appear for no reason. They usually underlying problems such as bleeding disorders
Home Remedies to get rid of Bruises fast
Below are some home remedies that you can use to treat injuries especially those that affect the top layer of your skin.
Mouthwash
Mouth wash is an often used home remedy that helps you get rid of bruises inside your mouth or lips as well as preventing bad breath. Additionally, when you have gum bruises, use of fluoride rinses will help you recover faster from the infection.
You are therefore advised to use this by gargling it in your mouth for around 30 seconds. Due to its antiseptic properties, the bruise will go away after sometime. Make sure you rinse your mouth with water after use.
Toothpaste for bruises
Toothpaste dissociates any blood clot on the skin’s surface. It also helps in blood circulation by increasing the blood flow as well as reducing any lump.
You can follow the following steps in order to get away with bruises;
- Apply the toothpaste on the injured area by rubbing it gently.
- Cover the region with a bandage. Avoid much tightening to prevent the area from more swelling.
- Let the bandage stay on the hand overnight then remove it in the morning. Rinse the toothpaste with lukewarm water.
- Repeat this for 2 to 3 days.
Vinegar for bruises
Vinegar promotes the flow of blood through the body therefore getting away with the collected blood in the vessels.
Procedure
- Put some vinegar into a glass until its quarter way full.
- Using a cotton cloth, cover the affected area by winding the cloth on the bruise.
- Let it stay on the surface for some time then remove.
- Repeat this twice daily for 5 to 6 days to achieve the desired results.
Use of arnica oil
A dose of tropical arnica will help you cure bruises faster than you can expect. This ointment is usually available in many forms including gels, creams and the plant itself.
You can apply the herb directly to the injuries or consume it through the mouth. This will minimize the pain and bumps caused by the injuries.
Use of ginger.
Ginger has vital properties that make it an essential plant with various uses especially for medicinal purposes. It helps in relieving nausea, pain as well as reducing swellings in the body.
Rhizome, the underground stem of a ginger plant, can be used raw, in powder form, as a spice, or as juice.[1] Studies done by volunteers in the University of Georgia reported that consumption of ginger on daily basis minimizes muscle pain caused by exercise with 25 percent.
Cold compress.
When you have a bruise, use of a cloth soaked in cold water can help you manage the injuries. Cold compress facilitates pain relieve and reduces inflammation.
However, if you are allergic to cold, reusable heat pack can help you get rid of the injuries faster. In such cases, use wet heat since its better when used on injuries as compared to dry heat. You are advised to use this if ice aches.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera products are widely used in cosmetics, food supplements and in herbal remedies.
Research shows that this plant contains anthraquinones compounds which facilitate the healing of bruises.
In addition to this, these compounds reduce pain on inflamed skin due to the anti-inflammatory effects.[2]
This plant has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that help prevent any infections on the affected area. However, you are encouraged to carry an allergy test before using it over your body.
Procedure
- Cut fresh aloe Vera leaves and extract the gel.
- Mix the gel with vitamin E oil for enhanced effectiveness.
- Apply the mixture on the injury. You can also use aloe Vera juice.
- Repeat these steps for several days until the injuries go away.
Vitamins.
Vitamin C, commonly known as ascorbic acid, helps in the regeneration of body tissues including the skin cells. Consumption of pineapples helps in healing of wounds.
Alongside vitamin C, pineapple contains bromelain, which are digestive enzymes that break down proteins that hold fluids in the body tissues after injuries. This allows drying of the bruises for a faster healing.
Moreover, vitamin C has anti-inflammatory effects that helps in reducing pain and swelling. You are therefore advised to eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Vitamin K helps in blood clotting and therefore essential when you need to heal your bruises faster. Studies by Journal of Drugs reported that use of vitamin K gel leads to less bruising. You are therefore advised to use Vitamin K products or supplements to prevent bruising on your body.
R.I.C.E. procedure.
The R.I.C.E procedure includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. These steps help minimize blood flow towards the injured area. Therefore, preventing swelling as well as more bruising.
When resting, raise the injured area using a pillow then apply ice for about 20 minutes using a light compressor. This is also used to reduce pain.
Salt solution.
Often, you will notice persons using salt solution in cleaning wounds. Salt dries out the skin hence increasing the rate of wound healing.
Moreover, it helps in the relaxation of muscles. Salt water, despite irritating the wound, helps relieve the deep pain in bruises.
Treatment (Medication)
Sometimes, the condition of your wound can be severe and therefore requiring treatment. When this occurs, visit your doctor for medication. In cases where home remedies fail to give the desired results, you are advised to seek medical attention.
Occasionally, the injuries may be extremely painful requiring use of painkillers. The doctor can therefore describe drugs such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relief the pain, giving you an easy healing period.
You can purchase drugs over the counter. In this case, you need to read the instructions before using the drugs for some may have irritating side effects. This will also help you know the correct prescription hence prevent either over or under dose.
