How to Minimize Bruising After a Fall
Bruising occurs when blood vessels break after a fall. Children may experience bruising as a common reaction when they bump or scrape themselves, as kids tend to do in play. While bruising is a natural part of healing and isn’t harmful in-and-of-itself, your child may still want to minimize bruising to avoid the appearance of the ugly black and blue marks. Fortunately, there are some simple methods to minimize bruising after a childhood injury.
How to Minimize Bruising
When your child falls and injures himself, the first thing to do is to make sure the injury isn’t serious. A simple black and blue mark is generally not something you need to go to the doctor for, but if your child was struck in the head in any way, you may wish to visit the pediatrician to rule out the possibility of a concussion or other internal injuries that could be invisible to the naked eye but that could cause your child serious health problems. If your child is bleeding or appears otherwise lethargic or injured in any way other than the formation of a simple bruise, a call to the pediatrician or even a trip to the emergency room may be in order, especially after a nasty spill from a bike or a bad sports injury.
If you are confident that the injury is minor and the bruise superficial, then you can take steps at home to minimize bruising after the fall. You can start by putting ice on the area that was injured. This will numb the pain as well as potentially minimize the formation of bruises and reduce swelling. You may also want to elevate the injured area, which can help reduce pressure and bleeding that leads to the bruise.
Amica Cream is also useful; this topical ointment helps to break down fibrin, which your body produces and which leads to swelling and inflammation around bruises. Apply amica cream immediately after the injury occurred, and continue to apply it several times per day to help the bruise heal more quickly. Some pediatricians also recommend a warm compress be applied three to four times a day for about 15-20 minutes to help open the capillaries and reduce the bruising.
Regardless of which method you use, if the bruising doesn’t go away within two weeks or so, consult your pediatrician to ensure that nothing more serious is going on.