How To Treat Paintball Bruises – Top 8 Tips
If you want to know how to treat paintball bruises quickly and naturally then you must read the following article! Paintball bruises and welts smearing your body are the only things that show you had an epic game. You may not even feel the sting of the paintballs bruising your body due to all that adrenaline gushing through your veins, but once the excitement fades, your body will start to ache like crazy.
And that is when you start looking for a cure. If you are an old player, then you must be all too familiar with these paintball bruises and welts. However, if you are new to this game and don’t know much about them, then don’t worry because the following article will revolve around this topic.
There is no escaping a bruise if you are into rough paintball. After all, there will be people throwing paintballs directly at you. Sure you can minimize the impact of each hit through your protective gear but that will still leave a tiny little bruise on your skin.
So, you can see that there is no escaping the bruises if you really want to play paintball, right? They say beauty is pain but so is paintball! However, the excitement, the adrenaline rush, and the semblance of actual warfare are absolutely worth a little bit of pain, don’t you agree? In any case, without further ado, let’s discuss a few cures!
How To Treat Paintball Bruises
Paintball Bruises Vs Paintball Welts
I know this discussion might bore some of you because you may already know the difference between the two. However, there are some people who always confuse the two of them and can’t really tell the difference between them. So, this portion of this article is intended for all such people. The rest of you may skip to the next part of this article.
So, let’s start off our discussion with what paintball bruises are. When a ball hits you with force, it agitates the skin and leaves a purple mark on the skin. This mark turns black once it starts to heal and eventually disappears. This purple hue is due to the blood seeping from the ruptured capillaries inside your skin. However, don’t worry because this blood will drain out after some time.
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On the other hand, if the paintball hit causes your skin to swell and form a raised lump then it is definitely a welt. In some cases, tiny red bumps may also appear on this swollen lump. It happens due to the damage caused to the surrounding tissue. The natural healing process might take a few days or even weeks if not treated with care.
Treatment Options For Paintball Bruises
Your paintball bruises will eventually disappear even if you don’t treat them. However, you will have to bear the pain for days. This is the reason why we look for ways to aid the healing process. The following treatments will help relieve the soreness, swelling, and even discoloration. So, let’s get started!
1. Wash Off The Dirt
First of all, before you do anything to your bruise, you need to get it cleaned up. So, for that, simply hold the bruised area of your body under lukewarm water. You might even consider taking a warm shower or a soothing bath with all your healing salts and rose petals etc. This will help clean up the fletch of any dirt and debris sticking to it and also soothe the inflamed area and make it more tolerant to any other treatment.
2. Apply A Compress
Once you have cleaned up the affected area, simply take a cold compress and gently place it on the bruise. This will help constrict the surrounding blood vessels and stop further internal bleeding. The cold compresses will also minimize the flow of blood toward this area thus leaving room for the accumulated blood to seep out from underneath the skin.
Keep applying this cold press for about fifteen minutes and then immediately switch with a hot compress. The hot compress will stimulate the blood flow under the bruise thereby helping the accumulated blood to flow out as fresh hot blood flows inside the surrounding capillaries.
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3. Elevate The Affected Area
Brutal sores sting a lot because the inflamed skin underneath keeps accumulating blood from the surrounding capillaries. So, to avoid that, it is always a good idea to keep the bruised part of your body elevated. For instance, you may stack pillows underneath the bruised limb. You could even stack pillows behind your back so that you stay in an inclined position if you have bruises on your back. The idea is to minimize the flow of blood toward the bruised area and let it heal quickly and naturally.
4. Soak In Epsom Salt
I know I mentioned this earlier but let me emphasize this point again. Soaking the bruised area of your body will help do wonders. It is because these salts have miraculous healing properties. These not only help with inflamed bruises but also relieve sore or tight muscles. So, I would highly recommend you all take a long hot bath with Epsom salts for a mindless healing process. It will also calm your nerves and help you sleep peacefully.
5. Apply Arnica Gel Or Cream
Arnica is a botanical herb that is proven to help relieve inflammation and reduce deep swelling under the skin. Hence, it makes this herb ideal for your situation. Simply get an Arnica gel or cream and gently rub it on the bruise. Don’t be too harsh on yourself because this will definitely sting a little. If you keep applying the ointment every few hours, it will help quicken up the healing process and you will be back to normal within days.
6. Vitamin K Cream
Vitamin K cream is a fantastic alternative to an Arnica gel. So, if you can’t find an Arnica gel or cream in your nearby drug store, you might as well switch to vitamin k cream since it is easily available in all drug stores. Vitamin K is proven to help prevent blood clotting and reduce inflammation under the skin. It quickly penetrates the skin and does its magic. However, make sure that you only use this twice otherwise, it will start to show side effects.
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7. Aloe Vera
If you are looking for a soothing ointment or a balm that has zero side effects on your skin then aloe vera is the best option for you. In fact, it has been used to treat inflamed skin and sore muscles for centuries. It does not quicken up the internal healing too quickly but it will definitely help relieve the pain for some time.
8. Pineapple
Have you ever wondered why athletes eat so much pineapple, especially during the gaming season? It is because they have Bromelain enzyme that helps treat bruises, sore muscles, and inflamed skin. You may take pineapple supplements, or eat fresh pineapple to help fasten your healing process naturally. You may as well use ointments with pineapple essence to further quicken up the healing.
FAQs
What is the first aid treatment for bruises?
The first aid treatment for bruises is applying a cold press. Once the inflammation recedes, you can immediately apply a soothing gel that simultaneously numbers the bruise. This will give you enough time to continue your game and take it to the end. After that, you can do any of the other treatments of your choice.
Can paintballs cause injury?
Yes, paintballs can definitely cause injuries, some of them even more severe than others. It most commonly causes small cuts, bruises, and welts. However, it can also cause severe eye injury if aimed directly at the eye. Furthermore, if a paintball hits the throat, you may have difficulty breathing. These may even twist the joints as well. This is the reason why you are always recommended to use proper safety gear and cover all the delicate parts of your body properly.
Final Thoughts
So, this was all from my side. I hope you all found this article very informative. I tried my best to provide all the remedies you can use to treat even the most brutal bruises. If you ask me, I would recommend you to take Epsom baths, heat compress, and pineapples for quick recovery. However, you may prefer the other treatments mentioned above as well. In any case, let me tell you that the remedies mentioned earlier are not the extent of it. You may consider taking painkillers to numb the pain, or pills to cure the soreness under the skin if you want.