Why do cuts and scrapes eventually stop bleeding on their own?

When you get a cut, your body immediately triggers a process called hemostasis. First, the damaged blood vessels constrict to slow blood flow. Then platelets rush to the injury site and clump together, forming a temporary plug. These platelets release chemical signals that activate clotting factors in the blood, triggering a cascade of reactions that produce fibrin, a protein that weaves into a mesh-like net reinforcing the platelet plug. This forms a clot that seals the wound. The process typically takes a few minutes for minor cuts. Deeper wounds take longer because more damage means more bleeding pressure to overcome. Conditions like hemophilia interfere with clotting factors, which is why people with that condition bleed much longer than normal.