Treatment of Bruising Wounds that Can Be Done at Home

Bruising or bruising is a common condition, especially in children. Usually bruises arise due to collisions with hard objects, causing a rupture of small blood vessels (capillaries). Not only does the skin change color, bruises also cause pain. Get to know how to treat bruises that you can do at home.

Besides being hit by hard objects, bruising can also be caused by physical activity or strenuous exercise, falls, or sprains. Generally, mild bruising from a hard object can disappear within two to three weeks. But in some cases, bruising takes longer to heal.

Stages of Color Changes in Bruises

Slow healing of bruises depends on how severe the impact is and where the wound is. Here are the stages of discoloration, which can signify the healing process:

Red
Shortly after bumping, the skin will look red. You will also notice that the affected part of the body becomes slightly swollen and feels pain when touched.

Bluish to dark purple
Usually, one or two days after a collision, the color of the bruise will become bluish or dark purple. This color change is caused by the lack of oxygen intake and also swelling in the area around the bruises. As a result, the red hemoglobin will turn blue.

Pale green
Entering the sixth day, the color of the bruise will turn green. This indicates that the hemoglobin contained in the blood begins to decompose and the healing process is underway.

Brownish yellow
After a week, bruises will change to brighter colors, namely pale yellow or light brown. This stage is the final stage of bruising healing process. Bruising will not change color again, but will disappear slowly and return to the original color of the skin.

Keep in mind, bruises that hurt when touched, get bigger, feel painful and don't heal, bruises that appear after taking blood-thinning medications, bruises that appear without physical injury, or often appear for no apparent reason, are conditions that need watch out. Therefore, you are advised to immediately see a doctor if you experience it.

How to treat bruises

Although bruises or bruises will disappear on their own, you can speed up the healing process of bruises by doing the following:

Compress with ice
Compress body parts that hit with ice. Cold temperatures will reduce the process of swelling and inflammation. In addition, ice also helps minimize the amount of blood coming out of small blood vessels to the surrounding tissue. Avoid sticking ice directly into the skin, it is advisable to wrap ice with a towel first. Then, compress the bruise for 20 to 30 minutes.

Lift the body part that has bruises
After a bruise occurs, try to position the body part that is bruised higher than the chest. For example, if bruising occurs in the legs, sit or sleep by supporting the bruised area with a pillow. This is intended to reduce blood flow to the bruised area so as to relieve swelling.

Compress warm water
After about two days of compressing the bruise with ice, replace it with a warm compress. Hot temperatures can facilitate blood flow, as well as accelerate the change in skin color as before. Use a cloth that has been soaked in warm water. Then, compress the parts of the body that have bruises for 10 minutes. Do this two to three times a day regularly.

Heparin sodium
In addition to these methods, you can also speed up the process of healing bruises or bruises by using topical medications in the form of ointments or gels containing heparin. Heparin works by dissolving blood clots that are beneath the surface of the skin due to bruising, helps reduce inflammation, and accelerates blood circulation to accelerate healing. Side effects of using these drugs are generally minimal and rare, but sometimes can cause allergies. Keep in mind, heparin gel is not recommended for use in open wounds and in children under 5 years. Do not underestimate internal wounds, be sure to prepare heparin gel in your first aid box and choose one that has BPOM certification. You also need to know, now there are products containing halal heparin.

In general, bruises will disappear on their own. But if you feel uncomfortable with these conditions, you can do the above methods to speed up the process of recovery and treatment of bruises. If the condition of bruising does not disappear within a few weeks, immediately see a doctor to get proper treatment.