Skin Care Tips to Prevent and Treat Bruising Effectively

Skin care Tips : How to Heal a Bruise

Bruises are a common but often frustrating result of injury or cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers. In our 60s and older, we may get recurrent purple spots and bruises on our arms called senile purpura or solar purpura. Understanding the science behind these color changes and the most effective treatments can help you speed up healing of bruises. There are creams, supplements and lasers that can heal bruises faster.

In this article, I am going to share with you the information I give my patients about how to treat bruises and senile purpura. I will also discuss what you should do before a cosmetic procedure to decrease the risk of bruising.

Use Arnica to prevent and treat bruises

Use bromelain to treat a bruise but not to prevent them

What is a Bruise?

A bruise forms when blood vessels are damaged by trauma, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding tissues. Blood contains hemoglobin and iron that is visible under the skin. It can take awhile for the body to reabsorb the hemoglobin and it’s byproducts.

Patients ages 60+ with a history of a lot of sun exposure or prednisone use often complain of “bruise -like spots on the skin that aren’t bruises” on their arms. These are known as senile purpura, actinic purpura, or solar purpura which translates as “bruises in elderly people caused by excessive sun exposure”. These purple spots occur because of loss of supportive collagen around tiny capillary blood vessels makes them fragile and easily broken with friction. So senile purpura is bruises caused by broken capillaries due to friction, twisting motions, or force.

Senile purpura and bruises are treated the same way but senile purpura has a much better chance of coming back the next time that the skin in that area is subjected to another force.

Bruise Colors

The color of a bruise changes as your body breaks down and reabsorbs the blood. Initially, a bruise appears red because of the fresh, oxygen-rich blood under the skin. Over time, it turns purple or blue due to the deoxygenation of the blood.

As the blood cells break down, they release hemoglobin, which is further degraded into pigments such as hemosiderin , biliverdin , and bilirubin. Hemosiderin is responsible for the purple color, while biliverdin gives a green hue, and bilirubin leads to a yellow coloration as the bruise heals. Each of these colors indicates a different stage of healing.

Preventing Bruising vs Treating Bruises

Different bruise treatment creams should be used whether you are trying to prevent bruises or treat bruises. For example, arnica is used to prevent bruises and is used in the early stages when the bruise is purple. Vitamin K may be more effective as a preventative treatment. Bromelain is more effective at clearing bruises and may actually increase the risk of bruising if used before a procedure or injury.

Products to Heal Bruises Faster

There are many bruise creams available on the market, but some stand out for their effectiveness. One such product is Alastin’s Inhance Post Injection Serum , which is designed specifically to speed up the healing of bruises. Inhance works by stimulating macrophages, the “little Pac-Men” of the immune system, to consume and remove the extravasated red blood cells (RBCs) from the bruise. This removes the purple hemosiderin and the green biliverdin pigments faster. I find that this bruise treatment cream is the most effective that I have tried in my patients.

Another recommended product is Dermend Moisturizing Bruise Formula , which contains both vitamin K and arnica . Vitamin K helps to strengthen the capillaries and reduce the severity of bruising, while arnica is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, reducing swelling and further aiding in the healing process. I like to use this cream to treat senile purpura.

In my experience treating patients, I find that this cream works best to speed the healing of bruises.

Products to Prevent Bruises

Skin care products to prevent bruises should have ingredients like arnica and Vitamin K. These should be used at least twice a day. Arnica can be used orally as a supplement or topically Vitamin K should only be used topically. It is a fat soluble vitamin and can be toxic if taken orally at too high of a dose.

In the last 10 minutes of this interview with Dr. Widgerow, the fonder of Alastin skin care, he discusses the interesting technology in Alastin Inhance Bruise Treatment Cream

Products to Prevent Senile Purpura

The Alastin Inhance and the Dermend Moisturizing Bruise Formula can be used together for additive results. Use the Dermend to prevent bruises twice a day and the Alastin Inhace to treat bruises you already have.

To strengthen the skin to help prevent senile purpura, also use the following products on your arms or other affected areas with the goal of increasing collagen to strengthen the skin and capillary walls:

Glycolic Acid

Retinoids like retinol

Vitamin C Serums

Don’t forget that sun caused a lot of these issues in the first place, so wear SPF and sun protective clothing- especially on your arms.

Body Skin Routine for Senile Purpura

Here is an intensive body routine that may help senile purpura. Keep in mind that this skin problem is very difficult to treat- so have realistic expectations that it may get better but will not be cured.

AM:

1. Apply Vitamin C Serum to entire area (Not just the bruise)

2. Apply Alastin Inhance to any bruises

3. Cover entire are with DerMend Moisturizing Bruise Formula. This helps the other two penetrate better.

PM:

1. Apply Vitamin C Serum to entire area (Not just the bruise)

2. Apply Alastin Inhance to any bruises

3. Apply a retinoid to entire area. Use a high strength retinol or a prescription tretinoin or tazarotene

4. Cover entire are with DerMend Moisturizing Bruise Formula. This helps the other two penetrate better.

Also take oral Vitamin C supplements 500mg twice a day.

All of these are aimed at restoring collagen and strengthening the skin. The following collection of products has other types products that can be alternated with the Vitamin C serum to try and increase collagen such as growth factors and exosomes.

Ingredients to Prevent and Treat Bruises

Several ingredients have been shown to help treat bruises, either by reducing inflammation, promoting blood clotting, or enhancing the body’s ability to break down and remove the components of the leaked blood, such as hemosiderin. Here’s a closer look at how each ingredient works:

Arnica

Arnica is a herb derived from the Arnica montana plant and is commonly used in topical treatments for bruises. The active compounds in arnica, primarily sesquiterpene lactones, have potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. These compounds inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, reducing inflammation and swelling in the bruised area. Arnica is also thought to improve blood circulation, which helps to speed up the reabsorption of the blood that has leaked into the tissues, thereby reducing the discoloration and size of the bruise more quickly.

