Bruises

Bruises

It seems only fitting that we're welcomed to this world with a rousing smack on the butt. After all, what better way to prepare us for the next 75 years or so of stumbling, tumbling and fumbling our way through life--running smack into table ends, bedposts and doorknobs?

But as often as we encounter "objects in the way," our battered bodies never quite get used to it. So we all have to deal with the discoloration and pain of bruises.

What can we do about it? Naturally, it's helpful to stop bumping into things. But when we just can't help it:

Reach for the frozen goods. Icing an injury is the best way to stop a bruise in its tracks--as long as the ice is applied within 24 hours of an injury, and the sooner, the better, says Hugh Macaulay, M.D., emergency room physician at Aspen Valley Hospital in Aspen, Colorado. The cold constricts blood vessels, so less blood spills into the tissues around the injury. That reduces inflammation and pain and makes it less likely that you will develop a blackish blotch.

Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel for about 15 minutes, then allow the skin to "warm" naturally for about 10 minutes before you put on the ice pack again. You can repeat the ice-pack application four or five times the first day. (If you don't have a conventional ice bag, ice cubes in a washcloth or a bag of frozen vegetables will do fine.)

Wrap and elevate. "Use an elastic bandage, and elevate the bruised limb to help drain blood from that area," says Las Vegas orthopedic surgeon Michael Rask, M.D., chairman of the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopedic Surgeons and the American Board of Ringside Medicine and Surgery. Since blood is affected by gravity, propping up your foot or arm will help your bruise heal faster.

Heat what's hurt. The day after applying ice packs, switch to heat to dilate blood vessels and improve circulation, says Sheldon V. Pollack, M.D., a dermatologist and associate professor on the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. A heating pad or a warm, wet washcloth will help.

Eat more broccoli. "If you're prone to bruising, it's a good idea to eat more foods rich in vitamin C," says Dr. Rask. Foods high in vitamin C may help prevent bruises and heal them faster. Studies show that vitamin C helps build collagen tissues (that is, skin tissue) around blood vessels in the skin. Besides broccoli, foods high in vitamin C include sweet potatoes, cauliflower and citrus fruits. "You can also take vitamin C in supplement form, but don't exceed 2,000 milligrams a day," says Dr. Rask, and only for the duration of the injury. High doses of vitamin C are not recommended for long-term use without medical supervision.

Comfort with comfrey. Some people say that bruises heal faster if you place heated pieces of crushed comfrey directly on the bruise. Make a poultice by placing the comfrey leaves in hot water, then spreading them on a warm, moist washcloth. Press the poultice to the bruise. But don't ingest this easy-to-grow herb (also available at many health food stores), because it can be dangerous when taken internally. Don't place it on open wounds, either, says Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.