Bruises typically last for about 2 weeks.
Bruise Healing Timeline
The duration of a bruise can vary slightly from person to person but generally follows a similar pattern. Here's a breakdown of how bruises change over time:
- Initial Stage (Reddish): Immediately after an injury, blood appears under the skin, causing the area to look reddish.
- Color Change: As the body begins to break down and reabsorb the blood, the bruise will change colors. This color change is a good indicator of how old the bruise is.
- Fading: Over the course of approximately two weeks, the bruise will typically fade and eventually disappear completely.
Understanding the Color Changes
The changing colors of a bruise are due to the breakdown of hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in red blood cells. The colors you might see during the healing process include:
- Red: Freshly formed, indicating the initial presence of blood.
- Blue/Purple: As hemoglobin loses oxygen, the bruise appears blue or purple.
- Green: The bruise turns green as hemoglobin is broken down into biliverdin.
- Yellow/Brown: Finally, the bruise appears yellow or brown as biliverdin breaks down into bilirubin.
Factors Affecting Bruise Duration
While the average healing time for a bruise is about two weeks, several factors can influence how long it lasts:
- Severity of Injury: A more severe injury, resulting in more blood leakage, might take longer to heal.
- Individual Healing Rates: Some people naturally heal faster than others.
- Age: Older adults tend to bruise more easily and may experience longer healing times.
- Medications: Certain medications, such as blood thinners, can make bruising worse and may prolong healing.
- Nutritional Factors: Deficiencies in certain nutrients can impair healing.
- Location of Bruise: Areas with less underlying fat tissue might heal slower.
When to Seek Medical Advice
While most bruises are harmless and resolve on their own, you should seek medical attention if you experience any of the following:
- A bruise that doesn't improve after two weeks
- A bruise that appears without any known injury
- Pain, swelling, or tenderness lasting more than a few days
- Frequent or easy bruising
- A large lump (hematoma) forming under the skin
