For some people, it seems that all you need to do is tap them on the shoulder and they develop a bruise. Bruises are unsightly, and the more severe they are, the uglier they tend to be. There are a few tricks you can try to help reduce the appearance of bruises, most of which must be applied almost immediately after receiving the bruise. To learn more about how to get rid of bruises, check out the tips provided on this page.

• It seems that bruises appear when we least expect them sometimes, after a rough night of tossing and turning in bed, or a stumble through the dark on the way to the washroom in the middle of the night. We wake up and find unsightly purple in twisted shapes across the top of your thigh, or the inside of your arm. To reduce the appearance of a bruise, there are a number of things you can do. Read on to learn more.

• If you are aware of a bruise as it is surfacing, you can reduce the darkness and the pain by icing the bruise as early as possible. The ice will constrict the blood vessels, allowing less blood to spill out.

1. Apply ice pack, bag of frozen vegetables or a towel soaked in ice water for ten minutes
2. Remove for twenty minutes
3. Repeat

(Creative Commons photo by trinity)

• Wrapping a bruised area with an elastic bandage is a great way to reduce the appearance of a bruise if you can catch it in the early stages. Like ice, wrapping the area constricts the blood vessels, allowing less blood to spill out.

1. Wrap the bruised air with an ace bandage.
2. Do not wrap too tightly, you don't want to cut off the circulation

• Elevating the bruise will reduce the blood flow to the area, which will also allow less blood to pool into the affected area. Lift the bruise above heart level for the best results. If on your leg, lay back and prop your leg up on pillows in a recliner. Avoid standing up as much as possible, as this will have the opposite effect.

• You may not be able to get rid of the bruise completely, but you can reduce the appearance and stop it from worsening while it's still progressing. Try icing it, or elevating it to reduce blood flow to the damaged area. You may also want to try wrapping the bruised area in an elastic bandage. Home remedies like vinegar or witch hazel have also proven effective in reducing the darkness of a bruise's color.

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• There are a number of home remedies that have been proven to reduce the appearance of bruises.

1. Vinegar
2. Lavender essential oil
3. Witch hazel
4. Tea tree oil
5. Arnica
6. Parsley

• All of the above are effective if applied directly to he bruise or to a bandage or piece of cotton and placed directly over the bruised area.

This page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a doctor about any medical conditions.