When you are looking at bruises, whether they are on yourself or someone that you love, it is important to remember that there are different, specific types of bruises out there. If you know a little more about the different kinds of bruises there are, you are likely going to be much more aware of available treatments and what needs to happen. Take some time and really consider how much you know about bruises and how best to treat them. If you know a little about how mild or severe a bruise is, you are going to have a much better idea of how best to treat it.

First, consider where the damage actually is. A subcutaneous bruise is one that happens just beneath the skin and will generally be relatively mild. On the other hand, an intramuscular bruise occurs within the belt of the muscle underneath and can do some more serious damage, while a periosteal bruise refers to a bone bruise, which can be extremely painful.

When giving a rating to bruises, professionals in the medical profession can use the following index to outline the severity:

0- a light bruise with no damage at all 1- a less than moderate bruise with a small amount of damage done 2- a moderate bruise with some damage 3- a serious bruise with some possibility of permanent or impermanent harm 4- an extremely serious bruise with possibility of permanent or impermanent harm 5- a critical bruise with a risk of death

With a light bruise, you may feel a bit of pain, whether it happens right away or is delayed. An inflammation may occur due to the fact that histamines have been released. Even after the capillaries have been repaired, blood can seep out and make the bruise look darker, and it generally takes about two weeks for a light bruise to heal, while a darker bruise may take longer. Bruises that are mild will tend to need minimal amounts of treatment, though depending on where the bruise is, you may need to do some stretching exercises as it heals so that the muscles underneath don’t become stiff and stubborn.

When you diagnose bruises to be moderate or severe, you’ll determine that you are going to have to deal with somewhat more serious complications. Increased bleeding may occur, and it is likely that swelling could reduce or impair the flow of blood to the tissues. The blunt force trauma that takes place in creating bruises of this intensity can cause injury to the internal organs or bones, and if the strike is severe enough, you may have concussion, coma and even death to deal with. In this instance, emergency treatment becomes madatory.

Fortunately enough, most of us only have to deal with light bruises in our day to day lives. Take some time and make sure that your bruises, no matter what their severity, get treated appropriately.