Cold (ice pack, cold compress), elevated position of the affected limb and rest during the first day help relieve swelling after a bruise. Apply ointments with anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effects - Heparin, Lyoton gel, Bruise Off, Troxevasin.
From the second day, physical therapy can be prescribed - magnetic therapy, UHF, then they are supplemented with electrophoresis, diadynamic therapy, ultrasound. For mild bruises, you can use folk remedies - salt, semi-alcohol compress, lotions with wormwood infusion.
In the absence of complications, swelling decreases significantly by the 3rd day, and completely disappears by the end of the week. If the condition worsens and pain and swelling increase, you need to be examined by a traumatologist. A mandatory visit to the emergency room is necessary in case of injury to the head, abdomen, back or chest; a dangerous sign is the inability to move a limb, weakness, or fainting.
How to relieve swelling after a bruise and prevent its development
To relieve swelling after a bruise and prevent its formation during injury, you need to apply cold. It's best to grab an ice pack or frozen food from the freezer. They are wrapped in a towel and held for 15 minutes, then removed and after half an hour the procedure is repeated. If there is no ice, use a wet towel or a heating pad filled with cold water.
If there was a bruise to a limb, then it is provided with rest and an elevated position. If movement is necessary, an elastic bandage is applied to the affected joint; it prevents active blood flow. A tight bandage inhibits the development of edema, but it can be used for no more than half an hour, as blood circulation is impaired.
If the face, head, or upper body are injured, a high pillow is placed while resting to ensure blood flow. If the injury was in the area of the coccyx, sacrum, or lower back, then you need to lie on your side or stomach. Abrasions or wounds are washed and treated with hydrogen peroxide before applying ice. The damaged skin is smeared with iodine or brilliant green and covered with a bandage, fixed with a bandage.
Symptoms of bruise
It is not always possible to independently distinguish a bruise from a closed fracture. It is believed that with mild injury, the pain becomes less pronounced 2-3 hours after the injury. But in reality, it often happens that a fracture hardly bothers you, but a bruise causes a lot of unpleasant sensations even in the second and subsequent days.
Main symptoms of bruise:
- strong pain;
- internal or subcutaneous hemorrhage;
- edema;
- decreased mobility of the damaged area.
Bruising and swelling may appear immediately after injury or several hours later. Their severity depends on the depth of the lesion. The pain intensifies with pressure, and swelling sometimes increases for several days. Since the signs of a bruise and a fracture are similar, it is better to conduct an X-ray examination to ensure the integrity of the bones.
How to remove swelling from the face after a blow with the help of medicine
If your cheek is swollen after a blow, applying ointments that thin the blood and facilitate venous and lymphatic drainage will help relieve the swelling. They are used on the first day along with cold (in the intervals between applying ice) 3-4 times a day. Apply a thin layer to the area of swelling:
- Heparin ointment - relieves swelling and inflammatory reaction, penetrates deeply into the skin, helps resolve hemorrhage;
- Bruise Off - contains an extract from leech and pentoxifylline, which activates local blood circulation, the drug stimulates the movement of lymph, has a toning effect that masks traces of a bruise;
- Lyoton gel - heparin in the gel quickly reduces swelling, helps eliminate pain and inflammation;
- Troxevasin gel - troxerutin reduces vascular permeability, which prevents facial swelling, increases the tone of the venous walls and accelerates the outflow of blood from the site of injury;
- Reparil gel - has a pronounced analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, relieves swelling by inhibiting the transition of fluid into tissue, improves microcirculation.
For severe swelling, diuretic tablets (Furosemide, Hypothiazide) are used in the first two days, anti-inflammatory and painkillers (Diclofenac, Ibuprofen), but they are of auxiliary value. Post-traumatic edema is associated with tissue damage and goes away only after tissue recovery.
If the integrity of the skin is compromised, it is recommended to apply Rescue or Ambulance balm; if there is a risk of suppuration, use Levomekol ointment.
Results and discussion
The average age of the patients was 44.7 years. The ratio of men to women was 1:1.
As can be seen in Figure 1, with bruises of the upper limb, ketoprofen tablets began to show its activity already at the 10th minute, with bruises of the lower limb - somewhat later, at the 20th minute. The use of the injection form (Fig. 2) provided a pronounced analgesic effect already at the 5th minute. Both tablet and injection forms of ketoprofen demonstrated an advantage over diclofenac. By 3–4 days, in all cases it was possible to achieve complete pain relief. The duration of the analgesic effect of the drugs was not studied due to the large psycho-emotional component and the small sample of patients. A peculiarity of the assessment of pain syndrome at the initial visit was that patients with a shoulder injury rated pain 2–3 points higher than patients with a hip injury (6–8 points).
I would like to note that, despite the effectiveness of the injection form of the drug, the tablet form remained the form of choice for patients with arm injuries, according to the survey. In patients with leg injuries, the injection form was preferred. Here we have to state a paradox: with a more severe pain syndrome due to a bruise of the upper limb, a more effective injection form is used much less frequently than in patients with damage to the lower limb.