Arnica can be used before or after procedures to help decrease swelling and bruising.

Bromelain

Bromelain is a mixture of proteolytic enzymes found in the stem and fruit of pineapples. These enzymes have anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and fibrinolytic properties. Bromelain works by breaking down fibrin, a protein involved in blood clotting, which helps to reduce the severity of a bruise. Additionally, bromelain can reduce inflammation and swelling by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and reducing the aggregation of blood platelets. This makes bromelain particularly useful in the treatment of bruises following surgery or trauma, where inflammation and clotting need to be carefully managed. It’s important to note that bromelain is most effective when used after a procedure, not before, as taking it beforehand may increase the risk of bruising. Also, the stem or center part of the pineapple, which contains the highest concentration of bromelain, is often discarded. If you are eating pineapple for its bromelain content, make sure to consume the center part to maximize its benefits.

Comfrey

Comfrey, derived from the plant Symphytum officinale, has been used for centuries to treat wounds, bruises, and other skin ailments. The active components in comfrey include allantoin and rosmarinic acid. Allantoin promotes cell proliferation and the regeneration of skin tissue, which is essential for repairing damaged blood vessels and surrounding tissues. Rosmarinic acid has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing swelling and pain associated with bruises. By accelerating wound healing and reducing inflammation, comfrey can help bruises heal faster and with less discomfort.

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that is commonly used in skincare for its exfoliating properties. While it is primarily known for its ability to remove dead skin cells and promote skin renewal, glycolic acid can also be beneficial in treating bruises. By speeding up cell turnover, glycolic acid helps to replace pigmented cells affected by hemosiderin with new, healthy skin cells. This process can help to fade the residual pigmentation associated with bruises more quickly, especially in the later stages of healing when the bruise has turned yellow or brown.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a powerful antioxidant that plays a key role in collagen synthesis, which is vital for maintaining the strength and integrity of blood vessels. In the context of bruising, vitamin C helps to strengthen the walls of the capillaries, reducing the likelihood of further bleeding into the tissues. Additionally, vitamin C’s antioxidant properties protect the skin from oxidative stress, which can further damage tissues and slow down the healing process. By promoting collagen production and protecting against oxidative damage, vitamin C aids in the faster healing of bruises and helps to prevent the formation of new ones.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting as it enables the synthesis of key clotting factors, including prothrombin and Factors VII, IX, and X, which work together to stop bleeding. After intake, it takes about 10 days for vitamin K to fully increase these clotting factors because the body needs time to synthesize and release these proteins into the bloodstream. In the context of bruising, while topical vitamin K is often used to reduce discoloration by enhancing clot formation and promoting the clearance of hemosiderin (the iron-storage complex responsible for the brownish color of older bruises), it’s important to note that applying vitamin K after a bruise has already formed may not be very effective. To make a significant difference in bruise prevention and healing, vitamin K should be used at least 10 days prior to any skin injury or procedure, allowing time for it to build up the necessary clotting factors in the body.

Dermatologist Advice to Prevent Bruises

I have noticed over the years that certain steps to prevent bruises can really make a difference in outcomes after injections like fillers and toxins. Avoid alcohol, especially red wine, and salmon for two days prior to injections. Also, avoid all the foods and supplements on the list, especially ibuprofen, aspirin, Vitamin E, and fish oil, as those seem to make people bruise the most. After getting injections, stay in a cool environment—do not take hot baths or showers, drink hot beverages, exercise, or get upset for at least 24 hours; 48 hours is even better. Getting upset raises blood pressure, which makes you more likely to bruise, so if you stay literally and figuratively calm and cool, you should bruise less.

Stay cool and calm and you will bruise less.

Dermatologist Dr Leslie Baumann MD

How to Lower Bruising Risk

This is the advice I give my cosmetic dermatology patients before getting fillers or botulinum toxins to prevent bruising.

To minimize the risk of bruising, it’s essential to avoid certain substances that can thin the blood, affect platelet function, or increase bleeding.

Avoid ingesting these for 10 days prior to any procedure:

Chamomile

Coumadin

Fish Oil

Garlic

Ginger

Ginkgo

Ginseng

Green Tea

Horse Chestnut

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Salmon

NSAIDs (Aspirin, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Ibuprofen)

St. John’s Wort

Vitamin E

Warfarin

Avoid these for at least 10 days before your procedure.

Additionally, avoid alcohol, especially red wine, for 24 hours before the procedure.

Before the procedure : Take arnica as directed for 1-2 days prior.

After the procedure : Take arnica and bromelain as directed. Avoid heat, exercise, getting upset which raises blood pressure, facials, body massages, alcohol, and spicy foods for 48 hours after the procedure to prevent vasodilation, which can worsen bruising.

The bottom line is stay cool and calm and you will bruise less. This is one reason that cosmetic dermatologists keep their offices so cold.

By following these steps and using the appropriate products and ingredients, you can significantly reduce the appearance and duration of bruises, helping you recover faster and get back to your daily routine.

Conclusion

We don’t always have the opportunity to take the steps to prevent bruising, but when we do- it can help us bruise less. If you do bruise, I have found that the 585 and 595nm vascular lasers and the topical cream by Alastin called Inhance Post-Injection Serum are the fastest ways to get rid of bruises- no matter what the cause was.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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