Is Lancing a Red Swollen Blood Bruise Only a Bad Option Because of Infection? Is There Another Reason This is Not a Solution?

Question

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Lancing a hematoma can be successful. However, it does not work on a bruise. I use a special laser that I demonstrated on The Doctors television show. Raffy Karamanoukian Los Angeles

John Landi, MD · Answer

By blood bruise I am assuming that you mean blood accumulated under the skin usually from trauma or even injections.  This is called a hematoma and most of these will heal on their own with local care involving heat and time without the need for drainage or intervention.  These are sometimes drained if there is a suspicion of infection  or if they are tender, enlarging or do not respond to medical management.

F. Victor Rueckl, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Like Dr. Landi, I am assuming that you mean a hematoma under the skin? This is actually a pocket of blood that is trapped within a tissue space. Yes, lancing it can lead to infection sometimes which is why hematomas are usually treated with time or heat. I much prefer that if someone has a hematoma we first try to treat it with localized heat or even a laser because it's just easier on the patient and there's not a chance of infection. Plus, quite frankly, lancing it doesn't always work and it's better for the body to reabsorb the blood than to try to get it out via lancing or draining.

	"This answer has been solicited without seeing this patient and cannot be held as true medical advice, but only opinion. Seek in-person treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."

Is Lancing a Red Swollen Blood Bruise Only a Bad Option Because of Infection? Is There Another Reason This is Not a Solution?

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Is Lancing a Red Swollen Blood Bruise Only a Bad Option Because of Infection? Is There Another Reason This is Not a Solution?

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