Bruises |
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DESCRIPTION
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A bruise, known medically as a contusion (cun-TOO-shun) or hematoma (HE-muh-TOE-muh) is an injury that does not break the skin. A bruise may take 2 or 3 weeks to heal.
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CAUSES
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A blow that breaks small blood vessels under the skin.
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SYMPTOMS
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Bleeding under the skin causes it to turn black and blue. As the bruise heals the skin color changes from purple to green to yellow. Bruises may be accompanied by pain or swelling.
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CARE
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Wrapping the injury with an ace wrap may slow the bleeding under the skin. If the bruise is really bad, you may need a splint to keep the area from moving during the healing process.
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