Bruise colors over time and their causes As the body heals and breaks down the hemoglobin, or compound that gives blood its red color, the bruise will change in color. This is a regular part of the healing process.

Why do bruises get darker as they heal?

As you heal, an iron-rich substance in your blood -- called hemoglobin -- breaks down into other compounds. This process makes your bruise change colors: Its usually red right after the injury. Within a day or two, it turns purplish or black and blue.

What causes bruise discoloration?

A bruise, or contusion, is skin discoloration from a skin or tissue injury. This injury damages blood vessels underneath the skin, causing them to leak. When blood pools under the skin, it causes black, blue, purple, brown, or yellow discoloration.

Can bruises leave permanent discoloration?

Repeated bruising of an area can leave permanent yellowish-brown staining from iron depositing in the skin. Bruises usually last about one to two weeks, though some may take a little longer to heal.

What causes bruises to turn purple?

When you first get a bruise, its kind of reddish as the blood appears under the skin. Within 1 or 2 days, the hemoglobin (an iron-containing substance that carries oxygen) in the blood changes and your bruise turns bluish-purple or even blackish.

Why do my bruises not heal?

One common issue is a hematoma. A hematoma is a large collection of blood that becomes trapped within tissues. It is often related to more significant trauma. When a hematoma occurs, the body cannot heal the bruise as easily or quickly as a minor injury.

Can bruises take months to heal?

It can take months for a bruise to fade, but most last about two weeks. They start off a reddish color, and then turn bluish-purple and greenish-yellow before returning to normal. To reduce bruising, ice the injured area and elevate it above your heart.

Why do my bruises take so long to heal?

Thats because over time, the sun slowly weakens your skin and the tiny blood vessels underneath it. These bruises are a little different. They arent caused by bumping into something, they dont usually feel tender when you touch them, and they take longer to heal.

Why did my bruise go straight to yellow?

Between 5-10 days after the initial trauma your bruise will begin to turn a yellow or green shade. These colors are the result of the compounds biliverdin and bilirubin, which are produced when the body needs to break down hemoglobin (blood).

How do you speed up the healing of a bruise?

The following treatments can be done at home:Ice therapy. Apply ice immediately after the injury to reduce blood flow around the area. Heat. You can apply heat to boost circulation and increase blood flow. Compression. Wrap the bruised area in an elastic bandage. Elevation. Arnica. Vitamin K cream. Aloe vera. Vitamin C.More items

What does it mean when you suddenly start bruising easily?

Easy bruising sometimes indicates a serious underlying condition, such as a blood-clotting problem or a blood disease. See your doctor if you: Have frequent, large bruises, especially if your bruises appear on your trunk, back or face, or seem to develop for no known reasons.