How Long Does a Bruise Take to Heal?

Quick Answer

A typical bruise (contusion) heals in 2–4 weeks. Minor bruises may fade in as little as 10–14 days, while deeper bruises or those in the lower legs can take 4–6 weeks. The changing color of a bruise is a visible sign of healing as the body reabsorbs trapped blood.

Bruise Color Change Timeline

Stage	Timeframe	Color	What's Happening
Fresh	Day 0–2	Red or dark pink	Blood leaks from damaged capillaries; area is tender and may swell
Early healing	Days 2–5	Blue, deep purple, or black	Hemoglobin loses oxygen, producing the classic bruise color
Mid healing	Days 5–10	Green or dark teal	Hemoglobin breaks down into biliverdin (a green pigment)
Late healing	Days 10–14	Yellow or yellowish-brown	Biliverdin converts to bilirubin, producing yellow/brown tones
Resolution	Days 14–28	Fading yellow to normal skin	Body fully reabsorbs remaining pigment

Bruise Healing Time by Location

Body Area	Typical Healing Time	Why
Face	7–14 days	Rich blood supply speeds healing
Arms	10–21 days	Good circulation, moderate tissue depth
Torso	14–21 days	Average healing rate
Upper legs	14–28 days	Deeper tissue, more blood pooling
Lower legs / shins	21–42 days	Poor circulation, gravity pulls blood down
Hands / fingers	10–14 days	Thin tissue, good circulation

Factors That Affect Healing Time

Factor	Effect
Age	Older adults bruise more easily and heal more slowly due to thinner skin, fragile blood vessels, and less subcutaneous fat
Medications	Blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin), NSAIDs, and supplements (fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo biloba) can prolong healing
Severity of impact	Deeper trauma causes larger bruises that take longer to resolve
Body location	Legs heal slowest; face heals fastest
Nutritional status	Vitamin C, vitamin K, and iron deficiencies impair healing
Circulation	Poor circulation (diabetes, peripheral artery disease) slows healing
Skin tone	Bruises are harder to see on darker skin but follow the same healing timeline

How to Speed Up Bruise Healing

First 48 Hours

• Apply ice for 15–20 minutes at a time, several times daily, to reduce blood flow and limit bruise size
• Compress the area with an elastic bandage if practical
• Elevate the bruised limb above heart level to reduce pooling
• Rest the area and avoid re-injury

After 48 Hours

• Switch to warm compresses to increase blood flow and speed reabsorption
• Gentle massage around (not on) the bruise can help disperse trapped blood
• Eat vitamin C–rich foods (citrus, berries, bell peppers) and vitamin K–rich foods (leafy greens, broccoli) to support healing
• Arnica gel may help reduce discoloration — some studies show modest benefit

When Bruising May Indicate Something Serious

Most bruises are harmless, but see a doctor if:

Warning Sign	Possible Cause
Frequent, unexplained bruises	Clotting disorder, platelet problem, or medication side effect
Bruise does not improve after 4 weeks	Underlying health condition
Bruise is extremely painful or swelling is severe	Hematoma that may need drainage
Bruise appears with no known injury	Blood disorder, liver disease
Joint near the bruise cannot move	Possible fracture or tendon injury
Petechiae (pinpoint red dots) accompany bruising	Platelet disorder, leukemia
Easy bruising plus fatigue, pale skin, frequent infections	Potential blood cancer or bone marrow disorder

Bruising and Medications

Common medications that increase bruising include blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin), NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen), fish oil supplements, high-dose vitamin E, SSRIs, and long-term prednisone. These medications affect clotting or thin the skin and blood vessel walls. Never stop prescribed medications due to bruising without consulting a doctor.