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Feb 13, 2023 · Women tend to bruise more easily than men -- especially from slight injuries on their upper arms, thighs, and buttocks. Easy bruising sometimes runs in families, too.
- Overview
- Conditions that cause bruises, with pictures
- What different types of bruises are there?
- What are the symptoms and signs of bruises?
- What causes bruises?
- How to treat bruises
- How to prevent bruising
You may get occasional bruises from minor injuries or injuries from sports. But you can also get bruises from more serious health conditions, including concussions and leukemia.
Black and blue marks are often associated with bruises. A bruise, or contusion, appears on the skin due to trauma. Examples of trauma are a cut or a blow to an area of the body. The injury causes tiny blood vessels called capillaries to burst. Blood gets trapped below the skin’s surface, which causes a bruise.
Sport injuries
•Sport injuries are those that occur during exercise or while participating in a sport. •They include broken bones, strains and sprains, dislocations, torn tendons, and muscle swelling. •Sport injuries may occur from trauma or overuse. Read full article on sports injuries.
Concussion
•This is a mild traumatic brain injury that can occur after an impact to your head or after a whiplash-type injury. •Symptoms of a concussion vary depending on both the severity of the injury and the person injured. •Memory problems, confusion, drowsiness or feeling sluggish, dizziness, double vision or blurred vision, headache, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or noise, balance problems, and slowed reaction to stimuli are some possible symptoms. •Symptoms may begin immediately, or they may not develop for hours, days, weeks, or even months following a head injury. Read full article on concussions.
Thrombocytopenia
•Thrombocytopenia refers to a platelet count that is lower than normal. It can be caused by a wide variety of conditions. •Symptoms vary in severity. •Symptoms may include red, purple, or brown bruises, a rash with small red or purple dots, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, prolonged bleeding, blood in the stools and urine, bloody vomit, and heavy menstrual bleeding. Read full article on thrombocytopenia.
There are three types of bruises based on their location on your body:
•Subcutaneous bruises occur just beneath the skin.
•Intramuscular bruises occur in the underlying muscles.
•Periosteal bruises occur on the bones.
Symptoms of the bruise vary depending on the cause. Discoloration of the skin is often the first sign. While they’re usually black and blue, bruises can also be:
•red
•green
•purple
•brown
•yellowish, which most often occurs as the bruise heals
Unexplained bruises that appear on the shin or knee may come from bumping the area on a doorframe, bedframe, post, or chair without noticing.
Other common causes of bruises include:
•sports injuries
•car accidents
•concussions
•head injury
You may treat bruises at home with some of the following options:
•Use an ice pack to reduce swelling. Wrap the pack in cloth to avoid putting it directly on your bruised skin. Leave the ice on your bruise for 15 minutes. Repeat this every hour as needed.
•Rest the bruised area.
•If practical, raise the bruised area above your heart to keep blood from settling into the bruised tissue.
•Take an over-the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), to reduce pain in the area. Avoid aspirin or ibuprofen as they may increase bleeding.
•Wear tops with long sleeves and pants to protect bruises on your arms and legs.
You probably won’t go through life without ever getting a bruise, but you can prevent some bruising by being cautious while playing, exercising, and driving.
Use pads on your knees, elbows, and shins when cleaning or playing sports to avoid bruising in these areas. Reduce the risk of getting bruised when playing sports by wearing:
•shin guards
•shoulder pads
•hip guards
•thigh pads
Jun 14, 2022 · With these dermatologist-approved tips to help heal a bruise fast, it can clear up in less than a week. Here's what to do.
Jan 18, 2024 · On darker skin, bruises may be less noticeable and appear as darker areas of brown or black that gradually become lighter. If a bruise does not fade, worsens, or other issues accompany it, a ...
Aug 9, 2024 · Easy bruising can cause large bruises in multiple areas of the body, often at the same time. The most common causes are aging or a medication side effect. Bruising also can occur due to bleeding disorders or other rare medical conditions. Frequent bruising may also be a sign of physical abuse.
Feb 9, 2017 · Do they have any bruises now or photographs of bruises previously? Have they noticed small red spots (petechiae) or purple patches (purpura) with the bruises? Is bruising spontaneous or inflicted by trauma?
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Mar 10, 2024 · Treatment. If a minor injury like a bump caused your ecchymosis, the mark should clear up within a week or two. Hold ice to the bruise a few times a day for the first day or two. If your bruising...
