How Do You Manage Bruising After Injectables? (Part 2)

It’s normal for a bruise to happen after an injury, such as getting hit by someone during a competitive sports game or bumping into something while walking across a dark room. Bruises also occur after medical or cosmetic injections (minor bruising is a typical side effect after any form of injectable wrinkle reduction, including hyaluronic acid fillers and BOTOX^®) because even the most minor damage from a needle below the skin breaks small vessels there and causes blood to leak into the surrounding tissues. Since it has nowhere else to go, the blood builds up there. Eventually, the pool of darker-tinted blood is visible through the skin’s surface. Bruises are more likely to occur in vascular areas of the face, such as the lips, because it’s more difficult to avoid veins.

The body will eventually absorb any blood that gets trapped, but there will be a bluish, purple, or red mark on the skin for a while—and it may also feel tender when you touch it. The bruise will change color over time as the body breaks down and absorbs the blood. Dr. Peterson Pierre, a dermatologist in Thousand Oaks, CA, has advice for patients worried about bruising. These home remedies and techniques can help to stop bruising from occurring in the first place, help bruises that do develop to heal at a faster rate, and can make existing bruises appear less pronounced. 

Arnica Montana

Topical arnica montana or arnica creams are made with an herb that has anti-inflammatory effects and has been used for centuries for medical purposes. It’s best to use topical or oral products that contain at least 20 percent arnica. You simply need to massage the cream or gel into the skin up to three times a day. 

R.I.C.E.

R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevation) is a tactic that helps to reduce blood flow and inflammation to improve bruising. 

Bromelain 

Bromelain, a type of protein-digesting enzyme mixture that occurs naturally in the pineapple plant, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to reduce bruising as well as swelling because it dissolves the tissues that keep fluids locked in the skin. As with arnica, you can apply a bromelain gel or cream several times a day. 

Learn more about cosmetic injectables from Dr. Peterson Pierre, a board-certified dermatologist in Thousand Oaks. Call the Pierre Skin Care Institute team at 805-496-9190 or fill out a contact form online if you would like to request a consultation with us.