What is a bruise?

A bruise is when tiny tubes inside your body called blood vessels get bumped or squished and a little bit of blood leaks under your skin. The blood makes a spot that looks different from the rest of your skin — that spot is the bruise.

How does a bruise happen? (Step by step)

1. You bump into something, fall, or get hit.
2. The bump hurts the small blood vessels under your skin.
3. Some blood escapes from those vessels and stays under the skin.
4. The blood under the skin makes a dark spot — the bruise.

Why does the color change?

Bruises change colors as your body cleans up the leaking blood. This usually happens over several days:

• At first: the bruise can look red or dark blue/purple.
• After a few days: it can turn greenish or brownish.
• Later: it often turns yellow and then slowly fades away.

This is normal — it means your body is healing the bruise.

How you (and a grown-up) can help

1. Tell an adult: Always let a parent, teacher, or other grown-up know you got hurt.
2. Put something cold on it: A cold pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel for about 10–15 minutes helps reduce swelling and pain. Do not put ice directly on the skin.
3. Rest and protect the spot: Try not to use the injured area too much for a little while.
4. Keep it up if you can: If the bruise is on an arm or leg, raising it a bit can help reduce swelling.
5. Ask before medicine: If it really hurts, ask a grown-up if you can take medicine — only take medicine with an adult's help.

When to tell a doctor

Tell a grown-up to call a doctor if:

• The bruise is very big or keeps getting bigger.
• You are dizzy, feel very sick, or fainted when you got the bruise.
• You get bruises a lot for no obvious reason.
• The bruise doesn’t start to get better after about two weeks.

How to try to avoid bruises

• Wear helmets, knee pads, or other safety gear when you need them.
• Be careful when running or playing where you might fall.
• Make sure the place you play is safe and free of sharp corners.

Remember: bruises happen to everyone sometimes. Most of the time they are not dangerous and will go away on their own. Always tell a grown-up when you get a bruise so they can help you feel better.