Contents:
- Medical Video: How to Know If Your Toe Is Broken
- What causes bruising?
- Stages of discoloration
- 1. Pink to red
- 2. Bluish to dark purple
- 3. Pale green
- When should a bruise be seen by a doctor?
- Is there a quick way to get rid of bruises?
Medical Video: How to Know If Your Toe Is Broken
Whether it's because the thighs are on the edge of the table or the arm that is hit by the door, bruises are already a daily food. But have you ever wondered why bruising can occur, and why can the color change over time?
What causes bruising?
Bruising is a type of skin injury that usually occurs as a result of a collision / blow of a blunt object that directly hits the skin, causing rupture of the capillary arteries (small blood vessels near the skin surface). When a blood vessel breaks, blood will leak and spread to the surrounding tissue, causing pain and discoloration of the skin.
Over time your body will absorb the blood coming out of these blood vessels. This is what causes a change in appearance and color of a bruise.
You must have found one or two random bruise on the body, and can never remember when or why a bruise occurred. But did you know that the "age" of bruises can be guessed based on the color? This way, it might make it easier for you to remember what was the culprit for the cause of the annoying bruise. Here's how to find out
Stages of discoloration
From starting to form until completely gone, bruises usually last for two to three weeks. In some cases, bruising may take longer to heal.
Fast slow bruise can heal depending on how severe the impact received by the body and where the bruise is located. Some parts of the body need a longer time to heal, especially the legs and arms.
The following are the stages of the discoloration process of bruising, from the first moment it collides to completely recovering.
1. Pink to red
As soon as a collision occurs, your skin will look red. You may also notice that the bumped area becomes slightly swollen and painful when pressed.
2. Bluish to dark purple
One day after the impact, the color of your bruise will darken, turn blue or purple. This is due to the lack of oxygen intake, as well as swelling in the area around the bruise. As a result, the hemoglobin which is usually red will turn blue. This purple-purple bruise can last up to five days after the impact.
3. Pale green
Around the sixth day, the color of the bruise on the skin turns green. This indicates that the hemoglobin contained in the blood begins to break down. At this stage, the healing process has begun.
4. Brownish yellow
After a week the bruise will gradually change color to become brighter, namely to become pale yellow or light brown. This stage is the final stage of the healing process of bruising. Your bruise will not change color again, but will disappear slowly and return to your original skin tone.
When should a bruise be seen by a doctor?
In some cases, bruising may not change color or not heal. Bruises that feel hard to touch, get bigger, and get more painful can indicate a hematoma formation.
A hematoma is a lump that forms when blood begins to gather under the skin or muscles. Instead of experiencing the process of decomposition and healing as described above, blood in the hematoma actually clots in the body. Hematoma can only be removed with medical treatment, so see a doctor if you experience symptoms of bruising that don't heal.
Is there a quick way to get rid of bruises?
Preventing bruising may not always be possible, but you can speed up the healing of bruises at home by:
- Use cold compresses or ice after impact to reduce the size of the bruise and suppress inflammation and swelling. Cold temperatures will reduce blood flow to the wound area and help minimize the amount of blood coming out of the blood vessels to the surrounding tissue
- Lift the body part where the bruise is located, it must be higher than your heart. Gravity can help prevent blood from gathering in the area of bruising
- Try to rest the affected area as much as you can
- If you feel pain, you can take painkillers or apply medication ointments.