Diving Into the Spectrum of Bruises: Your Guide to the Top Five Types You Should Know About

Ecchymosis - Painting a Large Canvass

Ecchymosis is the medical term for what we commonly recognise as a 'bruise'. These are large patches of discoloration, caused by blood trapped under the surface of the skin.

They are usually the consequence of an injury that caused rupture of the small blood vessels beneath the skin. The entrapped blood then spreads in the surrounding tissue, leading to the formation of an extensive, colorful blotch — a symptom you’re likely most familiar with when you think about bruises.

The color of an ecchymosis changes as it heals, starting from red or purple, to green and yellow, similar to the progression observed in common bruises. They might tender or mildly painful initially but usually decrease in pain intensity as they heal and fade.