When people grow older, they are more prone to getting bruises than they were at an earlier time. One part of aging is that there is less protection underneath the skin than there was in their earlier years. Most bruises do not offer serious health challenges and do not have to have special treatment, it is best to prevent bruising and learn ways to help bruises that do occur to heal. Serious bruises, however can cause blood clots which can cause serious health concerns.

Protective clothing can help to prevent bruising. If there are areas where you bruise yourself often, wear clothing over those areas. The padding may help to prevent bruises. Long sleeves and long pants protect legs and arms. Long sweaters the cover the hips offer protection to these areas. Shoes protect the feet and toes. If you have problems with bruises in the thighs or forearms check with a local pharmacy about protective pads for these areas.

Vitamin K is one of the vitamins that are necessary to cause the blood to clot. Green leafy vegetables and members of the cabbage family contain high amounts of this vitamin. In addition, consider vitamin K supplements. If you are taking blood thinners, talk with your doctor before adding vitamin K supplements.

If you have a bruise, crush fresh parsley and spread the crushed leaves onto the bruise. This promotes healing and can help to fade the black and blue of a bruise in as little as a day. An adhesive bandage or gauze and tape can hold the parsley in place.

If you take aspirin on a regular basis for a heart condition, be sure that you are only taking the 81 mg so called children’s or baby aspirin. Adult strength aspirin can thin the blood too far and cause bleeding through the capillaries. This bleeding can cause bruises.

Taking a multivitamin may help if you are not getting enough vitamin C in your diet. A good quality multivitamin will ensure that you get enough vitamin C as well as the other nutrients that you need for a healthy body.

If you do discover a bruise, remember the acronym RICE. You need to rest the injured area in order for it to heal. Ice causes the capillaries to shrink and can help to prevent further bruising. Compression and elevation work together to cause the blood to drain out from the injured areas. Following this procedure can not only help to prevent further damage to the tissue, it can also help to heal the damage that has already been done.

Add more citrus fruit to your diet. Some of your vitamin C can come from a supplement, but citrus fruit helps to strengthen the capillary walls. Stronger capillaries are less likely to allow blood to leak and thus there will be fewer bruises. The vitamin C that the fruit provides in necessary to promote healing in your body. The daily dose of the fruit helps in both prevention and healing.

While bruises may not be harmful, they can be painful. They are can also be very ugly. By taking the proper steps you can both prevent bruising and help to heal any bruises that do happen to form. This will help to stop the pain more readily.

About the author: 

Carolyn Cooper is recognized as a well known expert on bruising causes through a combination of her educational experience in nutrition and her real life expertise with nutritional supplements for athletes, ranging from children to the professional ranks. You can get a free Special Report on bruising causes and see what she’s done to get you beyond the nightmares of easy bruising and help you prevent bruising altogether.