About Us | Privacy | Site Map
May 16, 2012
Font Size
A
A
A
1
2
3
...
Next»

Bruises

Medical Author:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

View Full Profile
Medical Editor:
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

View Full Profile

Home Treatment

If your bruise does not require an evaluation by a health professional, you may be able to use home treatment to help relieve pain, swelling, and stiffness.

  • Rest and protect a bruised area.
  • Ice will reduce pain and swelling. Apply ice or cold packs immediately to prevent or minimize swelling. Apply the ice or cold pack for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 or more times a day.
    • For the first 48 hours after an injury, avoid things that might increase swelling, such as hot showers, hot tubs, hot packs, or alcoholic beverages.
    • After 48 to 72 hours, if swelling is gone, apply heat and begin gentle exercisewith the aid of moist heat to help restore and maintain flexibility. Some experts recommend alternating between hot and cold treatments.

SOURCE:
Healthwise

Read more about home remedies for bruises »

Bruises Overview

A bruise is a common skin injury that results in breakage of blood vessels under the skin. Blood from damaged blood vessels beneath the skin collects near the surface of the skin resulting in what we recognize as a black and blue mark. A bruise is also known as a contusion.

Bruises Causes

People typically get bruises when they bump into something or when something bumps into them.

  • Bruises can occur in some people who exercise rigorously, such as athletes and weight lifters. These bruises result from microscopic tears in blood vessels under the skin. Bruising in athletes can also result from direct impact/trauma and be accompanied by an underlying hematoma.
  • Unexplained, random bruises that occur easily or for no apparent reason may indicate a bleeding disorder or result from blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants), especially if the bruising is accompanied by frequent nosebleeds or bleeding gums.
  • Often, what are thought to be unexplained bruises on the shin or the thigh, for example, actually result from bumps into a bedpost or other object and failing to recall the injury.
  • Bruises in elderly people frequently occur because their skin has become thinner with age. The tissues that support the underlying blood vessels have become more fragile.
  • Bruising occurs more commonly with vitamin C deficiency (ascorbic acid deficiency).
  • In children, bruising can be a sign of physical abuse of the child (child abuse).
Next Page:
Bruises Symptoms and Signs»
1
2
3
...
Next»

Viewer Comments & Reviews

Bruises - Causes

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

What was the cause of your bruise?

View 9 Comments | Submit Your Comment
Privacy Policy

Women's Health

Find out what women really need.



Bruises

Bicycle Safety »

Bicycle Safety Overview

Bicycling is a common means of transportation as well as an increasingly popular source of recreation, exercise, and sport. Nearly 45 million Americans rode a bicycle six times or more in 2008, according to the National Sporting Goods Association.

  • Along with increased use of bicycles comes the risk of significant injuries. Bicycle outings result in more than 500,000 visits each year to Emergency Departments, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Injuries attributable to bicycling range from common abrasions, cuts, and bruises to broken bones, internal injuries, head trauma, and even death.

  • Almost 700 bicyclists died in 2007, and 43,000 were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. From a statistical standpoint, bicycle riding has a higher death rate per trip or per mile of travel than being a passenger in an automobile.
    ...

Read the Bicycle Safety article »


Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Contusions »

Muscle contusion indicates a direct, blunt, compressive force to a muscle.

Read More on Medscape Reference »

Featured Topics

Topics Related to Bruises

Skin Conditions & Beauty Topics

Medical Dictionary


or A-Z List
Use Pill Finder Find it Now

Pill Identifier on RxList

  • quick,
    easy,
    pill identification

Find a Local Pharmacy

  • including
    24 hour
    pharmacies