Bruises usually fade away in about
2 weeks
. Over that time, the bruise changes color as the body breaks down and reabsorbs the blood. 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.
Why won’t my bruises go away?
Bruises aren’t usually serious, and they often clear up without treatment. If you have a bruise that doesn’t go away after 2 weeks, you bruise for no apparent reason, or you have additional symptoms,
see your doctor for diagnosis
. The sooner you get treatment, the sooner you’ll start feeling better.
Can a bruise last for months?
Bruises can last from days to months
, with the bone bruise being the most severe and painful. A muscle bruise occurs when a direct blow from an object strikes part of the body, damaging the underlying muscle fibers and connective tissue without breaking the skin.
Whats the longest a bruise should last?
You can get skin, muscle and bone bruises. Bone bruises are the most serious. It can take months for a bruise to fade, but most last about
two weeks
.
When should you get a bruise checked out?
When to Seek Medical Care
Call the doctor
if bruising occurs easily or for no apparent reason
. Call the doctor if the bruise is painful and under a toenail or fingernail. Call the doctor if a bruise does not improve within two weeks or fails to completely clear after three or four weeks.
What happens when a bruise turns purple?
Within hours a bruise will turn into a dark blue or purple color. As the bruise begins to heal it changes colors.
The color change is due to the biochemical breakdown of hemoglobin that is found in the blood
. As the different components of the blood are broken down, different colors will appear in the bruise.
Can bruises be permanent?
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.
Why does it take so long for my bruises to go away?
That’s because
over time, the sun slowly weakens your skin and the tiny blood vessels underneath it
. These bruises are a little different. They aren’t caused by bumping into something, they don’t usually feel tender when you touch them, and they take longer to heal.
How do you treat a deep bruise?
- Rest the bruised area, if possible.
- Ice the bruise with an ice pack wrapped in a towel. Leave it in place for 10 to 20 minutes. Repeat several times a day for a day or two as needed.
- Compress the bruised area if it is swelling, using an elastic bandage. Don’t make it too tight.
- Elevate the injured area.
Do bruises take longer to heal as you age?
Healing may take longer because of age
. Easy bruising can be an indication of a more serious condition such as a blood disease or a clotting problem. You should consult a doctor if you notice unusually large or painful bruises that develop for no reason.
How long do most bone bruises last?
Most bone bruises slowly heal over
1 to 2 months
. A larger bone bruise may take longer to heal. You may not be able to return to sports activities for weeks or months. If your symptoms don’t go away, your healthcare provider may give you an MRI.
How do you tell if a bruise is a hematoma?
Bruises typically go from a red shade to blue, purple or black as it begins to heal. Once the body begins to absorb the blood and heal the area, the bruise will turn a yellow or green shade and eventually light brown before it disappears.
A hematoma occurs when a larger blood vessel is damaged
.
What are the stages of a bruise?
It often starts red because fresh, oxygen-rich blood has newly pooled underneath the skin. After around 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, or even black. In about 5–10 days, it turns a yellow or green color.
Is it normal for a hematoma to harden?
Many injuries can develop a hematoma and give the area a firm, lumpy appearance
. If you have an injury, you might have more than a bruise. It’s important to see your doctor if your bruise swells or becomes a firm lump, because it might mean something more severe happened under the skin.
What helps make bruises go away faster?
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. It may reduce the amount of blood that leaks out of your vessels.
What does a leukemia bruise look like?
Small red spots (petechiae)
As well as medium-to-large bruises, you might notice “rashes” appearing on your skin. Small, pinhead-sized red spots on the skin (called “petechiae”) may be a sign of leukaemia. These small red spots are actually very small bruises that cluster so that they look like a rash.
Can you get a blood clot from a bruise?
Can bruises cause blood clots? Blood will naturally clot at the site of the capillary damage causing a bruise. However,
bruises themselves do not cause blood clots
. In the case of a large trauma, bruises, hematomas, and blood clots may form independently of each other.
What Colour is a healing bruise?
Within 5 to 10 days after getting a bruise, the area may turn greenish or yellowish.
During the final phase of healing, approximately 10 to 14 days after getting a bruise, the area will usually be brown in color
. As healing progresses, the area will become lighter and lighter until it eventually fades away entirely.
Can bruises cause long term damage?
It is possible, in the case of a severe bone bruise, for the bone to be permanently damaged
. If the area is very large, your body may struggle to heal the area completely. A lack of proper blood flow for too long may lead to avascular necrosis of the bone, which means that part of the bone dies.
What color stages do bruises go through?
After an injury occurs, a bruise will usually be red or purple in color. Within a few days, the area may become black, blue or purple. Within 5-10 days, the area will likely become yellowish or greenish. Within 10-14 days, you’re in your final stage of healing.
Does massaging a bruise help?
Don’t massage or rub the injury because you can break more blood vessels in the process
. Instead, give yourself time for the pain and swelling to subside and apply ice immediately and as needed.