Physiotherapy
Magnetotherapy
Physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed from 2-3 days to speed up blood circulation, resolve bruises and swelling. They help heal damaged tissues and reduce residual effects after a bruise. Apply:
- magnetic therapy - treatment with an alternating magnetic field reduces pain and swelling, improves tissue nutrition and blood flow, can be used on damaged skin starting from the second day;
- UHF - ultra-high-frequency waves have a deep warming and absorbing effect, indicated in the presence of seals;
- electrophoresis of drugs (Heparin, Iodine, Lidaza) helps quickly relieve swelling and eliminate skin hemorrhages, prevents post-traumatic inflammation;
- diadynamic therapy using a gentle method - currents with different wave amplitudes have a massaging effect and activate blood flow;
- ultrasound – ultrasonic waves stimulate blood movement, accelerate the restoration of damaged tissues, can be used with ointments (phonophoresis).
After relieving pain and inflammation, manual massage is used to improve the movement of blood and lymph. It is carried out not at the site of injury, but along the path of venous blood and lymphatic fluid. For example, for swelling of the face, the cervical-collar area is massaged. In case of traumatic brain injury, massage is contraindicated for the first month.
The process of formation of a bruise under the eye
Darkening of the tissues with characteristic swelling under the eye does not cause any particular inconvenience. Often the only reason a person wants to get rid of it is the aesthetic component.
Purple discoloration of the skin and swelling in the damaged area occur for two reasons. Firstly, due to the characteristics of the skin, as well as adipose tissue, which accumulates fluid and also forms bags around the eyes. They appear with age, due to a decrease in tissue elasticity, but are also found in young people. Stress, lack of sleep, long hours of working at the computer, and alcohol consumption affect the formation of such bruises. Masks, patches, and biorevitalization will help eliminate them.
In the worst case, kidney and heart diseases become the source of cosmetic defects.
Another reason is due to the complete or partial rupture of the smallest vessels upon impact. Flowing from the capillaries, the blood concentrates in the soft tissues. When the liquid has not yet coagulated, the area becomes red and then acquires a bluish tint. The process is accompanied by pain when pressing on the burgundy-violet center. It is the elimination of the hematoma that will be discussed in the article.
What to do and how to remove it from folk remedies
To relieve swelling and get rid of bruises, from the second day use:
- salt compress - take a teaspoon of salt with 200 ml of water, soak a white cotton cloth and apply to the bruise for an hour;
- semi-alcohol or vodka lotions - half-diluted alcohol or vodka is used for half-hour compresses, you can also take tincture of calendula or mint and mix with water in a ratio of 1:4;
- herbal decoctions (a tablespoon per glass of boiling water, keep on low heat for 20 minutes, strain): wormwood leaves, dried grass, comfrey root, fireweed, plantain leaf, sage, soak gauze with them and apply to the site of the bruise for an hour;
- cottage cheese - grind to a homogeneous consistency and spread on gauze in a layer of 2 cm, cover the top with a cloth and place in the freezer for 10 minutes, keep for 15-20 minutes on the damaged area;
- cabbage leaf - beat with a hammer until juice appears and apply to injured skin for 4-6 hours.
Bodyaga helps to reduce hemorrhage and eliminate bruises after a bruise; it is mixed with water and the paste is applied to the injury area. Most external products are used only on intact skin. If there is a wound or abrasion, aloe and Kalanchoe juice, which have a wound-healing effect, are needed in the first days.
Primary treatment
A bruise can be diagnosed by external signs even before seeing a doctor. To eliminate pain and discomfort, it is recommended to perform the following measures:
- apply a tight bandage;
- Apply a cold compress to the bruised area.
For quick and painless treatment, the face must be at rest. It is better to avoid warming compresses, as they can lead to the development of inflammatory processes.
The consequences of bruises can be such conditions as fractures, fractures, dislocations of the hard tissues of the jaw and even a concussion. Treatment differs depending on each case, so you should not self-medicate. It is also worth noting that most injuries have similar symptoms, so they are easy to confuse. Only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis. If you cannot go to the hospital yourself, it is recommended to call emergency medical help.
Medical care for jaw injuries
There is no specific treatment plan in such cases. But there is a list of general recommendations. Visits to the doctor are usually limited to one visit to evaluate the x-ray or CT scan.
If the patient escaped with an ordinary bruise, then treatment will be carried out at home. The patient will be given a bandage to hold the bones in the correct position. As mentioned above, you need to apply cold compresses. Ice, snow, and sterile gauze moistened with cold water are suitable for these purposes. Warming the affected area is contraindicated to avoid inflammation and worsening the clinical condition.
To eliminate pain, taking analgesics is allowed. Following simple rules will allow you to quickly get rid of the consequences of a bruise and return to your normal life.
Likely consequences
Any injury with negligence and non-compliance with medical recommendations can lead to all sorts of complications. If we talk about a bruise of the jaw, then it can develop into a post-traumatic form of periostitis, myositis or deformation of bone tissue. Any complications will require lengthy and likely expensive treatment. Injury to the masticatory muscles can cause limited mobility of the lower jaw, complicate chewing and swallowing, which directly affects the state of the gastrointestinal tract and metabolic functions of the body.
