Irrespective of whether or not you live an active lifestyle, you will, at some point in your life, suffer a bruise. We know what it looks like and how it feels, but let's dive a little deeper and find out what they are, why they happen, and how to manage them.
What Causes Bruises?
Bruises (which are medically known as contusions or muscle contusions) happen when you experience a direct blow or repeated blows to a specific part of your body. This usually occurs when you suffer from a fall, or you perform strenuous activities and hit another hard surface. This results in damage to your muscle tissue fibres without breaking your skin1.
The discolouration on bruises is caused by the breaking of smaller blood vessels and capillaries beneath your skin when you experience a hard blow. A bruise on fair-skinned people may appear blue or purplish in colour, whereas a bruise on dark-skinned individuals may appear brown, black or purplish in colour.2.
Bruises can happen to anyone, but is most common amongst individuals who live active lifestyles - those who play sports regularly, and children who play outdoors often. Older people are also more likely to bruise as they have fragile skin tissue.
Some Possible Symptoms
Discolouration is the most obvious sign of a bruise. This is a sign that the blood vessels and capillaries have broken as a result of you knocking or bumping a specific body part against a hard surface. The blood that seeps out of the broken vessels will sit under your soft tissue, appearing as a bruise. Other common signs of a bruise include pain and swelling around the injured area.
For more severe bruises, a pool of blood can accumulate and clot within the damaged tissue, manifesting as a lump over your injury. This type of bruising is known as hematoma. Bruising can also indicate more severe types of injury, such as broken bones, dislocated joints, or muscle sprains, to name a few1.
Bruises won’t appear immediately after trauma to the specific body part - it takes a bit of time before you can actually see the discolouration on your skin. If you see any signs of bruising within 30 minutes of trauma to your body, that could be an indication of a more serious injury4.
How to Manage Bruises
If you experience a bump or trauma to a specific part of your body and you have a feeling hat it will bruise, apply an ice pack to the affected area for 15 minutes as soon as possible. Repeat this several times a day for the next 48 hours to help reduce swelling3.
Generally, bruises can be managed using what is known as the R.I.C.E. protocol:
- Rest the injured area and reduce further movement to decrease the likelihood of developing a more serious injury.
- Ice the area with cold packs for 15-20 minutes several times a day till the bruising is reduced. Just remember not to place ice directly on the skin.
- Compress the injured area using an ice wrap or a soft bandage.
- Elevate the injured area so it’s always above heart level to help reduce the swelling1.
When to See a Doctor About a Bruise
In general, bruises are easy to treat at home and will resolve itself in several days. For example, you could opt to apply an ointment that contains eucalyptus oil and camphor, which possess anti-inflammatory properties to temporarily relieve the pain, and swelling. However, there are instances where bruising could indicate a more serious injury, and which requires you to see a healthcare professional immediately.
Watch out for the following symptoms to determine if you need to see a doctor:
- If you experience intense pain in the bruised area
- If you can’t move the bruised part of your body
- If the swelling and bruising is severe and developed rapidly
- If the injured part of your body isn't mobile5
Alternatively, if your child suffers a bruises, look out for black-and-blue marks on their skin, which may indicate that your child is bleeding more than normal3.
There are also medications which can put you at an increased risk of bruising, such as anticoagulants/blood thinners, aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If you’re taking any medication that makes you susceptible to bruising, and you notice your that you bruise more frequently, or if your bruise marks have started to get bigger over time, then it may be time for you to visit the doctor6.
In conclusion, you should be able to pinpoint the cause of your bruises, and treat them accordingly. But if you experience a bruise that appears on your body without you experiencing an injury, then it is advisable for you to consult a doctor immediately3.
References:
- “Muscle Contusion (Bruise).” OrthoInfo – American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Accessed September 20, 2020. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/muscle-contusion-bruise
- “What are bruises?” NHS. Accessed September 20, 2020. https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/accidents-first-aid-and-treatments/what-are-bruises/
- “Bruising in Children.” Health Hub—Ministry of Health Singapore. Accessed September 20, 2020. https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/206/bruises_HPB
- “Bruises and Blood Spots Under the Skin.” MyHealth—Government of Alberta. Accessed September 20, 2020. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=bruse
- “Bumps, knocks and bruises.” Health Direct—Australian Government Department of Health. Accessed September 20, 2020. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/bumps-knocks-and-bruises
- “Why do I bruise more easily as I age?” Harvard Health Publishing—Harvard Medical School. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-do-i-bruise-more-easily-as-i-age
