Bruising is a part of life. Bruises show up after you do things like play contact sports or bump hard into a chair or table. For some, though, they show up often without seemingly having real initial cause.

Read on to learn more about bruising from our AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga team!

What Exactly Is a Bruise?

A bruise is a common skin injury that results in a discoloration of the skin. Blood from damaged blood cells collects near the surface of the skin, resulting in what we think of as a black, blue yellow or red mark.

Small bruises and discolorations aren’t usually a cause for concern, and you can treat them quite easily. If you or a loved one has gotten a painful bruise, we’ve listed how you can make them feel better below.

How to Treat Bruises

• Cold compress. If bruising has caused pain and swelling, cold compress is step number one. Remember to put a barrier, such as a towel or cloth, between the cold object and skin. Place the compress on your skin for up to 20 minutes at a time.
• Elevation. If an arm or leg is involved, elevate the limb and apply a cold compress for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, or until the swelling is reduced.
• Over-the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen.

Why Do I Bruise Often?

Being a physically active person is explanation one. A lot of times, falling on a hiking trail or bumping into someone when playing basketball will result in a bruise, even if the initial pain isn’t that bad.

In other cases, though, certain underlying conditions may cause you to bruise or bleed more easily than normal. Some people have a low platelet count, which will contribute to more bruising and bleeding, due to the fact that fewer platelets causes slow blood clotting after injuries. If you experience the symptoms we’ve listed below, stop by our AFC center to get a CBC test to see if a low blood and platelet count is, in fact, the cause of frequent bruising.

Signs of Low Platelet Count

• You bleed excessively and even a small cut bleeds for a long time
• You have excessive bruising, including many purplish spots under the skin even when you haven’t had an injury
• You may have frequent nose bleeds

We’re open seven days a week! Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga team today.