While changing your t-shirt, pant you notice purple or blue skin patch in your skin. Skin is turning blue patch at thigh, leg, hand. What is that really about? It is normal to get occasional bruises (blue patch) but excessive bruising might me a signs of more serious health issue. Bruises are also a very common sign of abuse. If you see child with multiple bruises in body it might indicate of child abuse.
How the bruises develop?
Bruises develop when small blood vessels under the skin tear or rupture; most often from a bump or fall in this case rupture blood vessel’s blood is remaining inside your skin. Moreover, blood leaks into tissues under the skin and causes the black-and-blue color. As the bruises heal, usually within 2 to 4 weeks, they often turn colors, including purplish black, reddish blue or yellowish green.
Common causes of bruises:
Age
As you age, your skin becomes thinner and loses its protective layer made of fat that acts as a cushion when you bump into something. Even your blood vessels become fragile as you age, which means more bruises.
Women
Women bruise more easily than men, especially from minor injuries on the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms. It’s because men have thicker skin and more collagen that holds the blood vessels than women
Medicine
If you take medicine for blood thinning like aspirin, getting black blue bruises is common. Even some steroids can lead to frequent bruising. Vitamin C is essential for healing and its low levels can lead to getting bruised easily.
Sun
If you go out too often in the sun, you may notice your skin getting bruises very easily. This happens because sun slowly weakens your skin and the small blood vessels underneath it.
Blood disorders
Certain blood disorders can make it harder for blood to clot. One such condition is hemophilia
Heavy exercise
Pushing your muscles with a lot of effort can lead to bruising. This happens because pushing your muscles with a lot of effort can lead to tiny tears in your blood vessels.
Drinking and liver disease
If you drink alcohol too often, you tend to bruise easily, which may also indicate you have got a liver problem . Your liver makes a protein that helps blood to clot. So if your liver is not working properly and not producing this protein, you may get bruised more easily.
IN MOST CASES, GETTING BRUISED WITHOUT ANY REASON IS NOT DANGEROUS. BUT IF IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY ANY OTHER PROBLEM AND DOESN’T GO AWAY MORE THAN A WEEK, YOU SHOULD MEET YOUR DOCTOR.
Home remedies for management of bruises
- A cold compress such as an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables should be applied to the affected area for 20-30 minutes in order to speed healing and reduce swelling.
- If the bruise takes up a large area of the leg or foot, the leg should be kept elevated as much as possible during the first 24 hours after the injury.
- Paracetamol may be taken for pain. Avoid ibuprofen because they slow the blood from clotting and may, in fact, prolong the bleeding.
- After about 48 hours, heat in the form of a warm washcloth applied to the bruise for 10 minutes or so two to three times a day may increase blood flow to the bruised area, allowing the skin to reabsorb the blood more quickly. Ultimately, the bruise will fade in color.
