How to Avoid Bruises from Injections

PDF download Download Article
The best ways to prevent, reduce, and treat injection site bruising
PDF download Download Article

Injections are no fun, especially if they leave you with a nasty bruise for days afterward. Bruises can form when blood leaks out of a blood vessel, creating a distinct blue or purple patch on the skin. [1] Bruises may be par for the course with injections, but there are few ways you can potentially dial back this annoying side effect. If you’re getting occasional injections, like for cosmetic treatments or vaccines, you may be able to avoid bruising by preparing in the days and weeks ahead. If you’re getting any kind of injection, you can get relief through special treatment options, or by taking some precautions with needles used in your procedure.

Things You Should Know

  • Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen for 2 weeks before the injection. Stop drinking alcohol 7 days before your procedure.
  • Apply an ice pack to the area immediately the injection. You can also try Arnica supplements or apply Arnica gel topically.
  • Ask the injector if you can downsize the needle gauge. During the injection, relax your muscles as much as you can instead of tensing up.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

What to Avoid Before an Injection

PDF download Download Article
  1. Write a list of all the different medications you take on a regular basis. A variety of different medicines, like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, as well as certain cardiovascular medicines, can raise your risk of bruising after an injection. Talk to your doctor and see which medications may put you at risk, and ask if it’s safe to go off them for a couple of weeks to prevent bruising from your injection. [2]
    • Always talk to a medical professional before you stop taking any kind of prescription medicine. Don’t stop taking a prescription drug unless you have your doctor’s express permission. [3]
  2. Fish oil, flaxseed oil, cod liver oil, ginger, garlic, St. John’s Wort, melatonin, valerian, niacin, turmeric, and cayenne can all make bruising worse. If possible, stop taking these supplements for 2 weeks before and after your injection.
    Advertisement
  3. A lot of fresh foods may raise your risk of bruising, which isn’t ideal before an injection. While you don’t have to cut these foods out of your diet completely, you may want to go easy in the days beforehand. [4]
    • Some common produce offenders are avocados, apples, apricots, cucumbers, grapefruit, grapes, melons, oranges, peaches, plums, raspberries, and more.
    • Shellfish, soybeans, wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, fish, and root beer could also make bruising worse.
  4. Alcohol can definitely raise your risk of bruising, especially if you drink right before the procedure. Instead, pass on any alcohol the night before your injection, as well as the night after. [5]
    • Alcohol functions as a blood thinner, and slows your blood’s ability to clot properly. [6]
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Injection Aftercare

PDF download Download Article
  1. Grab a cold compress or ice pack and place it on top of the injection site. [7] Always keep your cold pack wrapped in a towel, so you don’t hurt your skin. Only use it in 15-20 minute increments, which will prevent any long-term damage. [8]
    • This is best to do in the first 8 hours after your injection.
  2. Talk to your doctor about trying special supplements like Arnica and bromelain, which are known to help with bruising. Take Arnica pills 4 days before your injection, and 4 days afterward, as well. Similarly, you can take bromelain pills 3 days before the injection and 1 week afterward. [9]
    • Check the label for specific dosage instructions or talk to a medical professional for guidance.
    • Fresh pineapple is also high in bromelain. Snack on some slices as you recover! [10]
  3. Shop online or in your local pharmacy to find bromelain or Arnica gel. While there’s not a ton of medical research on this, some studies show that bromelain or Arnica is useful after an injection. Coat the injection site completely with ointment, following the instructions on the bottle or container as you go. [11]
    • High doses of vitamin K may also help with bruising.
    • Eating kale and spinach can reduce bruising, swelling, and inflammation as well.
    4. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Injection Best Practices

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you’re getting a cosmetic procedure, talk to your doctor about the type of needle they’ll be using for your injection. Typically, wider types, like cannula needles, are more likely to cause bruising. Ask the doctor if they can possibly use smaller needles for your procedure, like 30-gauge. There’s no guarantee that they’ll honor your preferences, but it’s worth an ask. [12] If you’re injecting yourself for a personal health condition, like diabetes, use an insulin pen designed specifically for diabetics. [13]
    • Vaccine needles tend to be very small, and are somewhere between 22-25 gauge. [14]
  2. If you're giving yourself an injection, doing it correctly can minimize bruising. If the needle’s going straight into the muscle, hold it at a 90-degree angle away from your skin. If the needle is going just under the skin (subcutaneous), hold it at a 45-degree angle. [15]
    • Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about how your injection procedure will work. As a medical professional, you can trust that they’ll be operating the needle safely.
  3. Certain treatments, like fillers and cosmetic enhancements, are best injected when you’re sitting in a reclined seat. Check that your seat is reclined at about a 30-degree angle, which can help prevent bruising. [16]
    • A medical professional will likely have the seat set at the right angle, but it doesn’t hurt to check.
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • Stay out of the sun until the injection area isn’t swollen. [17]
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • According to some studies, using ice before an injection will reduce the pain, but it won’t make a significant difference regarding bruising. [18]
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • Think about your favorite foods right after the injection happens. When you think about food, the psychological impact can cause your skin vessels to constrict, which may reduce bruising. [19]
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Don’t rub the injection site. This can cause the medication or treatment to spread or be absorbed a lot more quickly than it’s supposed to be. [20]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Don't exercise at least 2 days after treatment, as the capillaries damaged during your injection need rest in order to heal properly. If possible, keep your heart related below 100 beats per minute so your body can heal. [21]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Read Syringes
      Administering B12 Injections Safely at Home: A Complete Guide
      How to
      Fill a Syringe
      How to
      Inject Yourself: 13 Ways to Stay Safe and Sterile
      How to
      Give an Intramuscular Injection
      How to
      Give a Subcutaneous Injection
      How to
      Give a Prolia Injection
      How to
      Administer IV Fluids
      How to
      Give a Newborn an IM Injection
      How to
      Reduce Pain After an Injection
      How to
      Perform a Self Injection to the Abdomen
      How to
      Give a Heparin Shot
      How to
      Give an Injection
      How to
      Make Shots Pain-Free: Effective Distraction and Relaxation Strategies for Adults & Children
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367875/#!po=77.2727
      2. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3760599/
      3. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3760599
      4. ↑ https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/drug-allergy/allergic-reactions-to-aspirin-and-other-pain-killers
      5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367875/
      6. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21994-alcoholic-cardiomyopathy
      7. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3760599/
      8. ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/sig43888spec
      9. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539394/
      1. ↑ https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/bromelain
      2. ↑ https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/condition/wounds
      3. ↑ https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/patient-guide-to-penile-injections
      4. ↑ https://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/how-to-inject-insulin.html
      5. ↑ https://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3085.pdf
      6. ↑ https://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2020.pdf
      7. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11307-pain-control-after-surgery
      8. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/prevent-summer-skin-problems
      9. ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/pain-and-pain-management-adults
      10. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15641-renal-diet-basics
      11. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/administer-vaccines.html
      12. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11307-pain-control-after-surgery

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 71,314 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Krista

        Jul 8, 2022

        "The reason why are you bruised after abdominal injections of B12."
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement