A blood clot generally looks like a clump of reddish jelly held together by a net-like structure called fibrin. The red color comes from red blood cells trapped in this fibrin mesh, along with tiny platelets that help form the clot
. When visible on the skin, blood clots may cause:
- Redness or bluish discoloration of the skin, often localized to one limb (arm or leg)
- Swelling of the affected area, which may feel warm to the touch
- The skin over the clot may appear reddish, purplish, or bluish, sometimes with a darker or brownish hue on darker skin tones
In cases like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the clot forms inside deep veins, usually in the legs, causing swelling, pain (often described as a cramp or charley horse), warmth, and skin color changes
. The clot itself is not usually directly visible but its effects on the skin and limb are noticeable. In summary, a blood clot may look like a swollen, red or bluish patch on the skin with warmth and tenderness, or internally it appears as a jelly-like mass made of red blood cells, platelets, and fibrin mesh
