Cuts and Bruising Specialist in Easley, SC

Have you sustained a cut or bruise from a recent fall or accident? Come to AFC Urgent Care, where our team of kind and caring doctors will help you get the treatment you need. Call for more information or visit our clinic today.

Cuts and bruises are a common injury that happen to everyone at some point in time. Thankfully, they are usually not serious. However, when a more serious infliction occurs, it is important to seek medical attention to ensure proper healing.

How do you know when a bruise is serious?

It can be challenging to determine the severity of your bruise, and their various levels of severity depending on how large the bruise is and where it occurred. While a less severe bruise can be treated at home with little to no medical assistance, more serious bruises may require a trip to see us at our urgent care facility.

A more painful bruise that poses the risk of an infection or a possible broken bone or deep bone bruise needs to be examined by a medical professional. If there is any doubt whatsoever about the level of severity, be sure to allow us to diagnose and treat the bruise properly by coming into our urgent care. By doing so, you can ensure that the bruise does not pose any long-term health risks that could result due to poor treatment.

Should I see a doctor if I bruise easily?

A tendency to bruise easily can cause you to worry, as your skin can reveal many clues about your health. Doctors say most cases are nothing to worry about, even though finding frequent bruises can signal health problems.

When you suffer an injury that fails to break the skin, a bruise appears. Crushed small blood vessels underneath the skin can result in a tender area. Blood begins to leak and becomes trapped, leaving the telltale, discolored mark.

Here are other possible causes of easy bruising:

• Blood thinners
• Other drugs (steroids)
• Vitamin deficiency
• Aging
• Cancer
• Liver disease
• Genetic factors

Remember to see your doctor if you have pain and swelling which could indicate a larger bleed under your skin or a bruise that lasts longer than two weeks without changing. Small spots accompanied by chills, weight loss, or fever is another way for your body to tell you it may be time to see a doctor.

How do you treat cuts and bruises?

Cuts and bruises are among some of the most common injuries. Whether you suddenly hear a sharp yell from the kitchen and you realize your child has cut him or herself with the bread knife, or whether your friend bruises an ankle while you’re out running; it will give you peace of mind knowing that you can be sharp in those situations and ready to take action.

• If the wound doesn’t stop bleeding by itself, apply pressure with a clean bandage.
• Once the bleeding has stopped, allow clean running water to run over the wound to rinse off any dirt.
• If there is still some dirt or any object such as a piece of glass, for example, stuck in the wound, remove this carefully with sterilized tweezers.
• Carefully cut off any loose skin with medical scissors.
• If some bleeding still occurs, dab the wound with a gauze pad
• Apply disinfectant or antiseptic cream
• Cover the wound with a bandage or plaster, depending on the size of the cut.
• Use your own discretion on when to change the bandage or plaster, usually at least once a day, or whenever the dressing gets wet or dirty.

Unfortunately, there’s not much to do about bruises except rest and giving it time to heal. But to make the discomfort and pain a bit more bearable here’s what to do:

• Apply ice packs(wrapped in a thin towel) to the bruised area as soon as possible as this will stop blood from flowing to the injured area.

If you have recently sustained a cut or bruise, contact AFC Urgent Care today! We have a team of professional and caring staff who have experience in treating abrasions and contusions, so you can rest assured you’re in good care! To book an appointment, call us or visit us online!