What are the types of bleeding into the skin?

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What are the types of bleeding into the skin?

Bruises are the most common type of bleeding into the skin. They usually appear as red, blue, black or purple spots and may develop after an injury. Bruises can appear a few different ways:

  • Petechiae (puh-TEE-kee-uh) occur when only a few small blood vessels burst. They look like tiny red dots smaller than 2 millimeters (mm), or about the width of a crayon tip.
  • Purpura happens when several small blood vessels burst. It looks like a reddish-purple patch. Purpura spots are about 4 mm to 1 inch — about the width of a pencil eraser to the size of a quarter.
  • Ecchymosis (ehk-ih-MO-sis) is when multiple blood vessels very close together burst, resulting in pooled blood just under your skin’s surface. Ecchymosis looks like a bruise, but it’s not always related to an injury.
  • Hematomas occur when larger blood vessels burst, resulting in pooled blood. Most hematomas are minor. But if they develop in larger organs or body cavities, they can be severe and even life-threatening.

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