Ankle Sprain Bruising

Ankle sprains and bruising usually come together. While bruises are rarely life-threatening, the discoloration makes them unsightly. Most people will gladly get rid of bruises as fast as possible.

The discoloration you see in bruises is actually blood seeping out of the capillaries. A bump or impact can damage the capillaries that carry blood causing them to seep into the tissue. Bruises are more visible in people with fair skin.

Here's another fact about bruising. As one ages, the chances of getting bruised and the extent of damage increases. This is attributed to the lessened elasticity of the skin of the elderly.

A couple more interesting tidbits: Women also have more lax skins and tend to bruise more easily compared to men in general. Also, the harder the impact, the bigger the bruise. A bruise may appear red, purple or blue depending on the skin color and the severity of the damage.

Bruises may occur on any part of the body but are more prevalent on the wrists and ankles where sprains are also most likely to occur.

Getting Rid of Ugly Bruises

Bruises will often heal by itself within a few days. There are steps you can follow to speed up the healing process so you can get rid of those ugly bruises.

Remember that a bruise is the collected blood in the tissues. The first thing you can do is minimize the blood that flows into the area by applying ice pack on it. Applying cold will significantly reduce the size of the bruise. Ice the affected area as soon as you can after the injury.

There are also other ways to reduce the flow of blood to the affected area. You can elevate the affected foot. This will minimize blood flow and in turn result in smaller bruises. You can apply pressure on the affected area with your hand. This can also minimize blood flow.

There are medications that can make bruising worse. Try to avoid cortisone, aspirin and naproxene. Ibuprofen may also make bruise worse but it helps ease the pain.

After 48 hours, the seeping of blood into the tissues should have stopped. You should encourage circulation to speed up the clearing of the pooled blood. You can encourage circulation by applying heat using warm washcloth. Apply heat for 10 minutes 2 to 3 times a day.