Why do bruises change colors?

Answer: Hemoglobin breaks down

Skin layers are damaged — Wrong. Bruises occur under the skin, not from skin layer damage. The color changes come from blood breakdown.

Hemoglobin breaks down ✓ — Correct! Trapped blood under skin breaks down over time. Hemoglobin turns from red to blue-purple, then green, then yellow as it's processed. This color progression shows your body is healing!

Blood mixes with skin cells — Wrong. Blood doesn't mix with skin cells. It pools under the skin and gradually breaks down into different compounds.