OFTEN, WE DON’T KNOW, AND IT CAN BE AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
While I was eating dinner with some friends, one friend asked me, “What did you do to your arm?” I replied, “Which arm?” She said, “The left arm, near the elbow.” I told her I didn’t know, but thought about it, and said, “It was probably doing some meal prep in my kitchen. I often hit the counter near the sink if I am hurrying or distracted. Since it really didn’t hurt except when I hit it, I didn’t even look at it.”
Bruises happen, and often we don’t remember where they come from. Most often, we watch bruises show up, take a pain pill if the bruise hurts and then see the bruise fade away.
So, what is a bruise scientifically?
The Cleveland Clinic explains that “Ecchymosis” is the medical term for a bruise. This forms when blood pools under the skin, when blood vessels break.
Bruises look like a mark on your skin that’s black and blue to red to purple. A bruise (contusion) occurs when small blood vessels under the skin tear or rupture from an injury— such as a bump or fall—leaking blood into surrounding tissues without breaking the skin.
This trapped blood causes swelling, pain and forms a color-changing mark that usually fades from red/purple to green/yellow in two to four weeks.
Timeline of a bruise may look like:
•From Days 1-2 (red or purple), swelling may occur.
•From Days 5-10, it turns from green to yellow.
•From Days 10-14: light brown, then fades away and heals.
Bruises and Ecchymoses are synonymous terms, except that bruises are generally used as a broad term, change color as they heal and most don’t need treatment. Ecchymosis is a discolored patch larger than 1cm – 10 mm, which implies a larger, flatter superficial area and may require treatment depending on the cause.
While most bruises are harmless, they should be monitored because unexplained, frequent, or large bruises can indicate serious underlying issues, including bleeding disorders, leukemia, liver disease, nutrient deficiencies, or medication side effects. They can also indicate serious injury, such as fractures. Larger bruises may be a sign of an underlying medical condition if unexplained, along with other symptoms. Some reasons to be concerned about bruises:
•Unexplained bruising: Bruises appearing without any known injury or memory of trauma may signal blood disorders or low platelet counts, symptoms of leukemia, blood clotting disorders (like hemophilia), or liver disease.
•Serious underlying conditions: Consistent, unexplained bruising can be a symptom of leukemia, blood-clotting disorders (like hemophilia), or liver disease.
•Medication side effects: Many drugs (e.g., blood thinners, aspirin) affect platelet function, causing bruising, which requires a doctor's review to determine the cause.
•Risk of infections: Bruising accompanied by fever, redness, or pus may indicate a potential infection requiring medical attention.
•Iron deficiency: Extensive and frequent bruises may indicate significant iron loss, which could potentially result in anemia.
For any ongoing or prolonged indication of bruising, doesn’t seem to heal properly, along with other symptoms or appears on the face, back, or abdomen with no apparent cause, consult your physician. If you experience quick and severe swelling around the bruise, check it out. It’s better to see what is going on rather than ignore it.
Sister Karen Zielinski is the Director of Canticle Studio. Canticle Studio is a part of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, OH’s overall advancement effort and has a mission of being a creative center where artists generate works, products, and services in harmony with the mission of the Sisters St. Francis.
She can be reached at kzielins@sister sosf.org or 419-824-3543. ✲
