Moments of Permanence - An odd question: the colour of bruising

From: sami Date: April 11th, 2012 03:56 am (UTC) (Link)

Hmm, good point. A break in the skin is going to show pretty clearly on *any* human-range skin tone.

I think part of my problem may just be my very vague memories of childhood, possibly, because it's starting to seem weird to me just how rarely I recall seeing other people's bruises at all.

Or maybe I didn't mark them as memorable, since I *can* remember the time Ryan got stung by a bee and had an allergic reaction, and things like March fly bites happening to people, because those were more interesting, or something.

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From: willow Date: April 11th, 2012 04:05 am (UTC) (Link)

When I say welts, I'm not talking about broken skin. I'm talking about the bruise itself welting up. Welts usually happened with stippling.

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From: sami Date: April 11th, 2012 04:08 am (UTC) (Link)

Hrm. Then I'm not sure what you mean. I only know welt as a term for a sort of lesion.

Is this like what I know as a blood blister - usually caused by pinching, when you get a painful pool of blood under the skin? Or, hm. That thing where you get a sort of sharp *line* of swelling, also super-tender?

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From: willow Date: April 11th, 2012 04:13 am (UTC) (Link)

bossymarmalade has also mentioned welts to you down below. Not necessarily a line of swelling that's super tender, but an area. I believe perhaps you're likely to image it best if I say; a belt given welt, or paddle given welt. Instead it happens for bounces and other things that cause bruising.

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From: sami Date: April 12th, 2012 12:12 am (UTC) (Link)

*nods* Seems I misunderstood her, too.

Imagining belt or paddle-given only helps so much, since I've never actually *seen* either of those things... although now that I think about it, it makes sense for something like getting hit by a cricket ball. (A real one, the leather-over-wood kind.) Also results in mottled, stipply bruising, and hurts quite amazingly lots.

And maybe the massive lump-that-became-spectacular-bruising on my wrist a few weeks ago, when I accidentally whacked it just over bone against the shower tap, and it swelled so much, so fast, and so hurtily that we actually went and got it checked for broken at the ED. Is that the kind of thing as well?

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From: willow Date: April 12th, 2012 12:16 am (UTC) (Link)

Yes. Diversity of body reactions to injury happens no matter skin color or ethnic/genetic heritage. Though closer personal family history might account for some things (depending on your characters).

But I bet your roommates have seen welts, or perhaps remember getting some welts depending on their parentage and corporal punishment in the home.

But bruising incident leading to a very fast tender swelling up, so that the area is slightly raised to the rest of the skin, and warmer and softer - yes.

Perhaps you've been skimming your eyes over other people's injuries? I'm very surprised you've never seen this.

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