Bruises Can Permanently Stain Skin

Severe bruising or other trauma can leave a long-lasting or permanent skin discoloration that doctors call hemosiderin staining. When damaged capillaries leak, blood pools in the tissue, and the body breaks down red blood cells, releasing their iron. The iron forms hemosiderin, a protein whose rusty color can turn the affected skin dark brown or black. Most injury-related staining eventually fades, sometimes taking more than a year, but some pigmentation becomes permanent.

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