Proper first aid for a bruise includes:

1. Apply ice. Placing ice on the bruise reduces swelling and helps it heal faster. The ice, which should be wrapped in a cloth to protect the skin, can be placed on the bruise for up to 15 minutes per hour. This can be done for a day or two after the injury or until swelling subsides. Warm compresses can then be used to help speed reabsorption of the blood.
   
   
2. Elevate the injury. When possible, patients should keep the bruised area raised above the level of the heart. This prevents blood from pooling in the injured tissue.
   
   
3. Rest the area. Patients should avoid overworking the muscles in the area of the bruise.
   
   
4. Take pain medication. If necessary, patients can reduce pain by taking acetaminophen or another form of pain medication. However, taking pain medications that thin the blood, such as aspirin, can exacerbate bruising.

Bruises usually heal well on their own. Over time, the body reabsorbs the blood and the discoloration disappears. However, in some cases complications may develop. Having a sensation of extreme pressure in a bruised part of the body is a reason for concern. This is especially true when the affected area is large or extremely painful. A feeling of pressure may indicate 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. Compartment syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition. When it occurs, surgery is often needed to relieve the pressure.

In general bruises are mild injuries and heal naturally in a few days or weeks. However, in certain circumstances, a physician should be contacted. These include:

• Patients who usually do not bruise suddenly begin to bruise (particularly after starting a new medication).
  
  
• Patients develop unusually large or painful bruises, especially when they appear to develop without an injury, fall or other recognizable cause.
  
  
• Patients bruise easily or experience abnormal bleeding elsewhere (e.g., nose, gums, eyes, urine).
  
  
• Patients are unable to move a joint in an area near the bruise.
  
  
• Bruises become increasingly painful or swollen.
  
  
• Bruises occur near the eye.
  
  
• Bruises appear in combination with headaches or persistent pain.

These developments require medical attention because they may signal a more serious underlying condition, such as a blood-clotting disorder or blood-related disease. Blood tests may be needed to determine blood platelet levels or the ability of the blood to clot.