Submitted by DwagonFyre t3_xxadwj in askscience
pc_flying t1_irbl7p0 wrote
Reply to comment by GrifterDingo in What happens when a bruise heals? by DwagonFyre
No
On the contrary, it's likely to cause more damage, rupture blood vessels, and increase healing time
DRAGONMASTER- t1_irbrrr3 wrote
What's the best practice then? Maybe neosporin and otherwise don't touch it? Soaking it in a bath helpful at all? Does intentionally reducing inflammation (e.g., by ibuprofin or a topical steroid) potentially hurt the process?
fullcolorkitten t1_irbsr7r wrote
Neosporin wouldn't help. A bath may increase good blood flow but probably won't improve on the bruise healing to a noticeable degree. Ibuprofen can make blood thinner and increase bleeding so would be counterproductive at least right away. I don't know what if any benefit steroids would have.
Bruising often accompanies injury or trauma - some treatments may decrease pain and swelling making the area look better but not necessarily healing the bruising faster.
conspiracydawg t1_ircy8ux wrote
What WOULD help it heal faster?
RicketyHandjob t1_iref1wj wrote
Eating a well-balanced diet. Assuming you're otherwise healthy, nutrient deficiencies prolong wound healing.
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pc_flying t1_irchng8 wrote
Neosporin is an antibiotic, used to prevent or treat minor infections. If the bruised area included broken skin (a cut, scrape, puncture, or burn that compromised the barrier the skin provides) then applying neosporin or another topical antibiotic could be beneficial
There is no reason to apply an antibiotic to a plain bruise
National Domestic Violence Hotline website as this line of inquiry is potentially concerning
notbad2u t1_irbtxio wrote
If your body is otherwise healthy then you should just let it do its thing. If you're not otherwise healthy then the list of possible answers varies (into opposites) depending on what else is wrong. Example: (as I understand it) a warm bath should dilate blood vessels in the skin. A cold bath will contract surface vessels and dilate deeper ones. Hot and cold aren't the only things that will dilate/contract blood vessels though -- a bruise for instance...
A bruise is a result of damaged cells. There will be cleanup and rebuilding going on. Conscious Interference is unlikely to help unless you know exactly what to do, but in that case you probably also knew what to do to build a strong healing response so just relaxing would be your best bet.
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jono444 t1_irbt6ju wrote
Anything that increases blood flow (hot baths, exercise, sunlight,etc) will increase the inflammation response. This is why fevers are a thing and generally why being static and immobile causes wounds to take forever to heal
Wtrset t1_irc2y43 wrote
I've read studies about using leeches to help "clean up" bruises more quickly. Of course you then have the bite mark to contend with...
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