The Best Bruise Treatments for the Clumsy

My family calls me "Grace" because I am good for a trip and a fall at least every few months. These special trips usually occur at family gatherings and social events and always provide the gathering with a good chuckle. I can't explain it. Busy feet get ahead of the rest of me and I get a nasty bruise that lasts for about two weeks. No quick fixes are available but I have found ways to shorten their lifespan.

Why do I bruise? Bruising is the symptom of an inner wound that does not break the skin. Under the skin, the blood capillaries in the muscle and tissue break and bleed. The blood collects under the skin and a discoloration appears. Bruises may turn blue, purple and then later brown or black. Bruising is not dangerous but it may be painful. If you bruise too easily, you may need to visit your doctor. Easy discoloration could be a symptom of a disease or vitamin deficiency.

Bruise Treatments

The best way to shorten the length of your bruise is to treat it immediately. The sooner you treat the mark the better results your treatment will give you.

Ice Packs
Fill a plastic bag like a zippered storage bag with ice. You will need to cover the bag with a hand towel. Putting cold ice directly on your skin can hurt. For the best bruise treatment, leave the ice pack on the mark for 30 minutes to an hour.

Frozen Vegetables
Frozen vegetables in a bag make a quick compress. Cover the bruised area with a thin cloth then lay the vegetable bag on top. Keep the vegetables in place for 20 minutes at a time. However, do not keep thawing and refreezing vegetables. They will not be safe to eat if you do.

Elevate It
Bruises need blood to get their ugly, embarrassing color. Lift your new bruise above your heart to limit blood flow to the area. Keep the bump above your heart for 20 to 30 minutes.

Hemorrhoid Cream
Weird as it sounds it does work. Be warned though, hemorrhoid cream does not belong on your face. It burns a little and it smells. However, large circular bruises fade faster with a little shrinking cream. Apply the cream to bruised skin soon after it appears. Leave the cream in place and apply it new once a day. If your bruise is accompanied by an open wound, do not use hemorrhoid cream.

Vitamin Help
Since your wound occurred on the inside, it makes sense that you would need some inside treatment. Speed up the healing time with a vitamin boost. Pop some vitamin C and add green vegetables to your menu. Your skin will need some added hydration too. Drink lots of water.

Conceal With Makeup
Bruises that show up on the face are the worst because there's such stigma that comes with facial bruising. Granted many women experience domestic violence regularly, I am not one of them. The best way to avoid questions about bruises on the face is to conceal them. This is not always effective especially if the bruise is dark but it is worth a try.

I have fair skin so when I bruise I apply a yellow concealer first, then cream to powder makeup. Women with darker skin may find a concealer slightly darker than the skin color to work best. Press the makeup in place with powder.

I'm clumsy and that may never change. However good bruise treatments help me forget my embarrassment faster.

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