Bruises are areas of discolored skin that occur when small blood vessels under the skin break and leak red blood cells into the soft tissues. The purplish discolorations are known as purpura.

Also known as contusions or hematomas, bruises are often due to trauma such as falls and blows from objects or people. Some conditions and medications can make people bruise more easily.

In order to care for a bruise properly, patients should apply ice to the injury, elevate the injury when possible, and rest the injured area. Patients experiencing pain may benefit from taking acetaminophen or another form of pain medication.

Bruises can last anywhere from days to months, but most disappear after a couple of weeks. Although most heal well on their own, complications may develop. Patients should seek medical treatment if a sensation of extreme pressure develops in a bruised area. This may be a sign of compartment syndrome, a rare condition in which an increase of pressure on the soft tissues and structures beneath the skin reduces the supply of blood and oxygen to the tissues. It is a potentially life-threatening complication that often requires surgery to relieve the pressure.

A physician should also be contacted if:

• A patient who usually do not bruise suddenly begin to bruise.
  
  
• An unusually large or painful bruise develops (especially if it appears to develop without an injury, fall or other recognizable cause).
  
  
• A patient bruises easily and experiences abnormal bleeding elsewhere (e.g., nose, gums, eyes, urine).
  
  
• Bruises appear in combination with headaches or persistent pain.