April 18th, 2018

©SkinwiseRx pt

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​Bruises can
be treated 

©Skinwise Rx Pt 1hr
​after treatment.

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Many nonsurgical clinics lack the expertise or equipment to treat bruises, but they can be treated. By using a combination of laser and a heating device, we at Skinwise Rx can decrease the length of time needed to heal from a bruise to about 3-4 days and usually coverable with make up within 1 or 2 days from treatment.

Bruises are a collection of blood from an injury of small blood vessels. Because the skin is unbroken the blood pools and forms small clots that cause discoloration in the skin above the injury. Larger injuries can cause larger pools of blood called contusions. They  can be tender and painful and are still flat. A bruise with a lump is a called a hematoma and even more tender and painful.

Bruises come in many colors because of hemoglobin or iron that is in blood. It is usually red at the time of injury. Within 1-2 days it turns purple, blue, or almost black. In 5 to 10 days it turns yellow or green, lightening. Around 10 to 14 days it turns yellow-brown to light brown. It should fade away totally in 2 weeks. 

DIY: At home you can use cold compresses and ice packs (15 min on 30 min off) to help contract blood vessels and slow bleeding. Elevate the area above the heart to avoid the amount of blood that pools, help decrease swelling, and the ultimate size of the bruise. In 2 days use a warm compress or heating pad to help the area heal quicker. If with a lot of tenderness, you can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce the pain. Some use vitamin K cream over the counter, Arnica Montana orally and topically and Bromelain as homeopathic methods. Definitely let your clinician know if you bruise from treatment so they can help you heal faster. You may only need DIY instructions or you may need to come to clinic for treatment.  

So while bruises happen, know there are options for treatments. For the patient above, laser and heat treatment around the eye caused moderate swelling the next day. This decreased over the next 2 days. The discoloration was still present but coverable by day 2 with make up. She and I were glad she had options!