Results: The stages and colors of bruises

Pink and red. Immediately after a blow, such as banging your shin on a step or your arm on the door, your bruised skin can look a little pink or red. You may notice that the area around the bruise is also swollen and tender to the touch. Do you often get bruised?

Blue and dark purple. Within a day or so of impact, your bruise will darken to blue or purple. This is caused by both low oxygen supplies and swelling at the bruising site. As a result, hemoglobin, which is typically red, begins a gradual change to blue. This darkening can last through the fifth day after injury. The bruise marks that bothers me the most are the ones that show in my arms in summer each time I have to get a blood test done, or donate blood. My skin is too delicate and I get horrible bruises really fast. Is there any kind of bruise that is particularly bothering for you?

Pale green. Around the sixth day, your bruise will begin appearing greenish in color. This is a sign of the hemoglobin breaking down. It also means the healing process has begun. When I was 13 I had two broken bones in my arm when I fall from a bus. I think that was the biggest bruise I've ever had or seen. Did you ever have to deal with a very huge bruise?

Yellow and brown. After the seventh day from the time of injury, your bruise begins lightening to a pale yellow or light brown shade. This is the last stage of your body's re-absorption process. Your bruise won't change color again. Instead, it will gradually fade away until it's completely gone. Sometimes people get bruised in the most unusual ways. Last year I saw a man who had almost half of his face badly bruised and the arm on the same side. It looked as if he had fallen in a very weird way. While talking to him, he let me know he was robbed and the thief hit him with all his strength against the wall in the street, just to get his cellphone and his wallet. Did you ever get bruised in a violent situation?