Your bruise is likely itchy because it's healing. The body's immune system is actively breaking down the blood in and under your skin, and this process can cause itching.
How Bruises Heal and Why They Itch
When you get a bruise, blood vessels under the skin are damaged and leak blood. The body's healing process begins immediately, and white blood cells play a crucial role:
- Breaking Down Blood: White blood cells from the immune system break down the leaked blood, and this involves a chemical signaling process, which, according to Dr. Sulewski, can lead to itching.
- Chemical Signaling: The same chemical signals that help the body clear the blood and repair the damaged tissue can also trigger the itch sensation. This is a normal part of the healing process.
- Time: As the bruise heals, the itching should subside. The process is usually complete in a couple of weeks.
What Can You Do?
While the itching can be annoying, there are some remedies:
- Avoid Scratching: Scratching can break the skin and increase the risk of infection, slowing down healing.
- Cool Compress: Applying a cool compress can help soothe the area and relieve itching.
- Moisturizer: Applying a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer can help soothe dry skin, which may make the itching worse.
- Over-the-counter Anti-itch cream: Sometimes an over-the-counter anti-itch cream that contains ingredients like hydrocortisone can help relieve severe itching.
- Patience: The itching is a sign that your body is healing the bruise.
Summary
| Cause of Itching | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Immune System Activity | The white blood cells breaking down the bruise use chemical signals that can trigger an itching sensation. |
| Healing Process | Itching occurs because the damaged tissue is repairing itself, and this process is associated with chemical signaling. |
In summary, the itchiness you feel in a bruise is typically a normal part of the healing process as your body's immune system works to clear the leaked blood and repair damaged tissue. The chemical signals used in this process often trigger itch receptors, leading to the sensation.
