1.Some bruises are not very severe and merely result in a black-and-blue mark in the skin; others are very serious and may require surgery. All bruises result from bleeding into the skin or into the tissues beneath the skin. Bruises are almost always caused either by a fall or by something hitting the body.
2.Most bleeding that takes place in the skin stops by itself and needs no first aid or other treatment.
Sometimes, however, the bleeding beneath the skin can be quite severe and will cause a big lump to form.
Such bruises are called hematomas.
3.If the bleeding beneath the skin seems to be continuing and the swelling is enlarging, then direct,firm pressure should be applied over the area with the palm of the hand. If this pressure is continued steadily for ten to fifteen minutes, it may stop the internal bleeding. Another way to stop the bleeding is to put ice or an ice bag on the skin surface over the injured area. Ice or an ice bag should not be kept in place for more than fifteen to twenty minutes at a time, for if it is kept on too long, it may cause a burn. If ice is not available, cold compresses may help to control the bleeding.
4.If the hematoma is still present a few days after the injury originally happened, and if it feels soft and mushy when it is touched,then in all likelihood fluid blood is present beneath the skin.
To cure this type of bruise, a doctor may have to stick a needle into the hematoma and draw out theblood with a syringe.
If the blood is too thick to come out through the syringe, a surgeon will have to make a cut into the hematoma in order to let out the blood. This will take care of the matter very quickly.
5.An ordinary black-and-blue bruise may take a few weeks before the discoloration disappears. During that time the black-and-blue mark changes to a lighter blue or a purple, then to a green, then to tan,then to light yellow, and finally the skin looks perfectly normal again.
DO NOT attempt to drain the bruise with a needle.
DO NOT continue running, playing, or otherwise using the painful, bruised part of your body.
DO NOT ignore the pain or swelling.
Call Immediately for Emergency Medical Assistance if
Call your doctor immediately if you feel extreme pressure in a bruised part of your body, especially if the area is large or very painful. This may be due to a condition known as "compartment syndrome." Increased pressure on the soft tissues and structures beneath the skin can decrease the supply of vital blood and oxygen to the tissues. This is potentially life-threatening and you should receive emergency care promptly.
Also call your doctor if:
You are bruising spontaneously without any injury, fall, or other reason.
There are signs of infection around the bruised area including streaks of redness, pus or other drainage, or fever.
