If you recently had an accidental fall, bumped into a table, or suffered a sports injury, you might have experienced a spot of bruising. These bruises are no more than skin discolourations caused by a skin or tissue injury that damages the blood vessels beneath the skin's surface, causing them to leak.
When blood accumulates under the skin’s surface, it results in blue, purple, black, yellow, or brown discolouration. However, there won’t be any external bleeding unless the skin breaks open. People often confuse bruising with blood clots, but they are not the same.
Blood clots are gel-like clumps of blood underneath the skin, which are beneficial as they naturally form following an injury to plug the blood vessel and stop bleeding.
If you are bruised and constantly looking for answers to questions like "how long do bruises take to heal?" or "how to heal a bruise?" Here’s all that you need to know.
Bruises generally fade away within two weeks, even without any bruise treatment plan. However, severe bruising might last a month or even longer. To heal a bruise, you must perform the following treatment steps:
- To prevent pain and reduce swelling, you must rest and elevate the bruised area above the level of the heart.
- Wrap the ice pack in a thin towel and apply it over the bruise for no more than 15 minutes. Doing this multiple times in 24–48 hours will help you reduce the pain and swelling.
- Use a heating pad or an elastic bandage like Hansaplast Cotton Crepe Bandage to provide compression to the injured area to reduce swelling.
- After consulting your doctor, you can also make use of painkillers available over the counter.
If the bruise still remains after following these treatment steps, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Disclaimer
Please note that the above recommendations are general care tips. Consult a healthcare professional in case of any uncertainty around wound treatment and healing.
Always see your doctor if a wound is deep, bleeding profusely or showing signs of infection. For diabetic patients especially, proper wound care holds the utmost importance. Do not hesitate to discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor or your podiatrist, even when it comes to minor wounds and cuts – especially if they’re on your feet.
The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Although compiled with great care, it is not a substitute for professional advice. If you have or suspect a health problem, consult your doctor immediately.
For further information regarding Hansaplast products, please contact us via email at customer.care@bdfindia.com