How to Heal Bruises Fast

In this article, you'll discover the best home remedies to heal bruises.
How to Heal Bruises Fast

Last update: 26 May, 2022

A bruise, contusion, or hematoma is the result of an impact to the skin that produces a blood clot underneath. When the small blood vessels beneath the skin are damaged, it can be very painful. Bruises can even develop in the muscle tissues or even at bone level. Keep reading to find out what the best home remedies to heal bruises are!

Characteristics of bruises

Bruises can take a few weeks to disappear completely. In addition, certain people are more vulnerable to them than others. During the process of healing, bruises change color. They look reddish at first, then turning purple or bluish before becoming green and yellow. After that, they tend to disappear.

The level of bruising can vary depending on a person’s age or the sensitivity of their skin. The elderly and people with very fair skin usually bruise more often. This is because their blood vessels are more fragile or their skin is more sensitive to bumps and scrapes.

A head bump.

Symptoms of a typical bruise are pain in the area (especially when touched or brushed) and swelling. They aren’t serious if they’re small or if they become less bothersome over time. If there are serious symptoms like nausea or dizziness, consult a doctor immediately. You should also treat head trauma or impacts right away.

A bruise appears when we hit something hard, like when we fall down while walking or bump into furniture. But as we said before, the intensity needed to discolor the skin varies according to age and how fragile the skin is. Later in life, bruises can even appear without injury. This also occurs in athletes who lift weights due to their use of intense muscular force.

Taking medications that thin the blood (like aspirin, ibuprofen, arthritis medications, or anti-inflammatory agents) can interfere with the natural blood clotting process. This can cause more severe bruising than normal. Others who get bruises more often than most may have hemophilia or cirrhosis.

An arm bruise.
Women may be more susceptible to bruises than men if they wear less protective clothing, use waxing methods for hair removal, or participate in active sports.

Natural remedies for bruises

  • As soon as possible after an impact, apply cold packs or compresses to the area. Some people put ice directly on the wound. You can also use a bag of frozen peas.
  • Soak a cotton ball in cold apple cider vinegar and apply it to the bruise using a little pressure (not too much if it’s painful).
  • Mash some fresh almond leaves and add a little water to make a paste. This paste can sometimes prevent a bruise from forming. Apply it to the area that was injured.
A nasty bruise.
  • Immediately after an impact, apply a cold piece of red meat to the area to relieve pain and also reduce the probability of developing a bruise.
  • Make a paste using minced parsley and a little butter. Apply this mixture onto the bruised area.
  • Put an arnica compress on the bruise. You can find them in pharmacies or also make them at home by boiling a handful of arnica leaves and water for 15 minutes.
  • Peel and grate some apples, then apply them directly to the skin. You can also cut them into chunks and wrap them in a light gauze before applying them to the affected area.
  • Sauté a few pieces of onion in a pan and then wrap them in a cloth. Apply the compress to the bruise and leave on for several hours.
A boy with a bruise on his elbow.
  • Add 20 grams of crushed marigold petals to half a liter of water, boil for a few minutes, and let stand for fifteen minutes. Take a piece of fabric or cloth (preferably made of cotton) and moisten it with the liquid before applying to the bruise as a compress.
  • Prepare an infusion using 25 grams of witch hazel leaves in half a liter of water. Boil for 15 minutes and then let cool. Soak a cloth in the mixture and apply it to the bruise, leaving the liquid to dry on the skin.
  • Dissolve 10 drops of immortelle essential oil in a tablespoon of almond oil. Dab it on the bruise using a cotton swab moistened with hot water. Leave it on overnight.
  • Put three tablespoons of salt in a cotton cloth, fold it up tightly, and dip it into a bowl of warm water. Apply this compress to the affected area about eight hours after the impact.
  • Mix the juice from one lemon with a tablespoon of salt. Soak a cloth in this mixture and rub onto the bruised skin for a few minutes.
Woman with a bruise on her leg.
  • Add a handful of anise leaves to a cup of boiling water. Cover and make a dressing using a cotton cloth, which should be applied over the bruised area. Change the dressing frequently.
  • Put a handful of dried lemon balm leaves in a bowl and cover them with 250 ml of almond oil. Let them steep for 15 days (stirring once a day) and then strain the liquid. Melt 25 grams of beeswax into the mixture and add the gel from two vitamin E capsules. Store the mixture in the refrigerator until needed and then apply it directly to the bruise.

We hope you’ve found this article on how to heal bruises useful and informative!


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This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.