Ecchymosis is the medical term for the common bruise. They are caused when blood vessels near the skin’s surface burst and blood pools. Ecchymosis will change colors and disappear as this blood is reabsorbed.

Most ecchymosis or bruises form when blood vessels near the surface of the skin are damaged, usually by impact from an injury. The force of the impact causes your blood vessels to burst open and leak blood. This blood gets trapped beneath the skin, where it forms into a little pool that turns your skin purple, black, or blue.

After a blood vessel is injured, platelets in the blood come to help the clotting process. Clotting prevents the injured blood vessels from leaking any more blood and making your bruise even bigger. Some proteins in your blood, called clotting factors, also help to stop the bleeding so that the tissue starts healing.

The main symptom of ecchymosis is an area of skin discoloration larger than 1 centimeter. The area may also be sensitive and painful to touch. Your ecchymosis will change colors and disappear as your body reabsorbs the blood that was pooling beneath the skin.

The progression of colors you’ll see usually follow this order:

  1. red or purple
  2. black or blue
  3. brown
  4. yellow

Ecchymosis is common on your arms and legs since they’re most likely to be injured. Bruising can also happen when you strain or sprain a bone, especially in your wrist or ankle.

Older adults may notice painless bruises on their forearms and the back of their hands. As you age, your skin becomes thinner. When you have thin skin, your blood vessels burst more easily, leading to more frequent bruising. Because the injury is so small, these bruises usually don’t hurt.

The skin around your eyes is also very thin, which makes it likely to bruise. Ecchymosis around the eye socket is more commonly known as a black eye.

Ecchymosis is usually caused by an injury, such as a bump, blow, or fall. This impact may cause a blood vessel to burst open leaking blood under the skin, creating a bruise.

While bruises are very common and affect almost everyone, women tend get them more easily than others do.

If you regularly find bruises on your body but can’t remember getting injured, there could be an underlying cause. Many medications are associated with increased bleeding and bruising, including:

Sometimes easy bruising is a sign of a more serious medical condition, such as a bleeding disorder. There are at least 28 conditions that can cause easy bruising.

Consult your doctor if you:

  • have frequent, large bruises
  • have large, unexplained bruises
  • are bruising easily and have a personal or family history of severe bleeding
  • suddenly begin bruising easily, especially after starting a new medication

Your doctor can usually diagnose ecchymosis just by looking at it. If your injury is severe, your doctor may order an X-ray to make sure there aren’t any broken bones

If they can’t figure out the cause of your bruise, your doctor may perform a blood test to check your platelet levels. They may also do a coagulation test to see how well your blood clots and how long it takes to do so.

In addition to ecchymosis, there are two other types of bleeding into the skin. You can usually figure out what type of bleeding you have by looking at the size, location, and severity of the marking.

Purpura

Purpura refers to dark purple spots or patches with a diameter between 4 and 10 millimeters. It tends have a more defined border than ecchymosis does and sometimes looks more like a rash than a bruise. Unlike ecchymosis, purpura isn’t caused by force from an injury. Instead, it’s usually caused by an infection, medications, or blood clotting problems.

Petechiae

Petechiae are very small spots on your skin that can be purple, red, or brown. They’re caused by burst capillaries, which are small blood vessels, and they appear in groups. Like purpura, petechiae look more like a rash and are usually the result of medication or an underlying condition.

Ecchymosis usually heals on its own within two to three weeks. The injury that caused the bruise may take longer to heal, especially if it involves broken bones.

You might be able to speed up the healing process with the following home remedies:

  • applying an ice pack in the first 24 to 48 hours after the initial injury
  • resting the affected area
  • raising injured limbs above your heart to prevent painful swelling
  • using a heat pack several times a day 48 hours after the injury
  • taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such ibuprofen (Advil), to reduce painful swelling

Bruising is normal and impossible to avoid, but there are things you can do to lower your risk. These tips are especially important if you have a condition that makes you more likely to bruise:

  • wear protective equipment while playing sports
  • keep floors and walkways clear of debris to prevent falls
  • never leave items on a stairway
  • rearrange furniture in a way that reduces the likelihood of bumps
  • keep a nightlight on in your bedroom and bathroom
  • use the flashlight on your cell phone or attach a small light to your keys so you can see in poorly lit areas

Ecchymosis usually heals on its own within a few weeks. If you feel like you’re bruising more than you usually do or notice unexplained bruises, talk to your doctor. You may have an underlying condition that needs treatment.