How long does it take for a tumor to go away after an impact?
The swelling after an impact, in the absence of complications, goes away within 3-7 days, depending on the location and severity of the injury. A sign of a normal recovery period is a gradual decrease in pain, swelling, and the ability to move the affected part of the body.
When complications arise or there is a fracture, swelling and pain increase all the time, mobility is absent due to unbearable pain, the area of injury turns red and becomes hot to the touch. If the victim’s condition begins to worsen the next day, then this is a reason to immediately call a doctor.
Why does a blow cause swelling of the face?
The formation of swelling on the face usually occurs due to sudden bruising of facial tissues. This process is explained by the fact that at the impact site:
- The skin is injured.
- Small blood vessels are damaged.
- Liquid accumulates.
The time of swelling depends on the intensity of the blow to the face.
In this case, swelling occurs much earlier. Considering this factor, stagnation of blood may appear, which will look like a bruise.
Why does swelling persist for a long time after a bruise?
If after a bruise the swelling does not go away for a long time (more than 5 days), then there is a risk of suppuration, extensive or deep tissue damage. Recovery is also slower in cases of weak blood circulation in elderly patients with vascular diseases or venous insufficiency (for example, varicose veins of the lower extremities).
It is impossible to independently determine the cause of swelling and prolonged stagnation of blood, difficulty moving, therefore, such symptoms require examination by a surgeon or traumatologist, radiography and other diagnostic methods.
How quickly can you get rid of bruises?
So, if you don’t have as much time as it takes for a black eye to go away on its own, you can use some secrets to eliminate the hematoma as quickly as possible. Here is a list of the most effective ones, starting from those from which the effect occurs as quickly as possible:
- Cosmetic disguise. Of course, makeup does not remove painful sensations when touched, but modern products, when applied correctly, will help remove blue discoloration and even “hide” puffiness;
- Applying ice. If you use any cold object in the first minutes after the blow is struck, the appearance of a bruise can even be completely avoided. In any case, holding in the damaged area will take at least 20 minutes to achieve the desired effect. If necessary, the manipulation can be repeated after 3-5 minutes. The product should be applied not to the lower eyelid, but to the cheek in the area of the bruise.
- Medicines: ointments, gels. It is recommended to start using them no earlier than 2 days after the incident and only if there are no abrasions or open wounds on the skin. 5-7 days after use, the hematoma significantly decreases in size and goes away.
- Traditional methods. They don’t help everyone and not right away, but it’s worth a try. Compresses made from medicinal herbs should not be applied to scratches, so as not to provoke an unpleasant burning sensation or renewed bleeding from the wound. This method will bear fruit after a week of stable use.
When to see a doctor
You need to visit the emergency room in all cases of injury to the head, chest, back, or abdomen. They can have serious consequences in the future, and it is difficult to assess the condition of the victim in the first hours. Often a person feels satisfactory due to the pain-relieving effect of the release of stress hormones, even with severe injury.
Warning signs requiring emergency medical attention include:
- severe weakness;
- pale skin and cold sweat;
- drop in blood pressure (below 100 mm Hg for systolic, that is, the upper level);
- weak (thready) pulse;
- nausea and headache, dizziness, lethargy, stunned state;
- difficulty taking a deep breath, lack of air;
- interruptions in heart rhythm;
- fainting;
- inability to move due to weakness of the legs and arms;
- coughing up blood.
Extensive swelling with severe pain and difficulty supporting the limb often occurs with a fracture or dislocation, or torn ligaments. They require mandatory x-rays and sometimes require fixation with a plaster cast. Such injuries cannot be cured with external remedies and pills.
You can relieve swelling after a bruise in the first day with cold and ointments that facilitate the outflow of blood. In the future, physiotherapy is used, and for minor injuries, folk remedies are used. Prolonged pain and swelling are signs of serious injury or complications.
What complications can there be?
When first aid was not provided on time, after the blow some complications may remain, which will be extremely difficult to get rid of:
- If you hit the nose, blood clots may remain in that place, which look like small seals . They often become inflamed, causing a person to develop a fever. In this case, you should immediately visit a doctor, given that the injured skin may become infected.
- When the seals do not resolve, then there is a risk of a cancerous tumor . To prevent this, it is necessary to use both pharmacy and folk remedies.
- Sometimes swelling can signal a fracture . An x-ray should be taken just in case.
Concealing bruises
The technology for visually hiding a hematoma on the face is the same for both a painful injury and a cosmetic defect that prevents you from being beautiful in the morning. If there is a risk of failing an interview, an important meeting or a festive event, because a black eye received the day before takes a long time to disappear, special makeup will help you.
The video will tell you how to remove a five-day-old hematoma from the area between the eyebrows and eyelid:
No less problematic is the elimination of the consequences of damage to the bridge of the nose, a severe head injury, as well as an illness that is not associated with physical damage, but affects the functioning of the entire body, which is why bags and dark circles appear under the eyes. A combination of the right eyeshadow color will help remove them.
In the video you will find tips on grouping cosmetics to hide morning dark circles under the eyes:
