How fast bruises develop

Here are the colors a typical bruise goes through and what it means:. Bruises are also called contusions. Hematomas are similar to bruises, except they are more serious and symptoms develop much more rapidly. They are also larger, deeper and tend to have more significant swelling than a typical bruise. Hematomas in the head, face and abdomen can cause severe symptoms.

If you experience any of the following symptoms after a head, face or abdomen trauma, visit State Urgent Care as soon as possible to avoid further complications:. Bruises are typically surface injuries that heal on their own without medical attention, and people can treat them safely at home. See your doctor or visit State Urgent Care right away if you notice any of the following symptoms:.

People taking prescription blood thinners should also talk to their doctor if they suffer a fall or significant injury, as they have a higher risk of bruising and complications from bruising. Here are additional conditions that increase your risk of significant bruising and complications:. While the occasional bruise is not normally a cause for concern, easy bruising could be.

If you notice more frequent or more serious bruising, talk to a medical professional, as they can help you diagnose and treat the root cause of your bruising. Gavin, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a Bruise? How Long Do Bruises Last? The color of the bruise can give you an idea how old it is: When you first get a bruise, it's 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. After 5 to 10 days, the bruise turns greenish or yellowish.

Then, after 10 or 14 days, it turns yellowish-brown or light brown. Finally, after about 2 weeks, your bruise fades away. Who Gets Bruises? Bruising depends on several things, such as: how tough the skin tissue is whether someone has certain diseases or conditions whether a person's taking certain medications Also, blood vessels tend to become fragile as people get older, which is why elderly people tend to bruise more easily.

You can also make a compress using dried comfrey leaves. Steep the leaves in boiling water for 10 minutes. Then strain out the liquid and wrap the leaves in a towel or cloth. Apply it to the bruised area. Bruises may take a few weeks to heal.

Take care to rest your body to allow for maximum healing. Using some of the home remedies described here can help to speed up the healing process. Keep an eye on your progression. Keep in mind that bruises can be the result of a severe sprain or fracture. Call your doctor if:. Read this article in Spanish. A bruise, or contusion, occurs when an area of skin has suffered trauma.

The injury causes blood vessels to burst, trapping blood below the skin's…. Damage to blood vessels can cause bruising and blood clots, but the two conditions have many differences. Learn more about them. Bruising happens when blood vessels under the skin break and spread into surrounding tissue.

Learn about causes, diagnosis, and more. A person with leukemia may experience rashes, bruising, and other skin symptoms. We explain why this happens and include pictures to help you identify…. Learn about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of bone bruises. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection STI that can affect anyone. Finally, once the bruise has turned a light brown, it will begin to fade. Most bruises will disappear without treatment within about 2 weeks.

Bruises are not typically something to cause undue worry. Often, they are a surface injury that requires no medical attention, and people can treat them at home. 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. As a result, a hematoma stays the same color, firmness, and causes the same level of pain even after several days. People may want to try to speed healing or lessen any pain associated with bruising. There are some potential at-home methods they can try, as described here:. One of the first steps to helping a bruise heal is to apply ice to the area.

People can ice the area with anything frozen, such as a freezer pack or a bag of frozen vegetables. Wrap the cold object in a towel or cloth and apply to the affected area. Do not apply a cold pack directly to the skin, as this can cause further injury. When a person applies ice to a new bruise, it helps to slow bleeding down and lessen the swelling. This can reduce the overall size of the bruise, as it prevents blood from leaking further and reduces inflammation.

Many people use arnica, quercetin, vitamin B-3, or vitamin K creams to help speed up bruise healing times.