Blood Vessel Hemorrhage Causes Hematoma, Bruise Treatment

Leaking blood out of a vessel is a hemorrhage. Hemorrhages can be internal or external.

An external hemorrhage oozes blood onto your skin. Whereas, an internal blood vessel hemorrhage is trapped, causing a hematoma.

A hematoma is the collection of blood outside a blood vessel. It can happen just about anywhere and your hemorrhaged blood typically gets reabsorbed unless an infection breaks out.

A blood vessel hemorrhage causing a hematoma can be spontaneously created, such as with an aneurysm. Yet, more often hematomas come into existence as a result of some type of trauma, as seen with a bruise.

Hematomas can be clotted or partially clotted blood under your skin, in an organ or soft tissue.  Under skin (subcutaneous) hematomas are referred to differently based on their appearance, cause or location. Some examples are:

  • bruise
  • purpura
  • petechiae
  • ecchymosis
  • nasal septum hematoma
  • perianal hematoma ~ anus
  • hematoma auris & othematoma ~ ear

A blood vessel that hemorrhages under your fingernail or toenail is called a subungual hematoma.

Some hematomas that form within your head region can be life threatening. Blood vessels hemorrhaging in close proximity to your brain are classified by their hematoma location, including:

  • cephalhematoma
  • epidural hematoma
  • subdural hematoma
  • subgaleal hematoma
  • extradural hematoma
  • intracranial hematoma
  • intracerebral hematoma
  • subarachnoid hematoma

Hematomas are super serious when they develop inside your skull. This is a health emergency situation!

Hematoma treatment is contingent on its size and location.  For treatment of bruises, aka contusions, start by applying ice or cold packs on a hematomic area to reduce the blood flow going there.

This also decreases blood vessel hemorrhaging and immune response causing edema. So, the quicker you apply ice after a blow, the less hematoma impact you’ll have.

Additional bruise treatment that lessens hemorrhaging is:

  • elevation
  • pressure ~ elastic bandage
  • immobilize the broken blood vessel area

After your hematoma has fully formed, apply heat, using something like warm towels or heating pad. This promotes bruise treatment re-absorption and blood vessel repair.

Infection, usually bacteria, may develop around hematomas that are accompanied by an open wound. Symptoms probably will include:

  • pus
  • fever
  • swelling
  • severe pain
  • warm to touch
  • surrounding redness

If any of these signs severely appear, cover the area and get with your health care person ASAP.  As you need to make certain that MRSA is not a health concern.

In some cases, bruise treatment of a hematoma may require the draining of your accumulated blood.

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