Always try to avoid aspirin as it thins the blood leading to an increased blood flow.[3] Remember to store the drugs well to avoid hydrolysis or undergoing any other chemical degradation of pharmaceutical products.
For severe bruising, take 200 to 400 mg of bromelain supplements or vitamin C drugs which will speed up the healing process.
In addition to this, you can visit your health specialist in the following circumstances;
- When you have bruises without any reasons such as falls, bumps or any other injuries. This can be as a result a serious underlying condition that may require serious examination.
- When the bruise is infected with some microorganisms and there are blisters or any other signs around the injury.
Below are some bruises that you may experience on your body parts and their remedies.
1. Bruises on face and facial bruises from injections
A bruise on the face can be as a result of using make up that affects your skin or injections. This occurs either on the face or the area around your eyes.
In this case, you are recommended to use cold compress or ice on the bruised area for around 15 minutes. Use of cold compress will help you minimize the pain, inflammation or the blackening which accompanies the injury.
Additionally, as you treat the face, ensure that you rest to prevent any further bleeding. Raising your head a bit will also help minimize the flow of blood from the bruised tissue.
You are advised to use a warm compress after every 24 hours as this helps remove the blood that may have accumulated from the injuries or in the area near the wound. This will enable your bruises heal faster.
Use of makeup that matches the color of your bruises will help you cover up any mark that fails to disappear. For instance, you can use lavender corrector in case of a yellow discoloration.
2. Bruises on legs
Often, you will get injuries in the legs through falling or when an object bumps on your leg. For this case, you are advised to elevate the injured area using a pillow and rest.
Additionally, use of ice and cold compress will help you relieve any pain. If the injured area is swollen, use a bandage to wrap it so as to decrease the inflammatory.
3. Bruises on lips including bruises from kissing
Bruises on lips occur when you are put through some forces causing bumps. When the bumps are too strong, they rapture therefore damaging the blood vessels which results in internal bleeding of the lips. This can be caused by activities which include injuries, medication, trauma as well as kissing.
If you get bruised lips from kissing, also referred to lip hickey, massage the bruised lip using your thumbs. You are advised to use little force to avoid harming the lips. Moreover, use of arnica gel will help you conceal its visibility during the healing process.
4. Old bruises
When you have an old bruise, applying crushed parsley leaves on the injury will improve the healing process. Parsley helps in relieving pain and controls the blood clotting process.
5. Bruised eye
A bruised eye can cause a lot of discomfort especially if it is painful or swollen. However, don’t worry as you can reduce the pain and bump.
Use cold compress to decrease the pain and swelling on the eye. After this, use warm compress to allow enough circulation of blood which will fasten the healing of the wound.
6. Bruised toenail& heel
Stubbing your feet on hard objects is very common. This incident can leave your toenails injured or even the heel. Moreover, bruises on the toenails or heels may be caused by putting on too tight foot wears.
When dealing with these injuries you are advised to determine the possible cause before trying out any remedy. You can soak your feet in salt water so as to clean the injury as well as maintaining better blood circulation on the bruised toenail.
Additionally, you can use turmeric. This food additive has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which help you get away with any swelling and prevent further infection.
Sometimes, when a discolored bruise is in the toes, can be a sign of fungus infection. Examining it well will help you know whether it is a normal bruise or an infection.
7. Bruises from donating plasma
If you get a bruise from donating blood, rest for a few minutes. This will help prevent any excessive flow of blood from the injected area.
In addition, avoid bending your arm but instead apply little pressure to minimize the blood flow. You can also use vitamin E oil to sooth the skin.
8. Blood bruise
Sometimes, you might develop a bruise with continuous flow of blood. When this happens, take a rest and cover the injured area to prevent further bleeding.
Moreover, you can gently wrap the injured part with an Ace wrap to minimize swelling. Elevate the injured area and apply some arnica which will trigger healing process. You are advised to stop the use of tobacco products as they slow down blood circulation.[4]
For the case of painful bruises, use of ibuprofen drugs to relieve the pain. You can also place a clean cloth around the injured area to minimize the ache.
How to deal with bruise scars
In some cases, the bruises heal leaving spots on your skin that may take some time to clear. This condition is caused by blood accumulation in the tissues below the marks. You can use the following tips to manage the scars;
You are advised to apply vinegar on the marks and massage the scar for about 30 minutes, twice in a day. This will allow blood to flow near the skin surface which breaks down any accumulated blood.
In addition, you can apply ice pack which cools the blood vessels and nearby tissues preventing blood from accumulating in the surrounding areas.
Use the ice pack by covering it in a cloth and place it on the scar for 20 minutes. You are encouraged to repeat this every morning to achieve the desired results.
Massaging the scars and the surrounding region in circular motion will help you get rid of any accumulated blood in the surrounding tissues. You can do this for about 5 minutes after every four hours.
References
[1] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265990.php
[2] https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-get-rid-of-bruises#naturaltreatments
[3] https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Bruises
[4] https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/tc/bruises-and-blood-spots-under-the-skin-home-treatment