How Are Bruises Formed?
A bruise is formed as a result of an injury to any part pf the body. This injury is usually in the form of a blunt trauma, motor vehicle crash or a fall which causes bruises in the skin to develop. There is skin discoloration (bruise) at the site of the injury. This discoloration normally is caused due to rupture of capillaries and blood vessels near the surface of the skin as there is a break in the skin due to the injury forming a bruise. These ruptured capillaries leak blood to the surrounding tissues resulting in the bruised area becoming tender to touch.
Do Blood Clots Form Under The Bruises?
Blood Clots get formed whenever there is any injury and in the area of bleeding or bruising to stop the bleeding. As a result of clot formation, the bleeding stops resulting in the development of a hematoma. The site of the hematoma or the clot tends to be painful immediately after the injury but as and when the injury heals itself the clot formation dissolves on its own and is covered by new skin. The formation of the clot is something that worries individuals who are at risk for development of a DVT and it is quite usual for an individual to rub the wound or the hematoma as it tends to itch a lot during the healing process. Thus, such individuals are always worried whether rubbing on a bruise or a wound will lead to the development of a blood clot or deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
This article gives a brief insight of whether rubbing a bruise will lead to the development of a blood clot or a DVT.
Can You Get A Blood Clot or Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) From Rubbing A Bruise?
Blood clot is something which will always form whenever there is a wound or break in a skin. If a blood clot does not form, then the individual can lose his or her life due to excessive bleeding. In the case of a bruise, a blood clot forms outside the vessels, under the skin and stops the bleeding and thus plays an important part in the healing process after an injury. Coming to the question of whether rubbing on the bruise can cause a deep venous thrombosis or a blood clot, then the answer is rubbing on the wound cannot cause a deep venous thrombosis (DVT), but the actual injury which caused the bruise may definitely cause a DVT. A direct blow to the body can form a clot deep inside the vein which may break off and travel through to the vital organs of the body such as the lungs and result in potentially serious complications, but even this is a rare phenomenon.
How Are Bruises Treated?
R.I.C.E. technique is the best to treat bruises and swelling and pain which is accompanying the bruise. R.I.C.E. stands for:
Rest: Patient should take adequate rest to allow the bruise to heal.
Ice: Application of ice compresses to the bruise area helps in relieving the pain, redness and swelling associated with a bruise.
Compression: You can also apply compressions with the help of an elastic bandage to the bruise.
Elevation: Elevate the bruised area at heart level or above to relieve the symptoms.
Conclusion
Thus, rubbing a bruise does not cause a condition like deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or a blood clot. Even the most experienced physician finds it extremely difficult to judge whether a bruise may lead to DVT, but in case if the bruise swells up significantly and there is extreme pain after the injury with no signs of relenting then it is highly recommended to consult a physician to rule out a condition like a deep venous thrombosis.
- MedlinePlus – Controlling Bruising, Swelling, and Pain Link: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000744.htm
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