Reasons for appearance
A hematoma, or bruise, is an accumulation of blood resulting from damage to blood vessels. It can be visually noticed by a local change in the color of the skin. Most often, bruises on the face and body appear as a result of injuries, bruises and other mechanical damage. Hematomas often form during dental treatment. They can also be caused by traumatic injuries to the oral cavity.
A significant reason to pay attention to your own health is a hematoma on the face that has formed for no apparent reason. In this case, the bruise may be a symptom of vascular disease or other pathological conditions. Hematomas on the face can form due to nutritional deficiency and long-term use of certain medications.
Causes and symptoms of bruises
The main causes of facial bruises: a fall from a height, a blow from a hard object, compression of facial tissue during road accidents or natural disasters.
The first sign of a facial injury is pain. This is a signal of damage or irritation of nerve fibers. The intensity of pain depends on the severity of the injury and the location of the affected area.
The most lasting pain occurs when the nerve trunks of the face are damaged. In this case, the injured person experiences sharp, burning and shooting pain. It intensifies with any movement of the facial muscles.
After exposure to a traumatic agent, the skin acquires a bright red tint. This is how the blood entering the interstitial space shines through the skin. Gradually its concentration increases, and the affected area changes color to blue-purple.
Gradually, the breakdown of hemoglobin begins in the hematoma. After 3-4 days, a breakdown product of blood cells, hemosiderin, is formed, which causes a green color, and on days 5-6 hematoidin, which is yellow in color.
This alternating change in the color of the hematoma is popularly called “blooming bruise.” In the absence of complications, the hematoma completely resolves within 14-16 days.
Reasons to immediately consult a doctor are the appearance of clear fluid from the ear, cyanosis (blue discoloration) of the area around the eyes, convulsions, loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting. These are signs of a serious traumatic brain injury, requiring a detailed examination of the body and certain treatment tactics.
Main symptoms
The hematoma develops in several stages. With traumatic injuries, the first symptoms are pain and noticeable swelling. The skin tone in the affected area gradually changes. The bruise may be blue, cyanotic or purple in color. As the hematoma resolves, it again changes its color to yellowish and then disappears without a trace.
With serious bruises, the functions of the facial muscles may be impaired. In rare cases, a hematoma on the face may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature. Small and painless bruises can be treated independently at home. However, if the hematoma is extensive, appears after a serious injury, or for no reason, you should consult a doctor.
First aid for facial bruises
The size and color of the future bruise directly depend on what measures were taken immediately after the injury. It is necessary to begin treatment of a hematoma on the face with the use of a cooling compress. Use ice or any cold object. Be sure to wrap it in a clean cloth. A cold compress should be applied immediately after injury and should be kept in place for no more than 30 minutes. The effectiveness of this effect is explained simply: under the influence of cold, blood vessels narrow, thereby avoiding extensive subcutaneous hemorrhage.
If the hematoma on the face is large enough and painful, the use of medicinal painkillers is allowed. For injuries that result in bruising in combination with violations of the integrity of the skin, it is necessary to use antiseptics to wash abrasions and scratches.
Treatment of hematomas on the face with medications
Today in any pharmacy you can find a wide range of products for healing bruises. The most popular ointments and gels among them are: “Indovazin”, “Rescuer”, “Badyaga”, “Ambulance”, “Troxevasin”, “Bruise-off”. They need to be applied directly to the affected area of the skin. “Troxevasin” contains troxerutin, a substance with anti-inflammatory properties, it excellently relieves swelling and restores capillaries. Gel "Indovazin" is another product that contains troxerutin, as well as indomethacin. This drug relieves pain, swelling and redness. There are restrictions on use: the product is not recommended for use during pregnancy and under the age of 14 years.
“Sinyak-off” is a drug based on leech extract, pentoxifylline and ethoxydiglycol. With timely use, this ointment can significantly speed up the process of hematoma resorption. When choosing a cream or gel to heal a bruise on the face, you must carefully study the instructions for use. Most medicines of this type are made from natural ingredients and are safe to use. But still, some of them have contraindications and limitations in use. If an allergic reaction occurs, further use of the selected drug should be discontinued.
Treatment complex
To treat bruises, external medications, light massage and heat therapy are used. During this period, avoid the use of alcohol, which dilates blood vessels, and medications that thin the blood.
Medications
In pharmacies you can purchase medicines in the form of ointment, cream or gel with cooling, absorbable, regenerating and analgesic properties. Therefore, it is not difficult to cure a bruise and quickly get rid of a hematoma on the face. This review selects the most effective drugs.
Coolants
Medicines in this group contain menthol, essential oils, analgesics and other active substances.
The drugs eliminate pain, reduce blood flow to the affected area, and prevent the formation of a bruise. It is advisable to use medications within 48 hours after injury.
Absorbable and painkillers
The active substances of these drugs prevent thrombus formation, improve tissue trophism, help eliminate edema and resolve hematomas. Additionally, medications relieve pain, relieve itching, disinfect the affected surface and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- heparin (heparin ointment, Lyoton, Flenox, Hepavenol plus, Dolobene, Panthevenol);
- badyaga (Badyaga forte, Doctor, Express Bruise);
- troxerutin (Venolan, Troxegel, Troxevasin, Febaton, Indovazin);
- Sinyakov-OFF;
- Rescuer;
- Traumeel S.
Before using the medicine, you need to study the instructions; some of them have specific contraindications.
The preparations are applied in a thin layer to cleansed skin using massaging movements. The number of repetitions depends on the activity of the drug, so you need to follow the instructions.
Preparations in gel form have some advantages over ointments. After using them, there is no oily shine on the face, clothes and bed linen get dirty relatively little. The active substances of these drugs are dissolved in a water base, so they penetrate the skin faster.
