Do you have an unexplained bruise? A bruise in an unlikely place? A bruise that seems to be getting worse rather than better? Here’s what might be going on – and what you should do about it
Bruises are most common at either end of life: in childhood because bumping into things is part of the rough-and-tumble of learning about the world; in old age because it becomes less avoidable. But for a few of us, bruises are a regular occurrence, perhaps because of diet, illness or a vigorous five-a-side schedule. But when do they go from inconvenience to alarm bell? And is there anything you can do to make yourself a bit less … peach-like?
To get the basics out of the way, a bruise is what happens when blood vessels get damaged, allowing blood to leak into the tissues under the skin. You can typically get an idea of how old (and close to healing) a bruise is by the colour: bruises are often red when they first appear, but within a day or two, the heme that gives blood its signature colour will break down, and the bruise will look bluish-purple or even black. Later, as that heme is metabolised into different compounds, the bruise will eventually turn green, then yellow or light brown, especially on lighter skin. The body is entirely capable of taking care of these sorts of bruises on its own.
About Author
More Stories
How I beat overwhelm: Tracking my heart rate left me feeling like a frustrated failure
This is how we do it: ‘I struggle to fully enjoy sex because I’m so conscious of what I look like’
The year in stuff – from chicken wine to cucumbers and mini mullets