When to Call a Healthcare Professional Because of a Bruise

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Generally, a bruise can be cared for at home. However, there are circumstances when a healthcare professional is needed.

Reasons to seek emergency help for a bruise:

• if a bang to the head causes loss of consciousness (even momentarily), loss of memory, or vomiting
• vision change or unsteady gait for any reason

Reasons to call a healthcare professional for a bruise:

• The bruise is accompanied by persistent pain or a headache.
• The bruise appears in the abdominal region and is accompanied by vomiting or abdominal pain. (This could indicate an internal injury.)
• A black eye appears following a head injury.
• The bruise appears while you are taking anticoagulant drugs.
• The bruise appears, and you have been diagnosed with a blood disorder such as hemophilia.
• A bruise appears often or multiplies within a short time for no apparent reason.
• The bruise does not heal in 2 to 3 weeks. (The bruise color and any swelling should be gone.)
• The bruise becomes infected. This will take at least 24 hours. Signs of infection would include redness and tenderness on uninjured skin around the bruise, red streaks, or fever.