Bruising around eyes is much more pronounced than skin overlying thick muscle. Vascular tissue covering bone bruises more. Increased age is related to slower healing. Women may bruise more easily than men. Hypertension and blood dyscrasias may alter the extent of bruising.
Steroids can alter the dispersion rate of bruising.
Deep subcutaneous injury can prolong healing time. A bruise may occur instantaneously or take 24-48 hours to rise to the skin surface. The mark may show only after a postmortem period elapses. Bruising may not occur at the same location as the site of impact because of movement of the extravasated blood through tissue layers. Bruises appearing as ante-mortem can be created during autopsy dissection or by force delivered after death.