That blessed habit of exploring the world that the little ones of the house have produces more than one fall, bumps... and the consequent bruising in children in both arms and legs. Of course we should not tell them to limit their "conquest of fascinating territories and experiences". And we should be prepared to soothe bumps and recover from bruises with balms or other remedies.

But first let's tell you what's behind the appearance of a bruise. We explain it to you in a very simple way 😉

 

Why do bruises appear?

The bruises or purplish spots on the skin appear as a result of a intense blow. The blood under the skin in the impacted area has undergone profound stress. The vessels constrict from the shock and pool the blood. When there is no circulation, the blood tends to clot, it becomes darker and that is why we see the change in colour through the skin.

Another annoying aspect of bruises is the pain, which is not always relieved by kisses or sana-sana rhymes! Depending on the area of the bruise, inflammations appear, such as the typical bump on the forehead.

These are recurrent friends for children who are learning to walk or for those restless runners who are taking whatever they can find and bumping into the occasional dangerous corner of a piece of furniture.

 

How to act and when to go to the doctor?

In the case of a bump on the forehead, the first thing to do is to insulate the swelling with something very cold. A practical approach could be - for example - to use a packet of frozen food you have at home wrapped in a thin cloth or to fill a plastic bag with ice cubes.

Whatever you use, it is advisable to wrap it in a cloth. Avoid putting ice directly on the skin. And if you have enough gear, try to make the little guy or girl lie horizontally. Be calm. At least for a while.

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If the bruise appears on another area of the body, such as the legs or arms, you can also apply immediate ice therapy. Put it on the affected area for 3 to 5 minutes and leave it on for the same amount of time. In this way, in successive intervals, remove and reapply until you have reached one hour. It is also advisable to immediately elevate the bruised area, preventing blood from accumulating there.

After the ice, you can apply some anti-inflammatory balm with Arnica or Devil's claw like the one we have at NOSA. They are substances of natural origin, with exceptional properties to relieve pain quickly and that you will find in creams and balms.

  • Arnica: It is a very effective natural product for relieving all kinds of bruises. It is an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. These properties are due to its composition rich in caffeic, gallic and chlorogenic acids, as well as the presence of helenalin and dihydrohelenalin. In case you didn't know, Arnica is an typical plant of central and southern Europe, from whose yellow flowers the active and healing concentrate is extracted.
  • Devil's claw: Another natural product originating in southern Africa. The roots are used to obtain around 40 components with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It contains flavonoids, phytosterols and irioids, the latter including harpagoside, which is mainly responsible for the plant's properties.

 

But when should we go to the doctor?

  • If there are visible external wounds and bleeding
  • If a loss of consciousness, fainting, or a spasm of the sobbing occurs as a result of the shock
  • If after the blow and after several minutes the child continues to cry or complain of severe, but apparently unjustified, pain

 

How to relieve pain and get rid of bruises?

Ice therapy not only works immediately, but is an action that you can repeat the following days on the area of the bruise. Ice has an anti-inflammatory effect.

On the other hand, on subsequent days, we can apply warm water packs to the bruise. We are looking for an increase in blood activity and circulation thanks to the heat. In this way, the tissue renews itself more quickly and the haematoma disappears.

Another natural remedy to eliminate bruises and relieve pain from bumps and bruises is the aloe vera: 

  • You can use aloe vera crystals, cut into thin slices, which you place on the affected skin.
  • Aloe as well as being anti-inflammatory, it is also moisturising.
  • It promotes cell restoration, is analgesic and nourishing for the skin.
  • The aloe vera treatment can also be done for 30 minutes.
  • Replace the crystals when you notice they are drying out.

All these remedies for pain relief and bruising are not instantaneous. They take some time to work. With them, you have the double challenge of keeping your little ones calm while you apply them. Can you do it? You bet you can!

Oh, and don't forget the caresses, a shower of kisses and cuddles. These are magical in the face of any pain 🙂