There are three types of bruises: subcutaneous (beneath the skin), intramuscular (in the underlying muscle), and periosteal (bone bruise). The main symptoms are pain, swelling, and skin discoloration.

A bruise is often beginning with swelling and tenderness, bruises often pass through stages of red to blue and purple fading to medium brown, gray and yellow. Initially bruises and related injuries can be painful resulting from damaged nerves or pressure placed on nerves though seeping blood and bleeding.

Causes of Bruises

Bruises are caused by trauma to blood veins in the dermal layers. Deeper bruises - “deep tissue bruises” - can be more serious and a symptom of muscle damage and potentially damage to organs. In these cases, you need to seek immediate medical attention.

When an injury happens, blood leaking into tissue surrounding the injury give skin a darkened and discolored appearance - often appearing red, blue and purple. Bruises naturally fade with time provided there is no underlying unrepaired damage. Minor or common bruises often heal and clear within 5 to 15 days depending on severity.

Though bruises may occur all over your body, many injuries are concentrated from ankle or wrist sprains and to the legs where bumping, hitting a desk, chair, coffee table or a wall are common. As tissue and muscles become weak and thin as we age, some people get bruise easier the others.
Every diabetic has the risk of obtaining a bruise or a slow healing cut.

Treatment of Bruises

• Minor Injuries: on wrists, arms, ankles and legs. Using products containing concentrations of Vitamin K, Emu Oil, Aloe Vera and various botanical or herbal extracts. You can leave bruises for 10 -15 days, they will be fade over time.
• Herbal Treatments: may be helpful if applied to the bruise. Herbs, and other healing foods, used externally include: agrimony, banana skins, bay, birch, cabbage, caraway, celery seed, chamomile, cinnamon, fenugreek, lavender, lemon balm, mullein, oak bark, onion, oregano, parsley, potato, radish, slippery elm, thyme, turmeric, and turnip.
• Egg Remedy: Boil eggs then peel off egg shell, applied warm egg on affected area at lease 3-4 time a day. This remedy will help to heal from minor bruises within 5- 7 days.
• Cold compress: Apply a cold compress on the bruise, immediately after the bruise took place. This will help quicken the healing process and this way you can get rid of bruises a lot faster.