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Bruises occur when you injure yourself or when you perform extreme physical effort such as weightlifting. This causes skin inflammation and discoloration. Bruises normally heal in about a week or two. Unfortunately, sometimes they can leave a mark on your skin that may take months to fade away. Bruise marks are caused by blood being trapped under the surface of your skin. There are several steps you can take to help remove bruise marks in a week or two.

Apply an ice pack to the bruise marks. Applying ice to these areas will gradually fade away bruise marks by cooling the blood vessels and surrounding areas. This will prevent further leaking of blood into surrounding tissues. Wrap the ice pack in a towel and apply directly to the bruise marks and leave for 20 minutes. Do this every day, preferably in the morning, until the bruise marks fade away.

Apply vinegar to the bruise marks. Vinegar enhances blood flow near your skin’s surface, dissolving blood that has accumulated in the bruised areas. Soak a piece of clean cotton in any kind of vinegar and apply it directly to the bruise marks. Gently massage the bruise and wash after 30 minutes. Do this twice a day until the bruise mark is no longer visible.

Apply a heating-gel pad to your bruise marks. The application of heat will help enhance blood flow to the bruise marks, to dissolve any accumulated blood. Heat the gel pad and cover it with a piece of cloth or towel. Place it directly on the bruise marks and leave on for 15 minutes. Do this once a day (preferably before going to bed), until the bruise marks are no longer visible.

Massage the bruise marks and the surrounding areas. Massaging the bruise mark will help clear up any pooled blood in the areas. Massage the bruise gently in a circular motion for 5 minutes every 4 hours.