I diligently applied the 'bruise cream' that claims to remove bruises... Why does it look the same?

Bruises that appear once tend to last surprisingly long. Even when you apply bruise cream to try to get rid of them quickly, they often don't disappear.

It could be due to using an inappropriate product or incorrect usage.

If applying bruise cream has no effect, it is advisable to check whether it is an over-the-counter medication or a cosmetic product.

Bruise creams classified as cosmetics mainly contain vitamin K or arnica ingredients. These ingredients, although called 'bruise creams,' are more effective for reducing swelling and protecting the skin rather than removing bruises.

Over-the-counter bruise creams have different main ingredients from cosmetics.

Depending on the component, they are mainly divided into ▲Heparin sodium, unformulated Ssin, and salicylic acid glycol complex ▲Heparinoid as a single agent. Heparin sodium prevents blood clotting or dissolves clotted blood, while unformulated Ssin strengthens microvessels to prevent edema by preventing the leakage of cellular fluid into tissues. Salicylic acid glycol alleviates bruising pain through antipyretic and analgesic effects. Heparinoids also prevent blood clotting similar to heparin sodium. They also have the effect of relieving inflammation caused by bruises or blood clots in veins.

If applying over-the-counter bruise cream to a bruise on your face has no effect, it is advisable to check the type.

Bruises on the face tend to fade better when treated with a heparinoid monotherapy. This is because heparinoids have smaller molecular sizes than heparin sodium in combination products, allowing for better absorption into the skin. They also cause less skin irritation, making them suitable for use on the face, which is more sensitive than other parts of the body. Combination products containing unstructured esasin or salicylic acid glycol may be irritating to delicate skin like that on the face. It is better to use them on bruises on the body rather than on the face.

The problem might be that the medication was used for too short a period.

Applying bruise cream does not make the bruise disappear immediately. It takes about 5 to 6 days of consistent application for the bruise to improve. If you want to get rid of the bruise more quickly, you can also take oral medication. The typical medications include those containing troxerutin, which has a venous circulation effect, or those with danggui shusan, which has a blood stasis removal effect.

Meanwhile, children under the age of 5 should not use heparinoid monotherapy bruise cream even if they have bruises on their face.

Heparinoid monotherapy is prohibited for children under 5 years old due to safety concerns. Children under 5 should use combination cream medications or weak products classified as cosmetics.