If you find a bruise or multiple bruises that seem to have appeared spontaneously or from the slightest touch, you should consult your family physician or dermatologist. These types of bruises may be the result of other problems or factors, such as the following:

Senile purpura. Many older people suffer from this condition, which loosely means “bruises of the elderly.” As people age, the collagen (elastic fiber) that gives the skin and blood vessels their suppleness becomes thinner and frayed, allowing blood to seep through the vessel walls. The result: over-sized bruises that can cover the entire length of an arm or leg. While the appearance of these colossal bruises may be frightening, the condition is an unfortunate part of the aging process and not life threatening “It’s fairly common,” says Nelson Lee Novick, M.D. “I see patients with senile purpura all the time in my practice.” The home treatment procedure for senile purpura is the same as that for common bruises; however, a physician should be consulted for a proper diagnosis, since large-scale bruising may indicate other diseases.

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When something goes bump in the night, and it’s you, you may end up with the most common type of injury known to man. Bruises, those purplish blue testimonies to our physical foibles, occur when blood seeps from damaged blood vessels into the surrounding tissue. Known medically as contusions, bruises are usually caused by what doctors call direct trauma. Whether from hitting a corner of the coffee table or being kicked in the shin, the result is a painful reminder of our not-so-best moments.

Thankfully, bruises generally heal in about 10 to 14 days. Along the way, their coloring changes and fades from a dark purple to a yellowish blue. The changing colors indicate that “scavenger” white blood cells have moved into the area to break down ruptured red blood cells (called corpuscles) into iron by-products. These by-products can then be whisked away by the blood. When a greenish maroon color appears, healing is almost complete.

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