How to Get Rid of Bruises

Video Transcript

"This is Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, Board Certified Dermatologist and author of "Six Weeks to Sensational Skin". This clip is about how to get rid of bruises and really nobody likes to get a bruise. Bruising can come from some bleeding under the skin. Sometimes you know that you are going to get a bruise if you've dropped something heavy on you but other times you'll say gee I've hardly had any trauma and I seem to bruise. If you're that kind of person then start by looking in your medicine cabinet. You may be taking aspirin or Vitamin E or it may be something that is called a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory all of which are known to be associated with increased bruising so if you are taking one of these kinds of pills please stop and that's your best way to get rid of that kind of bruising but let's say instead you have gotten a bruise because well a book fell on you, something like this. Well if you've got that kind of big bruise after an injury then your best bet is first of all once you have gotten the injury put ice on it to minimize bruising but then if it's five, six hours after you have had the bruise your best bet is to put on warm compresses and basically warm compresses which can be applied either in a little hot water bath or by taking a wash cloth and running it under warm water and applying it right over the area. What this will do is the heat will help your skin to reabsorb the blood and the bruise can really go away much faster and we suggest that you do these warm compresses at least 20 minutes three times a day. This is Dr. Loretta Ciraldo."