SELF-HELP PREVENTION: ABOUT BRUISING

Bruising is a collection of blood and blood breakdown products in the skin or other superficial parts of the body.

What causes it?

• Trauma to the area.

• Certain rare blood or blood-vessel diseases.

• Leukemia in children.

• Cushing’s disease (over-activity of the adrenal glands).

• Certain drugs.

Prevention

The only one of these abnormalities that can be prevented without medical help is the first. Anyone who bruises easily should see a doctor to have the other conditions ruled out. It is almost impossible to prevent all knocks and bumps in life but for those (children especially) who are liable to very easy bruising some of the hints under the prevention of accidents could be helpful. Here are a few tips to help prevent bruises from becoming worse than they otherwise would be.

• Arnica-the homoeopathic remedy-if dabbed on the area immediately after a knock will prevent the bruise coming out at all or reduce its severity. Arnica should only be used on closed skin (i.e. not if there is a wound).

• Ice constricts the tiny capillaries in the skin and prevents blood from leaking out to cause a bigger bruise. For immediate first aid put an unopened pack of frozen vegetables (peas are ideal) straight from the freezer on to the area.

• Pancreatic and pineapple enzymes help reduce bruising. Bromeleins-the active ingredient in pineapple-help reduce pain and swelling.

• Vitamin Ñ and bioflavonoids might also help, according to a study in New York. These help to strengthen capillaries in people who are prone to easy bruising.

This is particularly likely to be of value in the elderly, who tend to be short of these vitamins.

Keep off drugs that are known to thin the blood. Aspirin is the best known and most widely used but anti-histamines, anti-inflammatories and diuretics can all contribute to easy bleeding.

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