In most cases, a foot bruise will not need much special care or attention. If there is swelling accompanying the bruise, keep your foot elevated and pack it with ice to bring down the puffiness. You can also take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce any pain you may be experiencing. Afterward, just keep an eye on the bruising over the next week or so to be sure the discoloration begins to subside and that no spreading of the bruised area takes place.
A foot bruise is a relatively minor injury, generally caused by blunt force to the area, which results in blood pooling just beneath the skin. This is what causes the blue, purple, or even green color most bruises have. They typically heal on their own and will slowly begin to fade and change colors as it does so. Your bruise may go from dark blue or purple or red to a light blue, green, or yellow. Within a week or so, you should see very little apparently bruising.
If you injured your foot and additional symptoms are present, such as swelling, you should do what you can to treat it. Keep your foot elevated and put an ice pack on the swollen area to bring it down. You can take an over the counter pain reliever to alleviate any pain.
Severe pain and extreme or widespread bruising should be evaluated by a doctor. This could indicate a fracture or other more serious injury which will need to be treated by a professional. If that is the case, your physician will give you instructions on how to best manage the treatment of your foot bruise, fracture, swelling, and any other symptoms.
Keep an eye on your foot bruise to ensure the color of your foot returns to its normal state. Most of the time, a bruise will take a few days to just over a week to fully heal, depending on the size and severity of the bruising. If the bruise seems to stay the same, meaning it does not fade in color, or grows larger, you should see a doctor. A doctor should also be notified if you begin seeing additional bruises in the same or other areas, especially if you seem to be bruising more easily than normal.
Ease of bruising or an inability of a bruise to heal is generally nothing to worry about, but it can sometimes indicate a serious medication condition. Ailments which may cause severe or chronic bruising can include certain autoimmune diseases and cancers like leukemia. Although unlikely, treatment for these conditions should be started right away.