Injuries can lead to damage to blood vessels, resulting in those unsightly bruises, and their healing process can be quite the waiting game. When it comes to addressing bruising, there are various strategies one can employ. So if you want to know if putting heat on a bruise can make it go away, or if hot compress for a bruise can effectively reduce swelling, this informative piece aims to provide answers to your queries about the art of bruise dissolution.
What is a Bruise?
A bruise, which is like a skin mark after you get hurt, happens when something bumps or hits your skin. This bumping hurts the tiny blood vessels under your skin, making blood spill and gather there. That’s what makes the bruise show up. People often get bruises when they fall, have accidents, play sports, or when they have medical procedures.
If you easily get bruises, it might be because:
- You have cancer or liver issues.
- Others in your family also get bruises easily.
- You take medicine to make your blood thinner, like aspirin.
- You use drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen to help with pain.
- You have a blood problem like hemophilia or Von Willebrand disease.
- Your blood platelet count is low.
- You don’t have enough vitamin C or vitamin K in your body.
What is Heat Therapy?
Heat does not make bruises worse. In fact, warmth increases blood flow, which can aid in healing a bruise. After waiting for two days following the bruise’s appearance, apply a warm cloth or heating pad to it multiple times daily. You can also take a warm bath to reduce pain and relax your muscles.
Does Placing Warm Compress on a Bruise Dissolve Bleeding?
Many people think that using heat for hematoma can make the blood clots disappear. However, it’s not always true that warm compresses can dissolve bruises or reduce swelling. If you apply heat at the wrong time, it can actually make bleeding, swelling, and bruising worse. As mentioned earlier, bruises usually happen when blood vessels get hurt, causing blood to gather under the skin. If the blood vessels are still bleeding when you use a warm compress, it can make them widen, and more blood can collect under the skin, making the bruise and swelling worse. To dissolve clots with a warm compress, it’s best to wait a few days after the injury when the blood has already started to clot.
When to Apply Heat on a Bruise
Heat is a good remedy for long-lasting problems like injuries from using your body too much. It can also help loosen up your muscles and get more blood moving before you do activities. But don’t use warmth right after you get hurt or if there’s swelling. Swelling happens when there’s bleeding in your body, and warmth brings more blood to that spot, which can slow down healing.
Make sure you don’t use heating pads for too long, or they might burn you. And never leave them on for a really long time or while you’re sleeping.
Step-by-Step Process for Effectively Dissolving a Bruise
You don’t always need to use heat right after you get hurt to reduce bruising and swelling. So, how can you make bruises go away faster on your skin? Usually, bruises disappear on their own within 10 days to 2 weeks. But really bad bruises can stick around for a month or even longer. Still, there are some things you can do to speed up the healing process:
- Rest: Get plenty of rest and raise the injured area to stop swelling and ease the pain.
- Use ice: In the first 24 to 48 hours after the injury, apply ice. Ice helps narrow the blood vessels and slow down blood flow in the hurt area, which reduces bruising, swelling, and pain. To do it safely, put ice in a plastic bag and wrap it in a clean towel. Never place ice directly on your skin. Apply ice for up to 15 minutes at a time, repeating a few times during the first day or two. Be careful if the bruise is near your eye, and use a clean towel to avoid eye infection. Don’t use frozen meat or food as an ice pack because it can cause infection.
- Use a warm compress: After a couple of days, you can apply heat to increase blood flow in the healthy blood vessels around the bruise. Try doing it for 15 minutes three times a day. This can help the bruise go away faster. But don’t apply heat too soon because it can make things worse. Some people think hot compresses can reduce swelling and make bruises disappear, so they use warm compresses or hot oil right away. But remember, using heat or taking hot baths in the first few days after a bruise can make more bleeding and swelling because heat makes the blood vessels expand.
- Medication: In severe cases with a lot of pain and bad bruising, you might need pain relievers like paracetamol.
- Diet: Eating foods with lots of healthy vitamins and minerals can help your body heal faster. For example, add fruits and veggies with vitamin C, like guava, oranges, and lemons. Drinking plenty of water or herbal teas also helps boost your immune system, which can help bruises go away faster.
- Stop smoking: Smoking slows down your skin and body’s healing process. So, if you get a bruise, it’s best to use a cold compress for the first two to three days and then switch to a warm compress to help dissolve the clot, improve blood flow, and heal your wounds faster, getting rid of those bruises.
Know When to Use Heat as an Effective Bruise Treatment
If you’ve ever wondered how to effectively deal with bruises, this comprehensive guide has got you covered. From understanding what causes bruises to demystifying the role of heat therapy, we’ve laid it all out for you. Learn when and how to apply heat, and when to opt for cold treatments. Discover the steps to speed up the healing process and bid those unsightly marks farewell. By following these tips, you can empower yourself to manage and minimize the appearance of bruises and promote faster recovery.