How many days for bruise to heal

It also helps keep the inflammation and swelling down. All you have to do is apply cold to the bruise for 15 to 20 minutes every hour for a day or two after the bruise appears. You don't need to buy a special cold pack, although they're great to keep on hand in the freezer.

Just get some ice, put it in a plastic bag, and wrap the bag in a cloth or a towel and place it on the bruise don't apply the ice directly to the skin. Another trick is to use a bag of frozen vegetables. It doesn't matter what kind — carrots, peas, lima beans, whatever — as long as they're frozen. A bag of frozen vegetables is easy to apply to the bruise because it can form to the shape of the injured area. Also, like a cold pack, it can be used and refrozen again and again just pick your least-favorite vegetables and label the bag — you don't want to keep thawing and freezing veggies that you plan to eat!

To reduce swelling and bruising, elevate the bruised area above the level of your heart. In other words, if the bruise is on your shin, lie down on a couch or bed and prop up your leg.

This will help prevent blood from pooling in the area because more of the blood will flow back toward your heart. If you keep standing, more blood will flow to your bruised shin and the bruise will be larger.

Bruises are kind of hard to avoid completely. But if you're playing sports, riding your bike, inline skating, or doing anything where you might bump, bang, crash, or smash into something, it's smart to wear protective gear like pads, shin guards, and helmets.

Taking just a few extra seconds to put on that gear might save you from a couple of weeks of aches and pains. Vitamin C assists the body in reducing inflammation. They also suggest applying a gel or creams that contain vitamin C directly to the bruise. Shop for vitamin C supplements and creams online. A mixture of enzymes found in pineapple and papaya , bromelain is suggested by natural healing advocates to reduce inflammation and inhibit blood clots from forming. They support the idea that taking a bromelain supplement of to milligrams will make a bruise disappear faster.

The capsaicin found in hot peppers is believed by many to be effective in reducing the pain of bruises. Some suggest making a mixture of one part cayenne pepper and five parts melted petroleum jelly Vaseline and applying to your bruise. Advocates of natural healing suggest that a cream containing comfrey or a compress using boiled dry comfrey leaves can help a bruise heal quickly.

Some supporters of home remedies suggest ingesting bilberry extract to stabilize collagen and strengthen capillaries which, in turn, they believe will help your bruise heal faster. Shop for bilberry extract online. A bruise on the face can be upsetting for cosmetic reasons. If you treat it properly, you might be able to reduce the amount of time you have to see it when you look in the mirror.

Be aware that a bruise could also be a symptom of a more serious injury. A blow to the head that causes a bruise may also have caused a concussion or even a fracture, and should be monitored closely.

A black eye is the appearance of bruising around the eyes and is usually caused by trauma to the head or face. Read more on other causes of black eye. Bruises are common and usually disappear with time. Here are 10 easy treatments to lessen the pain and reduce the visibility.

Learn about how to get…. A bruise, or contusion, occurs when an area of skin has suffered trauma. The injury causes blood vessels to burst, trapping blood below the skin's…. Learn about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of bone bruises. Cauterization is the process of destroying tissue with electricity or chemicals. Not sure what a contusion is? Avoid aspirin , as it can increase bleeding.

Avoiding NSAIDs may also be necessary when bruising occurs after surgery or with extensive bruises, as these drugs risk worsening the bleeding.

The use of a soft elastic wrap, during waking hours, for the first 1—2 days can help decrease bruising and discomfort after an injury. The wrap should be firm but not tight. Numbness, tingling or increased discomfort means the wrap should be loosened or removed. Elevating the bruised area has a similar effect to icing the bruise. It helps prevent the bruise from getting bigger. The individual should raise the affected area to a comfortable position.

A person should seek medical attention any time they have the following symptoms or issues associated with bruising:. Those taking prescription blood thinners, such as warfarin Coumadin , should notify their doctor if they experience any falls or signficant injuries. A doctor can help determine if there is a more severe condition or cause of the bruising that the person does not know about themselves.

Bruising takes on many colors as the body works to heal an injury. It is normal for a bruise to change color over time. A person can expect about four phases of colors to a bruise before it fades away. If a bruise does not fade, becomes worse, or other issues accompany it, a person should consult a doctor. Otherwise, most bruises should heal within about 2 weeks with no medical treatment.

Some of the at-home methods to speed up healing that we list in this article are available online:. Different skin types require different skin care products.

Read on to learn more about the best skin care products for each skin type. A look at crepey skin, a common complaint where the skin looks thin and wrinkled. Learn more about how to prevent and treat this condition. Sebaceous hyperplasia causes small, inflamed bumps to appear on the skin. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options in this article. What do the colors of a bruise mean? Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M.