What are the color stages of bruises?

The color stage of a bruise begins with a bright pink or red spot on the skin and transforms into a dark purple or dark blue color within a few hours, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. A bruise ultimately changes to a dark yellow color before fading.

During the course of a few days, bruises will often change many colors before they completely fade away, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. For example, after a bright pink discoloration of the skin, the bruise typically turns dark purple, but some people experience color changes that include dark green, violet, blue and bright yellow before the bruise turns pale yellow.