Folk remedies for quick healing of bruises
There are many traditional medicine recipes, invented by our ancestors, to combat hematomas. It is believed that a bruise will go away faster if, starting from the second day of its formation, a warm compress is periodically applied to the affected area.
How to get rid of a hematoma on the face using home remedies? Try applying a cabbage leaf to the affected area. Rinse it thoroughly first, dry it with a towel, and then beat it with a culinary hammer. This way the cabbage will give more juice, which has a healing effect. Compresses that stimulate the resorption of bruises are made from blue clay. The powder is dissolved in water to a creamy consistency. Then wrap it in cotton cloth and apply it to the hematoma for 40-60 minutes. There is also a known home remedy for hematomas, such as salt lotions. To prepare them, a strong brine is prepared from ordinary table salt. Gauze is soaked in the resulting liquid, applied to the sore spot and wrapped with a woolen scarf on top. Keep the lotion for 10-15 minutes.
Lotions
You can quickly remove a bruise from your face using lotions. They should be prepared at home. Often no special medications are required, just simple homemade products.
With apple cider vinegar, iodine and salt
To prepare the lotion you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 tsp salt;
- 500 ml vinegar;
- 2-3 drops of iodine.
Dissolve salt in lukewarm vinegar. Add iodine. In the composition, moisten gauze and apply to the bruise. Carry out the procedure at least 2 times a day. The duration of each session can reach 15-20 minutes.
Important information: Why bruises appear on the body for no reason and how to quickly remove hematomas on the legs (arms)
With beets and honey
You can reduce a bruise in a simple way:
- grate the peeled beets on a fine grater;
- squeeze out the juice;
- add a spoonful of honey;
- apply to the bruise.
You can apply lotions every 5-6 hours. The bruise resolves quickly, but it is important to take into account that beets leave traces on the skin that are difficult to wash off and will require additional time.
With starch
Pour a few tablespoons of starch with warm water until it becomes a paste consistency. Distribute the composition evenly in the bruise area. Leave for an hour.
The procedure should be repeated 3-4 times a day. Only with regular use will there be an effect.
With medicinal herbs
Ready-made herbal mixtures can be found at the pharmacy. Some people prepare them themselves.
To combat bruises on the face, you can use the following medicinal plants:
- marsh wild rosemary;
- coltsfoot;
- chamomile;
- cornflower;
- linden;
- celandine.
The collection consists of all herbs in equal proportions. Grind the composition and then brew before each use. For the procedure, one teaspoon of the mixture is enough. Pour 100 ml of boiling water, boil for 10 minutes. Leave for half an hour, strain. In the composition, moisten a napkin and apply to the bruise.
When should you see a doctor to treat a bruise?
Hematomas appear from time to time on the body and face of almost every person living an active life. Most of us are accustomed to thinking of bruises as minor skin injuries. Often we do nothing at all to treat them. And yet, in some cases, a hematoma is indeed a reason to contact a specialist.
It is necessary to visit a doctor if bruises on the face appear for unknown reasons. Another reason for examination is an extensive hematoma on the face. What to do after serious injuries and how to properly treat a large bruise must be decided by the doctor. A visit to the hospital in this case is also necessary to exclude the possibility of a concussion and bone fractures. If the hematoma does not go away for a long time, you should definitely consult a doctor.
How to disguise a hematoma?
Not all injured people are able to take time off from work or avoid going out to public places. Therefore, a bruise on the face often becomes a cause of acute distress and discomfort. In these cases, a few simple steps to mask the hematoma and relieve swelling can help.
Salt compress
This is the fastest way to eliminate post-traumatic swelling, but it is very harmful to the skin. Therefore, it is used only in extreme cases, when the appearance of the face needs to be put in order in a short time.
To prepare the product, salt (3 tbsp) is dissolved in warm boiled water (1 l). Dip a gauze cloth into the solution for 5 minutes so that it becomes saturated with salt crystals. The compress is applied to the bruise for 20 minutes, the skin is washed with warm water.
Concealers
These concealers are designed to hide skin imperfections. The main thing is to choose the right concealer color:
- with a fresh blue-purple bruise - orange;
- for green hematoma - yellow;
- with a yellow bruise - purple, lavender.
It is better to mask large hematomas with a coverstick, and small bruises can be treated well with creams or pencils.
Many people are accustomed to treating facial bruises as a minor injury. Often, treatment comes down to applying cold and taking painkillers. The face is part of the craniofacial skeleton, inextricably linked with the brain, respiratory and hearing organs. Therefore, it is important to be attentive to facial injuries and bruises, including minor ones.
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Treatment of hematomas under medical supervision
There are several treatment options for complex and extensive hematomas. It is effective to administer medications by injection directly into the affected area. If there is a large accumulation of blood or the development of sepsis, the patient may be prescribed a puncture. During this procedure, the doctor inserts a needle under the skin and suctions out excess fluid. Some particularly serious and advanced cases (for example, if a hematoma on the face becomes inflamed after a blow) require surgical treatment.
The main goal of surgery is to remove the source of infection. After such an operation, a drainage is installed. To accelerate the resorption of hematomas, physiotherapy, ultraphonophoresis and cryotherapy are used.
Possible complications
Small bruises usually go away quickly and painlessly. But fairly large hematomas must be treated under the supervision of a doctor. If you receive serious injuries, going to the hospital is mandatory.
Treatment of a hematoma on the face should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist, since there is a high probability of developing inflammatory processes in the soft tissues of the body. With strong blows, a bruise can only be an external manifestation of the injury. Fractures of the skull bones and concussion without quality treatment can be accompanied by a wide variety of complications and pathologies.
