Bruises that take a long time to heal
Overview
Bruises that take a long time to heal are discolored skin patches that remain visible for extended periods, typically lasting weeks or months instead of the normal 1-2 weeks. This delayed healing of bruised tissue may indicate underlying health conditions affecting blood clotting, circulation, or the body's natural healing processes.
Common Causes
Age naturally slows down the healing process as circulation decreases and skin becomes thinner over time. Certain medications like blood thinners, steroids, or aspirin can interfere with normal clotting and healing. Poor nutrition, particularly lack of vitamin C, protein, or other essential nutrients, can delay tissue repair. Underlying health conditions such as diabetes, circulation problems, or immune system issues may also slow the body's natural healing response.
Severity Levels
Mild: Bruises that take 2-3 weeks to fade completely but show gradual color changes from purple to yellow-green. You may notice they're lasting slightly longer than usual but are still healing on their own.
Moderate: Bruises persist for 3-6 weeks with minimal color change or improvement. The affected area may remain tender and discolored well beyond the typical healing timeframe, indicating your body's healing process is significantly slowed.
Severe: Bruises last longer than 6 weeks with little to no improvement, or new bruises appear frequently and heal very slowly. This pattern suggests a serious underlying condition affecting your blood's ability to clot or your body's healing mechanisms.
Medical Attention
Seek medical attention if your bruises haven't started to fade after two weeks or if they're getting worse instead of better. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop multiple unexplained bruises, especially if accompanied by unusual bleeding, fatigue, or other concerning symptoms. It's also important to get evaluated if you notice a pattern of slow-healing bruises, as this could indicate an underlying health condition that needs treatment.
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