While there is no quick fix for getting rid of a bruise, there are several things you can do to speed up the recovery process. If handled properly, a bad bruise can go away in a matter of days by diligently following the techniques outlined in this article. Read on to find out how you can use home remedies and medical creams to reduce the appearance of the bruise.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Dealing with the damage
Step 1. Cool the bruise
Put ice for about 15 minutes every few hours for the first few days. Ice reduces inflammation and swelling and helps the bruise heal quickly.
Step 2. Apply a warm compress after the second day
After reducing the inflammation with ice, you can apply a warm (not hot) compress directly to the bruise.
Step 3. Keep the bruise lifted
If the bruise is in an area that you can lift such as a limb, be sure to raise it above the heart to reduce blood flow. This reduces swelling and prevents blood from flowing more into the bruise area, reducing the redness. Lifting the area works best if done right after the bruise.
Step 4. Don't engage in heavy physical activity
For the first few days after getting a bad bruise, avoid heavy training; causes more blood to flow throughout the body. The more blood that flows on the bruise, the more the situation will tend to get worse.
Step 5. Massage the bruised area gently
Use your thumb to gently massage around the outer edge of the bruise. Don't press too hard or massage the center of the bruise, as it can be painful. Make sure you make a small circular motion. This activates the lymphatic process and the body begins to get rid of the bruise naturally.
Step 6. Expose the bruise to sunlight
If you can keep the bruise in direct sunlight for 10 - 15 minutes a day, the UV radiation will begin to reduce the bilirubin, which is what makes it yellow. Being in sunlight helps speed up the healing process and allows the bruise to disappear quickly.
Part 2 of 3: Home Remedies
Step 1. Rub vinegar and water on the bruise
Mix the vinegar with warm water and rub it on the injured area. Vinegar increases the flow of blood to the surface of the skin, promoting its healing.
Step 2. Eat pineapple or papaya
Pineapple and papaya contain a digestive enzyme called bromelain that breaks down proteins that can trap blood and fluids in tissues. Eating a lot of pineapple absorbs the bromelain and helps the body dissolve the bruise.
Step 3. Apply and take vitamin C
Use both methods to get enough vitamin C and quickly heal your bruise.
- First of all, make sure you're getting enough vitamin C from consuming foods like oranges, mangoes, broccoli, peppers, and sweet potatoes. You can also supplement with a vitamin C supplement to ensure your daily amount.
- Break a vitamin C pill and mix it with some water to make a paste. Rub directly on the affected area and let it dry before gently removing it with water.
Step 4. Ingest cranberry extract
Contains anthocyanosides, powerful antioxidants that can reduce the appearance of a bruise by stabilizing collagen and strengthening capillaries. You can find blueberry extract pills at health food stores.
Step 5. Crush the parsley and rub it directly on the bruise
Parsley contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help a bruise disappear quickly.
Step 6. Eat fresh ginger
Just like parsley, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and is a valuable support for the immune system. Chop the ginger and leave it in hot water for a couple of minutes before drinking. You can also take ginger capsules or crush it finely and rub it directly on the bruise.
Step 7. Make a mix of cayenne pepper and petroleum jelly
Rub the mixture into the bruised area and let it sit for several hours. Simply wipe with a tissue when needed. Apply once a day until the bruise disappears.
Step 8. Make a paste of comfrey root
Grind the root with a little water to make a paste or dip a cotton ball in comfrey root tea. Apply the paste or cotton ball to the affected area once a day until the bruise disappears.
Step 9. Dip the bruise in witch hazel oil
This medicinal plant can speed up the healing process and is suitable for reducing inflammation. Apply the oil and let it sit on the affected area for several hours. Repeat at least once a day until the bruise disappears.
Step 10. Use oral bromelain supplements to speed healing
Take 200-400 mg lozenges of bromelain, an enzyme derived from pineapple, up to three times a day to speed up healing and help the body get rid of the hematoma after trauma.
Some supplements should instead be avoided to avoid making the situation worse. Fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, garlic, vitamin E, ginko biloba can all make bruising worse. Avoid taking them until you are well
Step 11. Peel a banana
Use the inside of the peel to massage it into the bruise. Go ahead and eat the fruit (just because it's good).
Part 3 of 3: Medicines or Creams
Step 1. Take some acetaminophen or ibuprofen, but not aspirin
Some pain relievers are anti-inflammatory and can help reduce pain and swelling. However, avoid aspirin; being also an anti-coagulant, it makes the blood thin, making the bruise worse.
Step 2. Apply arnica ointment or gel daily
Arnica is a herb that reduces inflammation and can help reduce bruising quickly. It is available in cream or gel form in pharmacies or parapharmacies without a prescription. Put a layer on the affected area twice a day until the bruise disappears.
Step 3. Try applying Vitamin K8 topically immediately after the injury
One dose is enough as a dime. It should help prevent the bruise from forming or at least getting too dark.
Step 4. Use a leech to suck out the bruise
If you feel like it, look for a holistic medicine store that sells live leeches, and put it directly on the bruise. It will immediately suck the blood from the top layer of the bruise. Since the leech's saliva is somewhat numbing, you won't feel any discomfort during this process.
