Bruising
Bruising or internal bleeding from blood vessels usually results from impact or forceful contact to the body’s flesh. However, bruising may be present in people with certain health conditions or who use blood-thinning medications.
Bruised fingers can be a sign of eating disorder, such as bulimia. Usually medical attention is not sought for bruises unless the bruising is severe in muscles and bone, and may indicate presence of muscle tear or bone fracture. However, medical attention may also be required to treat underlying conditions, such as the bulimia, that results in bruised fingers.
What is bruising?
Bruising is a form of internal bleeding when blood vessels in the skin, muscles or bone, such as break from excess pressure. Bruising may also be termed contusion or hematoma.
Classification of bruises
Depending on the physical location and damage caused by the bursting blood vessel, bruises are categorized as subcutaneous (in the dermis or hypodermis skin layer), intramuscular (in the muscles), and periosteal (in bone layers, such as the cortex).
Causes of bruising
Bruises can occur for the following reasons:
- physical injury or trauma, abuse, vomiting, and excess coughing
- nutritional deficiency, such as vitamins C, K, B12, or folic acid
- blood or auto-immune disorders, such as hemophilia A or B, leukemia, sepsis infection
- diseases, such as cirrhosis, cancer (lymphomas),
- medications that thin the blood
- surgery
Diagnosing bruises
Impacts to the skin cause blood vessels to bleed under the epidermis resulting in bruising, and this too can be identified through physical examination of the point of impact and through discussion of events.
Other causes of bruising may be harder to diagnose without further testing of the blood and vessel structures, such as blood disorders and auto-immune conditions. Physicians usually discuss medication use, health conditions, lifestyle factors and family history in diagnosing bruising.
Treatments for bruises
Subcutaneous bruises are usually in the dermal layer of skin and are less painful, fading quicker. Usually these bruises do not require much treatment. Depending on severity, bruises can last for a few days to more than three weeks, and have different pink to purple brown shades. Bruising in the muscles can be much more painful depending on the extent. Usually keeping the leg raised and applying cold compress helps to relieve inflammation and swelling.
Depending on severity, muscle bruises should be checked by a healthcare provider because muscle tendons may be torn. Similarly, ligaments may be torn and cause bruising. Bone bruises usually indicate fracture and should be medically examined, such as through X-ray. Much more swelling is usually present with increased pain.
Treatments include:
- Resting and raising the limb
- Keeping the bruised area cool
- Using prescribed acetaminophen or pain and inflammation medications (Ibuprofen and aspirin can thin the blood causing more bleeding)
- Surgery and physiotherapy if tendons and/or ligaments are torn, or bones are fractured
- Further treatment if caused by underlying health complications