Question About a Bruise

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Okay, maybe bruise isn't the right word, but for lack of a better term...

A month ago I was bitten on my arm to the point it drew blood. It's certainly not the first time, and nor will it probably be the last. The other times this has happened, within a couple of weeks the mark was gone. This time the mark has lingered. There is a very obvious mark about half an inch long on my forearm, even after a month. I don't know if bruise is the right word as it is not typical bruise color, more like a discoloration of the skin. It is very visible, even from a distance. It does not appear to have gotten any lighter in the last couple of weeks. Heck, if you look close enough you can still make out teeth outlines!

My question is: shouldn't it have gone away by now? I mean yes, it drew blood, but it wasn't worse than any other bite I've had that drew blood. In fact, it was probably one of the more mild ones, not nearly as large as some of the others. I'm perplexed as to why the mark is still there. It doesn't look like a scar or anything. Is it the location? (Left forearm about 2-3 inches down from the crook of the elbow). Has anybody had a bruise or a mark that just refused to go away? I'm wondering if I should bring this up to my doctor when I go in January if the mark is still there.

 

[Stacerita]

It is probably scarring. If the bite drew blood and opened the skin, then you might be left with a scar. It more than likely will fade almost away though.

 

[bumbershoot]

Before we figured out DS's corn syrup issues, he was a biter (of me). And I had a bite from him that wouldn't heal for ages. Bites are weird things...

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

First of all..

quit hanging out with vampires..

next...

eat a LOT of garlic....

it won't fent them oo, but if you don't brush your teeth.....

hehehehehe

 

[mickeyboat]

I was bitten by a dog several years ago, and it took a long, long time for the bruise to go away (months if I recall correctly).

 

[Imzadi]

Aren't you diabetic? (I know one of the Eeyores here is. ) It may take a longer time to heal. Also, it might have been a spider bite. I think they just take longer than the average mosquito bite.

 

[npmommie]

Who is biting you?

 

[laurie31]

My guess is that it's one of her students. She teaches special ed.

(forgive me if that's not the pc term, but I believe she teaches students with severe disabilities, not just learning disibilities like Dyslexia, but very serious physical and mental disabilites)

Anyway, a bruise is just where a blood vessel breaks and the blood pools under the skin. My guess is there's more blood this time, maybe a larger vessel was broken, and so it is taking longer for the body to reabsorb it all.

If you have several other bruises that aren't going away, that could be a concern, but if it's just this one I wouldn't worry, especially considering where it is (lots of veins close to the surface there) but since it broke the skin, I hope you are current on your tetanus vaccine! (if you haven't had one in the last 5 years, you need one!)

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Bites that break the skin are more apt to get infected too, you really should have it looked at, you may need an antibiotic.