Bruising happens so frequently and is such a common mishap, you usually don’t have to see your dermatologist. You should, however, call your Manhattan dermatologist if you experience: swelling, no noticeable improvements after two weeks, tissue under the bruise becomes hardened, joints become stiff, bruising more often than usual, bruising when you have a blood clotting disorder, bruises appearing for no apparent reason. Make your appointment today. Come see the Midtown or Upper East Side Dermatology NYC clinic and meet a leading Manhattan dermatologist Dr. Susan Bard.
Bruises
Bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs.Bruises are one of the most common skin conditions in the world. Most everyone experiences bruising during their lifetimes, and you may see bruises quite regularly, from young childhood into old age. Bruises are visible signs of trauma to your skin. They are caused by blood trapped underneath your skin. A bruise happens when small blood vessels become crushed, but the injury isn’t bad enough to break the skin. Instead, the tiny vessels pop open and spill inside your body, under the skin. Bruises also referred to as contusions or by the medical term ecchymosis can occur on your bones, muscles or skin. Your New York dermatologist treats those bruises that are most apparent on the skin.Signs and Symptoms
Bone bruises are the most painful, but skin bruises can cause swelling and pain, especially when touched. Most skin bruises last only about two weeks, although they can last for months. Bruises typically:- Begin as a red-colored splotch
- Then turn a purple-blue color
- Finally change into a greenish-yellow hue
- After this progression, your skin returns to its normal color
- If you have certain medical conditions
- Whether you’re taking blood thinners
- How tough your skin is
- How old you are, because as you age, your blood vessels become much more fragile
Steps to Healing
You can take steps right after an incident to help your bruises heal faster:- Apply ice to the area to slow down the rate of blood flow.
- Elevate the injured part of your body above your heart to reduce blood pooling.
- Swelling that’s unusually painful
- No noticeable improvements after two weeks
- The tissue under the bruise becomes hardened
- Your joints become stiff
- You’re concerned that you may have broken a bone
- Vison problems for bruises that occur near your eye
- You seem to be bruising more often than usual
- Bruising when you have a blood clotting disorder
- Bruises appearing for no apparent reason
Hand and Arm Bruising
It’s common to get bruises on the backs of your hands and on your arms. Your NYC dermatologist sees this kind of bruising on a regular basis, especially as you age. Called solar purpura, actinic purpura or Bateman’s purpura, these vary from normal bruises that happen after you’ve been hit, bumped into something or dropped a heavy object on your hands. Actinic purpura bruises seem to pop up for no reason whatsoever. They don’t hurt either, but just seem to go through the colorful stages, and last longer than two weeks. This kind of bruising is the result of weakened blood vessels. Additionally, the skin usually is damaged from years of sun exposure, which is why the condition is more common among the elderly. The skin typically is thin and papery. Other contributors to actinic purpura include:- Taking oral or inhaled steroids
- Using blood thinners such as Coumadin or aspirin
- Excessive use of alcohol
Bruising from Cosmetic Procedures
It’s not uncommon to develop bruising when you visit your Manhattan dermatologist for cosmetic procedures, such as derma fillers or Botox. You may be especially at risk for bruising if you fall into one the categories above, yet enjoy the results you get from cosmetic procedures. Tell your skin doctor about any history you have with bruising so that he can take extra precautions.In The Press
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