Hematomas Simple tips to eliminate blue spots

At sports, at home or at work: Once not paying attention and you have a bruise. A small push on the edge of the table can be enough. In some people, the affected body parts stain particularly strong. Often, simple home remedies can help. Usually such a bruise (hematoma) is harmless, but sometimes a doctor's visit is advisable.

Blue spots usually disappear quickly
Blue spots can be caused by different causes. For example, the unsightly bruise can be caused by a shock, a blow, a cut or a bruise. In addition, hematomas can be caused by broken bones or insect bites. The skin turns red, because one or more blood vessels in the tissue are injured. The blood can then either run into the subcutaneous tissue or accumulate in a body cavity such as the joint. When the blood clots, the color of the hematoma changes to dark blue. In the further course, the spot can become even darker and yellow-green. He usually disappears after two weeks.

Blue spots: So they go away again. (Image: 07photo / fotolia.com)

Sometimes bruise only appears after days
"A hematoma can have different depths and also be accompanied by an external injury such as a skin tear," explained Professor Thomas Hilberg from the German Society for Sports Medicine and Prevention to the news agency dpa. How fast it goes until the skin turns dark depends on the depth of the vascular injury. In most cases, the bruise is visible shortly after the injury, but it can take a few days. The color palette ranges from dark red blue to dark green and yellow to brown. "Generally, it takes two to three weeks for the blood cells to break down. The color changes show the stages of this degradation process, "said Professor Reiner Hartenstein of the Association of German internists.

First aid according to the "PECH rule"
The deeper the hemorrhage in the tissue lies, the weaker are these outwardly recognizable signs. It also varies from case to case as to whether a hematoma causes pain. "The pain is triggered by volume changes: the injured tissue and its immediate environment swells and presses on the adjacent tendon, a muscle or a periosteum and on their pain receptors," says Hartenstein. The expert advises those affected to act as quickly as possible. "First aid for bruising after bumping is done according to the PECH rule: break - ice - compression - high camp."

Home remedies can help
Anyone who quickly cools the affected area can usually prevent blood leakage into the tissue and thus swelling, or at least curb it. It should be ensured that ice is never placed directly on the skin, but always a thin cloth is placed in between. Otherwise, it can cause colds and skin damage. "In addition, analgesic ointments can relieve the pain in the further course and anti-inflammatory ointments inhibit the inflammation. Arnica also has a soothing and anti-inflammatory effect, "explained the physician. In naturopathy in addition to arnica ointments and other medicines from medicinal plants such as witch hazel and calendula ointments are used. In addition, the treatment with rubbing alcohol, clay and potato and Quarkwickel has proven itself.

Some people are more affected
How strongly a bruise emerges depends on the intensity and the depth of the injury, as well as on the person affected. "That's because the tissue structure, but also flow and coagulation properties of the blood are individually different," said Hartenstein. "It is said that women are more prone to hematomas than men because of their extra fat and connective tissue," said Hilberg. In addition, older people are prone to hematomas, as the dermal adipose tissue is reduced in age and the vascular fragility increases at the same time. As a rule, bruises heal quickly.

If hematomas occur again and again for no apparent reason, it should be clarified to the doctor if a serious disease is the cause of the hematoma. "These are rare diseases of the vascular system, but more often disorders of the coagulation system," said Hilberg. In this case, platelets or the plasmatic coagulation, which is responsible for the cohesion of platelets, may be affected. Coagulation disorders can also be triggered by drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Medications such as cortisone can lead to a breakdown of the skin structure.

Hematomas due to serious illness
Hemophilia (hemophilia) and von Willebrand-Jurgens syndrome are inherent disorders of the coagulation system. "Especially if I notice many bruises for me, for which I have no explanation, I should perhaps clarify the doctor," recommended Petra Rudnick, general practitioner at the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK). Especially in the case of hematomas, which are accompanied by symptoms such as severe swelling and pain, poor circulation or limited body functions, medical advice should always be sought. Special care should also be taken if symptoms of the abdomen, chest or head occur. The hematomas are not always visible here, as it can lead to hemorrhages inside the body, which can be life-threatening.

"In internal injuries, the symptoms often vary greatly, depending on which part of the body is affected," said the general practitioner. If it comes to abdominal bleeding, for example, abdominal pain and circulatory problems may occur, which in some cases can be fatal. Headache and neurological disorders such as paralysis or clouding of consciousness, which could also lead to the death of the person affected, would occur in cerebral hemorrhage. In case of suspicion, an emergency doctor must be called immediately. (Ad)