Bruises

Anyone can have bruises because of different reasons, and they usually appear after injuries, but they can also manifest due to certain health conditions.

Bruises

Bruises occur when there are damaged and leaking blood vessels under the skin that lead to blood accumulation and cause skin discoloration.

Causes of bruises

When the blood leaks and there isn’t an opening for it to get out of the body, it pools under the skin and causes bruises. This occurs because of:

• Injuries and physical traumas.
• A symptom of certain medications, such as anticoagulants and steroids.
• Aging skin.
• Health conditions that affect the blood platelet count, such as thrombocytopenia, leukemia, and hemophilia.

The risk of bruises increases due to the following factors:

• Having family members who are prone to bruises.
• Having cancer or liver disease.
• Having a vitamin K or vitamin C deficiency.
• Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs frequently.

Symptoms of bruises

• The size and shape of bruises differ depending on the type, cause, and location.
• The color of bruises may range from black, blue, purple, brown, and yellow.
• Pain when touching the bruise.
• Swelling or a raised bump on the skin.

Diagnosis of bruises

• Physical exam.
• Imaging tests.
• Blood tests.

Treatment of bruises

• Bruises don’t require treatment and are left to heal on their own in most of the cases within two weeks, while some of them may take a month.
• You can apply ice packs after the injury for one or two days and then replace them with warm compresses.
• You can elevate the affected area to relieve swelling.
• You can take pain medication when needed.