Bruises, or contusions, are discolorations of the skin. They occur when small blood vessels called “capillaries” burst.
Ecchymosis (ehk-ih-MO-sis) is when multiple blood vessels very close together burst, resulting in pooled blood just under your skin's surface. Ecchymosis looks like a bruise, but it's not always related to an injury. Hematomas occur when larger blood vessels burst, resulting in pooled blood. Most hematomas are minor.
Bruises form when small blood vessels under the skin tear or rupture, most often from a bump or fall. Blood leaks into tissues under the skin and causes the black-and-blue color. As bruises (contusions) heal, they often turn colors, including purplish black, reddish blue, or yellowish green.
They seem to pop out from your skin and can be very noticeable. These veins might appear twisted or rope-like, and their color may be blue or purple. If you touch them with your finger, you can easily feel their shape.
A ruptured varicose vein may not stop bleeding, and without medical attention may result in a serious amount of blood loss. Excessive blood loss can, of course, be a very serious problem that can even lead to death.
Blown veins require medical treatment, but they do not usually result in long-term damage to the vein and generally heal in 10–12 days. However, a blown vein can sometimes complicate medical treatment.
Symptoms of Damaged Leg Veins
Heaviness or achiness in the legs. Itchiness around the veins. Cramping. Throbbing or burning sensation in the legs.
If a varicose vein ruptures and the skin is broken, significant bleeding will occur. Since veins burst from excess pressure, the bleeding can be rapid and profuse. In this case, call 911 and seek medical attention immediately to prevent excessive blood loss.
It is possible for lightly damaged capillaries to heal themselves within 3-6 months time; however, anything that remains longer than that will most likely remain forever.
A blown vein can quickly be treated by applying light pressure and cleaning up the area to prevent infection. You might notice some darkening of the skin around the area or tenderness. If you begin to notice these symptoms shortly after injection, alert your nurse.
Most of the time, a blown vein is a minor injury, not a serious problem. But it's important that the vein not be used again until it's healed. Sometimes, a blown vein can collapse and prevent blood from flowing. Collapsed veins can heal, but some never bounce back.
Since veins do sometimes burst, this is considered a relatively common condition. It can happen from trauma, and everyone will experience it at some point in their life when they have a bruise. But what isn't common is veins that burst with minimal trauma or seemingly on their own.
However, if you experience significant swelling, blood leak into the surrounding area, abnormal sensitivity, or if there is a risk of infection, you will need to receive immediate medical assistance to prevent any complications. Here's what your nurse will do to avoid blowing a vein.
The good news is that yes, veins can heal themselves, however, only to a certain degree. When veins are damaged they can take years to repair. Even when this occurs, healed veins never recover completely. At most, a damaged vein will only ever regain a portion of its previous blood-circulating capabilities.
Veins can burst for many reasons, but this usually occurs when a varicose vein is injured. Varicose veins are blue, ropy, bulging veins commonly found in the legs and feet. If the skin is not broken at the time of the trauma, there will be some bruising. If the skin is broken, however, there can be blood loss.
What do collapsed veins look like? You can't determine if a vein has collapsed just by looking at your skin. The collapse happens underneath the skin, inside the vein. A vein that has collapsed has no blood going through it, and sometimes the vein itself disappears into the skin, blending into the surrounding area.
A malfunctioning valve in the veins causes them to project outward, or bulge. You may notice your vein bulging with a lack of movement after sitting for an extended period of time. Bulging veins can also occur with aging, obesity, and pregnancy.
When a blood vessel breaks, more often than not, a small amount of blood will seep into the skin and other parts of the body. Minor injuries or occurrences may cause blood vessels to burst and leak blood into the skin, but if an injury was not the cause, it could be the sign of a pretty serious medical condition.
When an area of the body is injured, blood leaks from ruptured vessels, causing swelling, pain and tenderness. Ice works by immediately causing the blood vessels to constrict, which limits swelling. Ice can also be used to treat chronic injuries.
Since the blood is trapped between two layers of tissue (like a bruise) your body has to absorb it. It may take as much as 10 – 14 days for the hemorrhage to completely dissolve and the hemorrhage may look worse before better.
Increased size or density. Lump under the bruise. Pain that lasts longer than 2-3 days. Persistent bruising for more than 2 weeks.
Call the doctor if bruising occurs easily or for no apparent reason. Call the doctor if the bruise is painful and under a toenail or fingernail. Call the doctor if a bruise does not improve within two weeks or fails to completely clear after three or four weeks.