Skin Assessing Patients With Dark Skin

Question 1

How would you assess patients with dark skin

Answer 1

-darker areas of skin “check for color difference”
(Look for areas of skin that are darker than surrounding skin. These may appear purple, brown or blue)

-skin temperature
(Use your hand to assess the skin. An ulceration may feel warm initially, then become cooler with time)

-skin/tissue consistence
(Apply gentle pressure to common sites of injury to feel consistency.Boggy or edematous tissue may indicate a Stage 1 pressure Ulcer)

-patient sensation
(Patients may also report pain or itchy sensation)