First Aid Bruises, Cuts & Punctures Is It a Bruise or a Hematoma? By Lana Barhum Lana Barhum Facebook LinkedIn Lana Barhum has been a freelance medical writer for over 10 years. She shares advice on living well with chronic disease. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 15, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Michael Menna, DO Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO Michael Menna, DO, is board-certified in emergency medicine. He is an attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York and also works at an urgent care center and a telemedicine company that provides care to patients across the country. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is a Bruise? What Is a Hematoma? Causes Diagnosis Treatment Frequently Asked Questions Bruises and hematomas occur when blood leaks outside of an injured blood vessel after a trauma. There are many differences between them, including their appearance, symptoms, and healing time, as well as the types of blood vessels involved. Verywell / Laura Porter This article explains how to distinguish bruises from hematomas. It also covers why they occur and treatment options. What Is a Bruise? A bruise is a mark on the skin caused by small amounts of blood leaking from crushed small blood vessels, like capillaries. Bruises may also be referred to as ecchymosis or a contusion, Those that occur under the surface of your skin are usually quite visible. The initial black and blue skin discoloration will change to a yellow, green, or light brown color within five to 10 days. Bruises are flat, although mild swelling may be present. They can be tender to the touch. Bruises can also form in deeper tissues, including muscles and bones. Though you won't see them, you will feel pain and soreness in the area of the injury. Art_rich / Getty Images Bruises usually heal on their own within a week or two. They rarely cause serious complications, but can if there are additional injuries. For example, a black eye from a face injury may cause vision problems. What Is a Hematoma? Hematomas are larger bleeds that often involve larger blood vessels. With a hematoma, the leaking blood will pool and clot, or form clumps of blood. This can cause a firm and tender mass. Hematomas can develop deep within the body, like in a muscle or in or around an internal organ. They can also form beneath the skin, on the scalp, nose, ears, or under a nail. When it is closer to the surface of the skin, the hematoma may appear as a painful red, black, or blue lump. As it breaks down, the skin will eventually change to a yellow or brown color. Aliaksandr Litviniuk / Getty Images Unlike bruises, hematomas can cause serious harm. If they get large enough, they may cause blood pressure to drop. They can even lead to shock, a life threatening condition that happens when organs in the body don't get enough blood or oxygen . Very large hematomas can cause organs to shift and affect how they function. The most dangerous and life-threatening hematomas are in the brain and skull. With these, the blood can become trapped within the skull and put pressure on the brain. This can cause: Brain damage A coma, or a state of long term unconsciousness Paralysis, or weakness or total loss of movement in the muscles in part of your body Seizure, or a sudden burst of uncontrolled activity in the brain Healing time ranges from weeks to months, depending on the size and location of the hematoma. Bruises Localized bleeding from smaller blood vessels under the skin Flat and tender to the touch Usually heals without medical attention within two weeks Generally has few complications Hematomas Pooling of blood due to leakage from larger vessels Raised, firm, and painful May require medical care and take weeks or months to heal Some can cause serious and even life-threatening complications What Are Causes and Risk Factors? Bruises and hematomas both occur when a force—usually a blunt force—directly impacts the body, causing blood vessels to break open. Examples include falls, car accidents, and sports injuries. Medical procedures and broken bones can also cause bruises and hematomas. There are certain factors that may increase a person's risk of bruises or hematomas: Older age Bleeding disorders, like hemophilia, a condition that causes difficulty with blood clotting Thrombocytopenia, or a low count of a type of blood cell that helps stop bleeding Alcohol use disorder Liver disease, or a group of conditions that lead to liver damage Vitamin C or K deficiency Severe viral infection Blood cancer Certain drugs can also increase the risk of bruises or hematomas: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin Blood thinners, like heparin and Coumadin (warfarin), which may be used to treat blood clots Corticosteroids like prednisone, which may be used to treat inflammatory conditions Certain antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial infections Certain supplements like Ginkgo biloba, omega-3 fatty acids, and garlic How Are These Diagnosed? Most of the time, healthcare providers can diagnose a bruise or hematoma on the skin just by looking at it during a physical exam. For suspected bone bruises, an imaging test, like an X-ray, may be ordered to check for broken bones. In the case of an internal hematoma, including one in the skull or brain, imaging tests like a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be required. How Are These Treated? You may be able to treat mild bruises or hematomas at home. Larger or internal hematomas may require medical care. Bruises and Superficial Hematomas Bruises may heal on their own, but may benefit from treatments like the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). This involves: Rest and elevate the area where the bruise/hematoma is to minimize swelling and ease discomfort.For the first day or two after the injury/trauma, apply a bag of frozen peas or an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day.Gently compress the injured area with an elastic bandage if swelling is present. Hematomas on the skin may benefit from a similar approach, although a splint may be advised to keep an injured limb from moving and prevent the larger vessel from breaking open again. If needed, pain can be controlled with Tylenol (acetaminophen) rather than an NSAID like Advil (ibuprofen). NSAIDs promote bleeding and can make the condition worse. Treating a Minor Bruise: If You Act Fast You May Speed Healing Larger or Deeper Hematomas Hematomas that are pressing on a nerve or blood vessel, or are causing tissue damage may require surgical drainage or removal. The drainage of any hematoma must be done before the blood clots and forms a solid mass. In terms of skull hematomas: Bed rest and observation may be all that is needed for small skull hematomas. For large skull hematomas, a procedure known as burr hole surgery may be used to drill a hole in the skull in order to drain the trapped blood. Severe cases may require a craniotomy, during which a piece of skull bone is temporarily removed to extract the trapped blood. If surgery is done, a drain may be left in place for a couple of days while the individual is closely monitored in the hospital. The treatment of internal hematomas elsewhere in the body may involve a watch-and-wait approach under observation or immediate surgical investigation. Summary Bruises result from an injury to smaller blood vessels, while hematomas result from injury to larger blood vessels. While bruises rarely cause serious complications, hematomas can—particularly those in the skull or brain. Most bruises and superficial hematomas can be diagnosed with a physical exam and treated with the RICE method. Larger or deeper hematomas may require imaging studies and surgery. A Word From Verywell Developing a small hematoma or a bruise may be uncomfortable, but it will likely heal on its own. That being said, be sure to seek medical attention if your bruise or hematoma is very painful, is associated with serious trauma, or if you have signs of infection. You may also want to notify your doctor if you tend to bruise easily or often as this could be linked to an underlying medical condition or medication. Frequently Asked Questions How dangerous is a hematoma during pregnancy? Certain hematomas increase the risk of miscarriage within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy if:The individual is also experiencing vaginal bleeding and crampingThe hematoma is subchorionic, meaning there is bleeding between the area around the embryo and uterine wall Learn More: What Is Miscarriage? Is a contusion the same thing as a hematoma? No. A contusion is another word for a bruise and results from small leaks from small blood vessels. How serious is a subdural hematoma? A subdural hematoma can be very serious and even deadly. This can lead to brain damage, so it's important to seek immediate medical attention if this is suspected. Does a hematoma need to be drained? In some cases, like if you are at risk for an infection or other complications, the hematoma will need to be drained. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 13 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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