Bruises

A bruise occurs when broken blood vessels bleed into the tissue beneath the skin, causing local discoloration. The bruise usually occurs as a result of a fall, blow, or knock against a hard surface. Sometimes a person knows exactly how he or she got a bruise, and sometimes the bruise is a complete surprise. A bruise generally starts as a red mark and then turns from blue to brown to yellow-green as the blood is reabsorbed into the body. Some bruises are accompanied by a bump or swelling. This is most common if the bruise is on the forehead or somewhere else where the bone is very close to the skin. Most bruises are not serious, and they disappear on their own.