I have a bruise like, reddish look on the side on my feet. I am overweight. Can that be causing my skin to look bruised? If so, can it be reversed?

While being overweight can lead to a large number of medical problems, there aren't too many known cases of it being directly related to a case of noticeable bruising. The likelihood of bruising developing when the skin is brushed against a coarse object will increase, but there would need to be some other agent that is the direct cause of bruising. Bruising develops when small blood vessels located under the skin tear or ruptures, and is most likely to occur in the event of a fall or collision into another object. The blood then leaks into tissues under the skin and causes the appearance of a black and blue color. This coloration may vary with time ranging from purplish black to yellowish green. As a result of gravity, you may notice a bruise spreading downwards, which is also the primary reason that bruises on the legs will usually take longer to heal than a bruise located on the face or the arms. Most bruises will tend to heal themselves without any extra special care, but may be accompanied by a significant amount of swelling and soreness. In cases of severe bruising, swelling and pain may last for up to 30 minutes after the initial injury; you would be best advised to visit a licensed doctor to identify if there is evidence of a fracture or sprain.

Since bruises are a common development of daily life, there are a number of home remedies that are quite effective in aiding the recovery process of the bruise. Adding a few drops of St. Johns Wort tincture to an organic oil or cream and applying it over the bruised area will significantly help the skin recover faster. How you treat the bruise when the injury is first sustained will decide the level of impact it will have on your body. The first thing to do is make sure that you wash the wound with some cold water and soap and put some ice on it. While the soap and water will help neutralize any infection that develops around peeled skin or cuts near the affected area, the ice will help reduce the amount of swelling and constrict capillaries near the surface of the skin, restricting blood flow, and reducing the amount of blood released by these capillaries. Cabbage is well known for its anti inflammatory properties and can be applied in an emaciated form over the bruises and swelling to help the healing process.

answered by M W

The problem might simply be with the footwear that you are using. If your shoes or sandals are too tight or even if they simply rub against one part of your foot continuously, the affected area will get inflamed and sore. The reddish bruise that you see on the side of your foot may simply be due to this. Change your footwear for a few days, and if possible, even stay home for a couple of days. Stay off your feet and out of any shoes, so that the bruises have time to heal without any further abrasion. If this works, you should consider changing your shoes or at least getting them worked on so that they fit better.

Another possibility is some sort of allergy — this may be an allergic reaction to some material in your footwear or another allergy that has somehow first manifested itself on your feet. Again, if the problem is your shoes, then changing them for a few days should show some results. And again, if this works, you should probably change your shoes for good.

Any other allergy or condition will need further investigation, so if changing your shoes does not work, you should visit your doctor.

answered by G R