Is It Normal For A Bruise To Spread?

Bruising tends to look worse than it is, and its appearance changes over time. Bruises are part of your body’s natural response to injury and healing process. Let’s look at the normal course of bruising after laser vein treatment, so you can watch for anything out of the ordinary and get proper care.

What Is Vein Bruising?

A vein bruise isn’t really different from a regular bruise. All bruises involve blood vessels (capillaries and veins) leaking blood under the skin. In a sense, all bruises could be called vein or capillary bruises. The colors you see in bruises are caused by the visible bleeding (trapped blood) beneath your skin, in response to a bump/pressure from an outside object, or from skin penetration or trauma. Over time, the trapped blood (now outside your veins but under the skin) pools, and then firms or clots. The bruise remains until the bleeding stops–and until the body clears away all the clotted/leaked blood.

Why Bruises Change

As the body heals, bruises change color, shape, and size. These changes occur as the blood’s hemoglobin loses oxygen, and is broken down by your body. Bruising can take weeks to fade away, and the amount of time is different for each person. Bruised areas can swell and get worse in the first few days. After that, all symptoms should gradually diminish. If you have severe or increasing pain and swelling, fever, call your doctor for advice (and treatment if needed). Firmness (a lump in the bruised area) could be normal, or maybe a hematoma (serious bruise), which could go away on its own, or may require your doctor’s care.  

How to Prevent or Heal Bruises

• Realize that some people bruise more easily than others, and stay bruised longer. This could be due to genetics, age, underlying illness or other causes.
• Press on the injured area to help keep bruising to a minimum, by preventing some of the blood leakages out of your vessels. (That’s partly why you’ll wear compression socks after Cincinnati vein treatments.)
• Apply ice. This can slow down the rate of bleeding under the skin and help with pain/inflammation. 
• Put your feet up.  Raise the injured area above your heart to limit bleeding and swelling. 
• Try arnica and/or bromelain, only after checking with your doctor. In pills or creams, these are said to (but not proven to) reduce bruising and swelling. Bromelain is also found in pineapple juice.
• Follow the doctor’s instructions. The quicker your body heals, the quicker the bruise and other symptoms fade away.

Visit Your Nearby Cincinnati Vein Treatment Clinic

As bruising subsides, your legs will look (and feel) better each day, and you’ll have final results after a few weeks. Check out our Before & After photos. Recovery is typically problem free, but you can call your vein doctor anytime if you have concerns after your procedure. Find out which vein treatment is right for you at VIA Vein Center. Contact Vascular and Interventional Associates today.