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Feb 13, 2024 · Bone bruises can take a while to heal. Most bone bruises last a few weeks. More severe bruises can take months (or longer) to heal completely. How long a bone bruise lasts depends on which type it is, which bone it’s in and if you experienced any other injuries at the same time.
- Overview
- How bruises change color
- When to worry about bruises
- When to contact a doctor
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary
Bruises occur when something damages small blood vessels in the skin. Bruises typically change color as they heal, at first appearing red, purple, or darker than the surrounding skin. They may progress to blue, black, or green before fading.
Bruising typically occurs when a person receives an injury to an area of their skin, such as from falling or bumping into something.
The blood vessels between the skin and other tissues in the body burst. The blood pools under the surface of the skin, causing a bruise. It is natural for a bruise to change color during the healing process.
This article explains the usual bruising cycle and when a person should contact a doctor about a bruise.
Bruise colors depend on factors such as the intensity of an injury, the location on the body, and a person’s skin tone.
A person may be able to estimate how old a bruise is from its color. As the body heals and breaks down the hemoglobin, the compound that gives blood its red color, the bruise will change color. This is a regular part of the healing process.
Skin color affects the appearance of bruises. A 2013 study suggested that people with medium skin tones may have more red and yellow in their bruises than people with lighter or darker skin tones. Bruises on darker skin tones appear darker and have fewer noticeable color changes than those on lighter or medium skin tones.
During the healing process, a bruise will usually go through the following color changes:
•Within 24 hours of an injury: A bruise often starts red because fresh, oxygen-rich blood pools underneath the skin. Darker skin may not show noticeable reddening but may appear darker.
•After 1–2 days: The blood begins to lose oxygen and change color. A bruise that is a few days old will often appear blue, purple, black, or slightly darker than unbruised skin.
Bruises are typically surface injuries that do not require medical attention. However, sometimes, a person may need to seek medical attention for their bruising.
A hematoma is a large collection of blood that becomes trapped within tissues. It is more likely to occur after significant trauma.
When a hematoma occurs, the body cannot heal the bruise as easily or quickly as a smaller bruise. As a result, a hematoma stays the same color and firmness and is painful even after several days.
A person may need medical attention to determine whether the hematoma requires further treatment.
In most cases, bruises heal without treatment within 2 weeks. In some cases, a doctor may need to investigate bruising further.
A person with bruising may need to consult a doctor if they:
•lose function of a joint or limb
•experience repeated bruising without a known cause
•may have a broken bone
•have bruising on the head or neck and difficulty breathing
What are the color phases of bruising?
A bruise often starts red or darker than the surrounding skin because fresh, oxygen-rich blood pools underneath the skin. After a few days, the bruise appears blue, purple, black, or slightly darker than the surrounding area. From here, bruises may lighten in color or take on a yellow or green hue before fading.
What are the three levels of bruises?
The three levels of bruises depend on the location and depth of the trauma: Subcutaneous bruises occur just under the skin, intramuscular bruises occur in the muscles, and periosteal bruises occur on the bones.
Bruises change color as the body heals from an injury. On lighter and medium skin tones, bruises may change from red to blue and black, or green and yellow. On darker skin, bruises may be less noticeable and appear as darker areas of brown or black that gradually become lighter.
If a bruise does not fade, worsens, or other issues accompany it, a person should consult a doctor. Otherwise, most bruises heal within 2 weeks without medical treatment.
What to do. Raise and support the injured part in a comfortable position. Hold something cold against the injury to help reduce the swelling, like an ice pack or a frozen bag of vegetables wrapped in a tea towel for at least 20 minutes. Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for any pain. Do not take aspirin (unless this is prescribed for another ...
- Ice Therapy. Put ice on your bruise right after you get injured. That can reduce the size of your bruise, which may allow it to heal faster. The cold temperature from an ice pack makes the blood in that area flow more slowly.
- Heat Therapy. Heat boosts blood flow, and that can help clear up a bruise. Wait until 48 hours after the bruise appeared, then put a heating pad or warm compress on it several times a day.
- Rest. Stop what you’re doing when you get hurt. That can keep the bruise from getting worse. If you get kicked during a soccer game, get off the field. Get off your feet.
- Elevation. After you’re injured, it helps if you raise it above the level of your heart. This trick uses gravity to help keep your bruise as small as can be.
Apr 8, 2024 · The symptoms of a bone bruise may include: swelling. pain or tenderness that continues after a skin bruise has disappeared. a change of skin color. If the injury is near a joint, a person may also ...
May 23, 2024 · How long does it take a bruise to disappear? Bruises typically heal on their own in about 2 weeks, depending on how bad your injury was. For instance, a hematoma is more serious than a regular ...
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Bruised or broken ribs can be very painful, but usually heal by themselves. Check if you have a bruised or broken rib. Broken or bruised ribs are usually caused by a fall, a blow to the chest or severe coughing. Symptoms include: strong pain in your chest area, particularly when you breathe in or cough; swelling or tenderness around the ...
