Bruise Colors: Causes, Timescale, And When To See A Doctor

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat do the colors of a bruise mean?

Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on January 18, 2024

Bruise colors
When to worry
Contacting a doctor
FAQs
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.

How bruises change color

Infographic showing bruise color development on different skin tones — Illustrated by Jason Hoffman

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.
After 5–10 days: On lighter and medium skin tones, the bruise may turn yellow or green. These colors come from compounds called biliverdin and bilirubin, which the body produces when it breaks down hemoglobin. On darker skin, bruises may lighten in color.
After 10–14 days: On lighter skin tones, a bruise may turn yellowish-brown or light brown. On darker skin tones, a bruise will fade gradually.

Most bruises will disappear without treatment within about 2 weeks.

Learn more about bruising on darker skin.

When to worry about bruises

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.

When to contact a doctor

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
have bruising around the eye
are on blood-thinning medication or have a blood-clotting disorder

People taking prescription blood thinners, such as warfarin, should notify their doctor if they experience any falls or significant injuries.

In rare cases, bruising can indicate more serious conditions, including:

bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia
broken bones
some cancers
liver issues

Discover home remedies for bruising.

Frequently asked questions

Below are frequently asked questions relating to the color of bruising.

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.

Summary

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.

Dermatology
Vascular
Blood / Hematology
First Aid

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Bruises. (n.d.).https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/health-topics/bruises
Bruises. (n.d.).https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=90&contentid=P02795
Hickey M. (2021). What you should know about hematomas.https://hemaware.org/mind-body/what-you-should-know-about-hematomas
Scafide K, et al. (2013). Evaluating change in bruise colorimetry and the effect of subject characteristics over time.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248384891_Evaluating_change_in_bruise_colorimetry_and_the_effect_of_subject_characteristics_over_time
Scafide KN, et al. (2021). Development and pilot analysis of the bruise visibility scale.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8371286/

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Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on January 18, 2024

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Bruise Colors: Causes, Timescale, And When To See A Doctor

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