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There is no quick way to simply "get rid of" a bruise, if that's what you were looking for. A bruise is an injury to tissues and capillaries, resulting in some amount of loss of blood. These tissues and capillaries will be repaired gradually, but the bruise will be present until this process is finished.
Depending on the severity of the bruise, this will take from two weeks to a year to happen. While there is real way to speed up this process to a great extent, there are a few things that you can do to make sure that the healing process is as quick as possible, that it is not interrupted or delayed, and that there are no complications.
The typical treatment for light bruises is known as RICE - rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Most of the treatment is meant to control inflammation - the more inflammation there is, the more painful a bruise is, and the slower it will heal.
It is first of all important to rest the affected tissues so that no further damage is caused and the healing process starts promptly. This also ensures that no additional and unnecessary inflammation and pain are caused. Ice is best applied in the form of a cold compress - wrap a couple of cubes in a soft, clean cloth, and gently press this pack against the affected area. This reduces inflammation to a great extent, and for the first day it should be done once every hour, for 15-20 minutes at a time. Do not apply the ice pack for longer periods, as this will decrease blood circulation and therefore healing. The third element, compression, is also meant to reduce inflammation. You should use an elastic bandage to wrap the affected area, ensuring that it is not too tight, as this too could restrict circulation. If you do not have an elastic bandage or do not know how to use one, it is better to skip this part of the treatment. Finally, you should elevate the affected area if possible, so as to prevent blood and fluids from pooling. This too reduces swelling and improves circulation.
RICE is more of a first aid treatment, to be performed soon after the injury has occurred and in the initial stages of healing. Later, you just need to avoid strain and keep the area clean. For severe bruises however it is important that you get medical attention.
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