Thread: Not healing: bruises and scratches

I've always been one to bruise easily but over the last couple of months I noticed that my skin isn't healing after I get scratches or cuts. I scraped my thigh on something and have a nice 6 inch scratch- it didn't bleed but it's been there for almost 3 weeks. My bruises are hanging along a lot longer and I'm getting more of then them ever; even though my clumsiness level is the same ;)

Am I lacking a vitamin/mineral in my diet? I am a vegetarian...not sure if that is a contributing factor...

Anyone else experience this?

I'd suggest seeing a doctor. It sounds scary to me - like maybe an immune system disorder.

Yes, see your doc. If it's just a vitamin or mineral deficiency he can tell you but not healing can be a sign of something more serious. You don't want to mess around with things like that.

I have an appointment in a couple of weeks- just thought I'd see if anyone else had experienced this.

Glad you're seeing a doctor. Some causes can be serious. Hope it turns out OK. Take care of yourself.

Yes, please see you doctor!!!

I hope everthing checks out O.K.

I AM I AM! not to worry!,f:: these aren't gaping wounds that don't stop bleeding. just not going away as quickly as they used to.

I have this problem but I already know my issues. I have always been a bruiser (pokes to the arm can do it at times). When I started a new med for my psoriasis and arthritis, it killed my immune system so everything just hangs around now. I have to get tested for various things every six months to make sure that all is good.

It can be a deficiency but I am not sure in what. You mentioned that you are a veggie, are you sure that you are getting enough of all that right proteins from else where to make sure that your red and white cell counts stay up?

I don't know if it's true...but I've read that models drink pineapple juice to help speed up the healing process of bruises.

I have this problem now, with healing. I thought I might have become diabetic. I tested fine.
Probably age (ugh)

I bruise so easily, most of the time I find bruises and have no idea what they are even from. I'd be interested to know if there are any supplements or minerals that are recommended for 'bruisers' like me!

Trying putting some raw mushed up tomato on it too. Just heard from a fabulous esthetitian (who's also a dietician) that it helps with bruising. Might be better than trying the old-time remedy of a hunk a raw meat since you're veggie ..g.:

I would pay attention to your vitamin C and iron intake while you are waiting for your doc's appt, and start keeping a food diary also to show him/her. It's worth noting that lack of sleep can also be a cause of slow healing. Hopefully it is nutritional and not something more serious.

I was a vegetarian for 5 years and did have a similar problem with wounds at that time...doctor ran some tests.
In my case it very simple : not enough iron and and not drinking enough water , everything was fine after i was careful wit those 2.

Have you tried arnica cream or ointment for bruises ? I find it helps me and my son , the bruise go a little faster.

B-12! Vitamin K! A good multivitamin is probably in order. Glad you're seeing a doctor, but be aware that traditional Western medicine doesn't really know very much about vitamins...I don't believe physicians are even required to take one class in nutrition. A naturopath or osteopath might be more tuned in...

Definitely time for the doctor. Discovering the underlying cause of this condition will help resolve current issues and prevent future ones. Just don't go mountain climbing, play with bears, or any other activities that could cause injury before then. Arnica ointment is awesome for healing bruises.

Yes, very glad to hear you are going to the doctor.

I'm a vegetarian too, and at times have had to be monitored for iron deficiency and b12 deficiency. There certainly are many nutritional, stress, and other relatively easy-to-fix reasons why you could be having this problem. And given your dietary considerations, something of that sort is the most likely culprit. Nasila's idea about the food diary is probably a good one too, though if you're eating a pretty balanced diet and taking a multivitamin, sometimes (esp., I guess, with vegetarians and vitamin B) it can have less to do with precisely what you're eating than how your body is processing it.

Still...though eastern medicine is great, seeing a medical doc is important here. The basic blood work your doc will do can identify exactly what/how far off many of those levels are (which is good--over- or under-treating can cause trouble with nutrients/vitamins)...and it will also rule out uglier things like leukemia or other blood/immune diseases.

Be healthy, get some sleep and rest, and try not to bang into the coffee table. ;-)

Hi, I'm a vegetarian too and bruise easily. I notice that bruises can sometimes take about three weeks to heal and scratches take a while (cats!). I'm not sure if it is contected to being a vegetarian or just my genetics. I'm quite fair skinned so I think that makes a difference as obviously they show more.

If you are anaemic you are more prone to "bleeding". I used to be a Midwife and one of the reasons to prescribe Iron to pregnant women (not just because of tiredness) is to help prevent the risk of haemmorhage during/after delivery. If a woman is very anaemic she may be more likely to have this problem. So I'm wondering if you are anaemic this could be the problem as a bruise is basically blood "carried" to an injured area to aid the healling process and the amount of blood "carried" may be affected by your Haemoglobin (Iron).

As every one else has said I think the most important thing to do is to see your Doctor for some blood tests including Vitamin/Hormone levels in blood. If you do get prescribed Iron tablets take with a glass of orange juice as this helps your body to absorb the Iron. Do not take with a cup of tea as the tannin inhibits the uptake of the ferrous sulphate (Iron).

Hope this helps a bit X

If you're not healing on a timely basis, one of the FIRST things you need to do is check with your doctor to make sure you don't have diabetes! Non-healing of wounds is one of the first symptoms.

Originally Posted by Zyzzyva

If you're not healing on a timely basis, one of the FIRST things you need to do is check with your doctor to make sure you don't have diabetes! Non-healing of wounds is one of the first symptoms.

that's what i'm worried about. when i started to notice it more over the last couple of months it's the first thing i thought about.

thanks to everyone for their suggestions. if it isn't something serious i'm sure that some b12 and iron might help. i do have a naturopath dr. as well.

Originally Posted by anyadance

I have an appointment in a couple of weeks- just thought I'd see if anyone else had experienced this.

I actually do have this problem too...it comes and goes. I have seen my doctor and as it turns out, I am not getting enough dark greens- red meat helps but I also don't eat it, so it isnt an option.

I am also prone to low level anemia, so that is about it. Hopefully, your doctor will point you to some really good vitamins and some nutritious dishes!

Hope all goes well!

Taking a lot of aspirin can cause that, too.

You'd have to eat a lot of pineapple to get the effects discussed. You can buy bromelain supplements that have that ingredient.

Originally Posted by Zyzzyva

If you're not healing on a timely basis, one of the FIRST things you need to do is check with your doctor to make sure you don't have diabetes! Non-healing of wounds is one of the first symptoms.

I have been diagnosed as a diabetic for nearly 5 years and I still don't have a problem with "non-healing" wounds . . . but maybe because I haven't progressed so far as most people before they are diagnosed. The scariest thing with my dad is that he had one of those non-healing wounds and they checked him into the hospital . . . well, he had circulatory problems after so many years of being a diabetic so it wasn't a good prognosis. I live with this thought all the time about the "non-healing" wounds. I have cats that scratch me and I wonder at what point I will need to protect myself from them!!!

My doctor does recommend taking aspirin for the heart/circulation problems associated with diabetes and when I had an accident where the seatbelt pulled tight across the right side of my body (under the arm) . . . I had terrible bruising and lots of pain, which kept me taking the aspirin . . . she told me that I should have stopped because it caused worse bruising! Strangest bruises I have every seen and they shift down my body leaving some ugly lumps for awhile . . . thankfully all that disappeared.