Hello. I am a dermatologist.
Many people are concerned about bruises that occur from falling or bumping into things in daily life, or recently, after cosmetic procedures. Today, we will take a closer look at the causes of bruises and their corresponding treatment methods.
What are bruises and how do they change?
Bruises, as we commonly see in daily life, are phenomena caused by red blood cells leaking out of blood vessels. Bruises do not appear immediately, often showing up a day or two later. Initially, they may have a slightly reddish tint, then turn purplish over time, and eventually turn yellow before gradually disappearing.
Generally, bruises may disappear within about two weeks, but severe bruises or those that occur after surgery often persist for more than a month.
Are some people more prone to bruising?
Bruises occur more easily in people with delicate skin or visible blood vessels. In particular, women are more prone to bruising than men, as are those with delicate skin. Additionally, individuals whose blood vessels have weakened with age may bruise easily, so even minor impacts can cause bruises.
People taking medications like aspirin due to stent procedures for the heart may bruise more easily, so it is important to be careful not to bump into things often.
Home remedies: Can rubbing an egg make bruises disappear faster?
One of the most common home remedies for treating bruises is rubbing them with an egg. However, it generally has little to no effect on small, shallow bruises. If a bruise is deeper and swollen, rubbing it with an egg may help spread the bruise and aid absorption, but its effectiveness is not as significant as one might expect.
Rubbing with an egg can cause the bruise to spread, which might lead to the bruise becoming larger. Therefore, while an egg might be used for small bruises, it is advisable not to use it for very large bruises.
Effective ways to make bruises disappear faster
There are generally three main ways to treat bruises a little faster.
- Warm compress: A slightly warm compress may help bruises fade a little faster.
- Bruise-reducing ointment: Using commercially available bruise-reducing ointments may also help, but it is best to expect about 20% effectiveness.
- Specialized dermatological treatment: Methods using lasers or skin care.
Specialized dermatological treatment: Lasers and skin care
Dermatology clinics offer specialized treatments for bruises.
- Laser: Especially when using a laser that breaks down red blood cells, which are the cause of bruises, rapid effects can be expected.
- Skin care: There are various skin care methods that can alleviate swelling caused by bruises and promote their removal.
If the bruise is small and shallow, it may improve with one or two treatments. However, very deep and large bruises may require several treatments or more. If you desire professional treatment, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist.
How long should you wait and observe a bruise?
Generally, small bruises usually disappear within 2 to 4 weeks, and larger bruises within about a month. However, if a bruise persists for more than a month, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist, as there may be a possibility of other conditions that resemble bruises.
In particular, after a bruise breaks down and sometimes after plastic surgery, if substances like hemosiderin are deposited after a large bruise breaks down, it may look like a bruise but is actually pigmentation. In such cases, appropriate treatment different from that for bruises is necessary, so it is important to consult a dermatologist.