Bruises are generally caused by hitting a hard object. PFirst aid for bruises that can be done among others is to give a cold compress andrest the bruised body part, as well as taking pain relievers painful if needed.
Bruises occur when tiny blood vessels under the skin are damaged or ruptured, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding tissue and clot. This causes the skin to appear bluish, red, purple, or black, with swelling and pain.
In addition to the impact of an injury or accident, a bruise can be caused by too much exercise, or even for no apparent reason. Bruising that occurs for no apparent reason and is accompanied by bleeding gums or nosebleeds can indicate a bleeding disorder.
Penajustan First Bruises
Bruises caused by minor injuries usually go away in 2-4 weeks. To speed up healing, there are some first aid bruises that can be done at home, namely:
1. Rest
Rest the injured body part. Reduce or stop activities that involve the injured limb until the injury heals. This is useful so that the swelling and pain in the bruise does not get worse.
2. Ice compress
Cold compresses can be given to bruises that have just occurred, as first aid. The trick, wrap some ice cubes with a cloth or towel to compress the bruises. Do a cold compress for 15-20 minutes. Wait about 20 minutes, if the swelling and pain has not subsided, repeat the cold compress.
The purpose of giving this cold compress is to constrict the injured blood vessels so that the bruises do not expand, and to reduce swelling and pain.
3. Splinting
Wrap the bruised body part with an elastic bandage, but not too tight. The goal is to prevent bruising from getting worse and reduce pain.
4. Elevate the bruised body part
As much as possible, position the body part that is bruised (such as a hand or leg) so that it is higher than the chest. You can do this by using a pillow to prop up the injured body part.
This helps reduce blood flow to the injured area, which helps reduce swelling and prevents bruising from spreading.
5. Painkillers
To reduce pain, you can take pain relievers, such as paracetamol. Medications to reduce pain should be used if other methods have not worked, or if the bruise is accompanied by large swelling.
6. Warm compress
Warm compresses on bruises should be applied two days after cold compresses. The trick, use a warm towel to compress the body part that has bruises, for about 10 minutes.
This is done to increase blood flow, so the blood clot can be absorbed more quickly and the bruise color will slowly fade.
The first treatment for a bruise is most effective if it is done as soon as the bruise appears, except for a warm compress, which must be given after 2 days.
Generally, bruises due to impact heal on their own, but first aid for bruises can speed up the healing process.
Consult a doctor immediately if the bruise is accompanied by severe pain and severe swelling, or if the bruise does not improve after more than 2-3 weeks.