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What Are the Different Types of Black Eye Treatment?
The biggest part of black eye treatment is usually just waiting for the black eye to go away. Bruises take time to heal, and a black eye will generally heal within a week or so. Some people also rely on applying something cold to the surface of the eye as a way to reduce swelling, and many people take over-the-counter pain medications to relieve any discomfort. If a black eye is severe enough or accompanied by other suspicious symptoms, it might suggest more serious head trauma, and this could be a good enough reason for someone to seek emergency medical attention.
The reason bruises happen so often around the eye is because of the shape of the facial bones. Cheeks are generally somewhat sharp, especially on people with prominent features. When something strikes the face, a person's flesh will tend to be squeezed against the cheeks, leading to a bruise. People often get black eyes during any kind of impact against their face, including everything from a fight to a car wreck or a fall.
One of the most common black eye treatment methods is to put something cold on the face. The most traditional way to do this is with an uncooked slab of meat, but experts say that the bacteria on uncooked meat can make that a dangerous method. A more recommended approach is to use an ice pack or something similar to reduce swelling and pain. There are also people who like to use heat on the eye in the later stages of the healing process because they believe it will accelerate removal of the discoloration.
Another aspect of black eye treatment is pain relief. Most of the time this will simply involve a purchase of some kind of over-the-counter medication, typically ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Ibuprofen will generally be more effective for reducing swelling, but both have the potential to help relieve the pain, as do a few other similar medications.
The biggest aspect of black eye treatment is simply to wait. Black eyes generally take time to heal, and the exact time can vary depending on the severity of the injury, but most experts say that the eye will usually be better within seven to ten days. Sometimes black eyes can be serious signs of more significant injuries, like broken facial bones or concussions. In those cases, people will often suffer more severe symptoms, such as greater pain and more swelling. Another thing to watch for is any case where a person has two black eyes, which might suggest something very serious is going on internally.
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![Apply a cold compress to injured area to help reduce swelling and pain.]()
By: rimglowApply a cold compress to injured area to help reduce swelling and pain. -
![Black eyes generally heal within a week.]()
By: studioJowitaBlack eyes generally heal within a week. -
![If a black eye is accompanied by other symptoms, it could be a sign of more serious head trauma.]()
By: Ded PixtoIf a black eye is accompanied by other symptoms, it could be a sign of more serious head trauma. -
![Ibuprofen can be used to reduce the pain and swelling of a black eye.]()
By: Geo MartinezIbuprofen can be used to reduce the pain and swelling of a black eye. -
![A good black eye cream does not contain irritants.]()
By: Dusan KosticA good black eye cream does not contain irritants.
Discussion Comments
I am accident prone, and I have had a couple of black eyes before. One happened when I was six and I ran into the bumper of my dad's truck while trying to retrieve a basketball, and that one lasted several weeks. The other was a few months ago, when I ran into a pole.
I don't think my mom gave me anything other than acetaminophen for my first black eye, so that is what I stuck with for the most recent one, too. I have heard mixed stories about using ibuprofen for a black eye, so I was hesitant to take it.
Some people say ibuprofen is one of the great black eye remedies, because it dilates blood vessels and lessens inflammation. Other people say that it can cause bleeding under the skin, and that was what caused the black eye in the first place.
I can't believe some people actually use raw meat as treatment for a black eye! Don't they know that bacteria could seep in through any small tear in the skin, which you likely have if you have a black eye?
I have used a bag of frozen vegetables before. It was malleable, so I could move it around to fit the space that was injured. This made it easier than using a solid ice pack.
After a few days had passed, I just wanted something cool on my black eye. I didn't need something frozen to reduce swelling anymore, so I cut a slice of cucumber and laid it across my closed eye. The cucumber had been refrigerated, and it was very soothing.
@StarJo – The creams designed to treat dark circles under the eyes are good treatment for black eyes, as well. They have a lot of vitamin E in them, which helps bruises heal faster.
I got hit in the eye with a softball, and my sister let me use her undereye cream on the area. She had successfully used it to fade the dark circles beneath her eyes, so she had a feeling it might help me out.
It still took about five days for it to fade away, but I think it probably went faster with the cream than it would have without. It's worth a shot, especially if you are about to go on vacation. You can get it from just about any place that sells cosmetics.
Is there some sort of ointment that can help me get rid of my black eye faster? I will be leaving on vacation in a couple of weeks, and I don't want any evidence of my shiner left behind when I go to the beach.
A lady in a restroom at a bar mistook me for someone her husband was cheating on her with, and she laid me out cold. I woke up with a quickly swelling eye, and my friend grabbed me a bag of ice.
I iced it periodically for the first couple of days, so I know it didn't swell up as much as it could have. It surely did turn black, though, and I would really love to speed up the fading process.
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