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

Often, they are a surface injury that requires no medical attention, and people can treat them at home.īut, in some cases, a person may want to seek medical attention for their bruising. Most bruises will disappear without treatment within about 2 weeks.īruises are not typically something to cause undue worry. After 10–14 days, it will turn to a shade of yellowish-brown or light brown.įinally, once the bruise has turned a light brown, it will begin to fade.These colors come from compounds called biliverdin and bilirubin that the body produces when it breaks down hemoglobin. In about 5–10 days, it turns a yellow or green color.A bruise that is a few days old will often appear blue, purple, or even black.

After around 1–2 days, the blood begins to lose oxygen and change color.

It often starts red because fresh, oxygen-rich blood has newly pooled underneath the skin.

Those with medium skin tones had more red and yellow to their bruises, while darker skin tones displayed darker bruises.ĭuring the healing process, a bruise will usually go through the following colors: However, skin color affects the appearance of a bruise. This is a regular part of the healing process. As the body heals and breaks down the hemoglobin, or compound that gives blood its red color, the bruise will change in color. A person may be able to estimate how old a bruise is from the color.

It goes dark, darker still