Understanding Bruises (Ecchymosis)

Understanding Bruises (Ecchymosis)

A bruise can be referred to as ecchymosis although the accurate pronunciation is staychymosis. A bruise, or contusion, is an area of your skin that has been injured and is not receiving adequate blood supply as is characteristic of a blood clot.

The size and coloration of the aurathere is like a contusion and it goes through the color spectrum from black, blue, purple, brown, yellow during the breaking up of the blood’s vessels and concomitant healing of the affected part.

What Bruises You Should Be Concerned About

There are various types of bleeding that can cause skin discoloration:

Hematoma: Usually resultant from an accident like a car one or a severe fall or sometimes as a consequence of a sickness. A hematoma is a larger accumulation of blood outside a blood vessel and a hematoma is raised and tender or painful.

Petechiae: Small round red spots that are less than 2mm in diameter which do not blanch on applying pressure on the skin.

Purpura: A tiny accumulation of blood in the skin that is greater in size compared to petechiae but below the size of ecchymosis.

Who Gets Bruises?

It is noteworthy that hematoma or bruises are quite frequently encountered and at some point, every person experiences it. They can occur as a result of falling, a car accident, sports, or some surgery. Bruising can be the result of such causes as age, gender, and particular diseases or medications, including persons above 65 years of age, women, and those assigned female at birth.

Conditions and Medications Increasing Bruising Risk

• Cancer or liver disease

• Small drugs such as aspirin
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anticoagulants being an anti-inflammatory drug analgesic or cocaine such as ibuprofen, naproxen and the like.
• Conditions such as haemophilia or vWD
• Previous or concurrent thrombocytopenia or any other coagulopathy
• Electrolyte or Vitamin A, C, or K deficiency

Symptoms and Causes

Symptoms of a Bruise (Ecchymosis):

• Pain or tenderness
• Bruising or retarded healing as evidenced by discoloration of the skin that may turn red to purple, black blue, brown or yellow.
• Inflammation or a swelling in the form of a raised bump owing to the formation of a blood clot (hematoma)

Causes of Bruises:

• Injury or physical trauma
• Aging skin
• Medications affecting blood clotting
• Factors affecting a blood platelet count

Diagnosing Bruises

Some signs and symptoms through which bruises can be recognized are the area of involvement and color change. If you often have bruises or you are unsure if your bruises are caused by an unattended issue, then your doctor might recommend tests including X-ray and blood test among others.

How to Get Rid of Bruises

As it pertains to bruises, it becomes imperative to understand how to prevent and get rid of them or at least reduce their appearance. If left alone, most of the time, the coloration that occurs during bruising will subside on its own.

To help bruises heal faster:

• Regarding the treatment, one of the critical aspects of first aid involves resting the affected limb or part of the body, and elevating it higher than the heart.

• Icing for the first 24-48 hours with an hour on, hour off for 15 minutes.
• An application of a heating pad or warm compress can be done after two days.
• For a minor headache or fever take acetaminophen; avoid NSAID pain relief unless discussed with the physician.

Preventing Bruises

While everyone experiences bruising, you can reduce the risk by:

• In relation to floor management, it is critical to avoid placing anything on the floor that can cause a trip.
• Clearing the space for doors and the passageways by removing furniture items.
• Standing or moving around with lights or flashlights in ill-lit parts.
• Ensuring adequate vitamin intake.
• Wearing protective clothing or gear while playing or practicing in any sporting activity.

How Long Does It Take for a Bruise to Form?

A bruise ordinarily develops at the time of an injury when there is a rupture of blood vessels and blood clots beneath the skin. The color may start fading after several days and that is an indication of healing.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Seek medical advice if you experience:

• A black eye with the feature of vision impairment
• Having severe bruising that is not healed within the two weeks
• Frequent, large bruises
• He was free from discomforts that include a lump in the bruised area (hematoma).

• Paleness and any type of inflammation that is accompanied by pain or any pain that still persists.
• Returning inflatable sores at the identical area
• Unexplained bruising

• Symptoms like persistent coughing of blood, bleeding from the nose as well as passage of blood in the urine or stool.

Conclusion

The information about types of bruises and when to be concerned is useful for properly managing and treating bruises. Most of the time, bruises do not require any intervention from a healthcare provider; however, if you develop the following signs, see your doctor:

Hence, following such preventive measures and being in a position to treat such bruises you can always heal quickly and minimize the discomfort.