Symptom: Dark skin

Introduction: Dark skin

Further information about Dark skin is below, or review more specific information about these types of Dark skin: hyperpigmentation, purple skin, bronze skin, cafe-au-lait spots, Increased pigmentation, Skin, bronze, Black patches of skin, Persistent brown pigmentation or other types.

There are various types of skin darkening. One type is hyperpigmentation that occurs when certain skin cells release more pigment (dark color). Darkening of the skin due to "blueness" is called cyanosis (see also blue skin) or purple skin. Darkening may sometimes occur from redness or bruising. Other types of skin darkening can result from sun exposure, certain dietary items, and certain chemicals; see also skin color changes for particular colors such as redness, blueness and other skin color changes. Skin darkening, color changes, or hyperpigmentation can be the symptom of some severe diseases (e.g. Addison's, scleroderma), and any such symptoms require prompt professional medical investigation.

» Review Causes of Dark skin: full list

Causes of Dark skin:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Dark skin. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Bruise
• Purple skin
• Blue skin
• Mole
• Malignant melanoma
• Seborrheic wart - also senile wart
• Freckles
• Cafe-au-lait spots
• Hyperpigmentation - and various causes of hyperpigmentation including:
  • Sunburn
  • Stopping the pill
  • Radiation therapy
  • Adrenal disorder
  • Addison's disease
  • Liver disorder
  • Intestinal disorder
  • Malnutrition
  • Vitamin deficiency
  • See also causes of hyperpigmentation
• Pregnancy - causes the "mask of pregnancy" (a darkening of cheeks and forehead); also darkening nipples, genitals, and a line down the central abdomen.
• Chloasma - brown pigmentation on the face in pregnancy.
• Sun sensitivity - from various possible causes.
• Hemochromatosis - can cause a brown or "bronze" skin color
• Varicose veins - may cause ankle skin darkening.
• Venous ulceration - from long-term varicose veins
• Familial polyposis - causes darkening of skin of the gums.
• Acanthosis nigricans
• Erythema ab igne - red-brown discoloration from heat exposure.
• Dry gangrene (type of Gangrene)
• Mongolian blue spot - a blue/black spot on the buttocks or lower back region.

See full list of 104 causes of Dark skin

» Review Causes of Dark skin: full list

Causes of Types of Dark skin:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Dark skin:

• Hyperpigmentation (123 causes)
• Purple skin (16 causes)
• Bronze skin (17 causes)
• Cafe-au-lait spots (12 causes)
• Increased pigmentation (17 causes)
• Skin, bronze
• Black patches of skin
• Persistent brown pigmentation
• Excess skin pigmentation (7 causes)

See full list of 36 types for Dark skin

Dark skin: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Dark skin, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Dark skin: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Dark skin and Skin problems (75 causes)
• Dark skin and Skin symptoms (75 causes)
• Dark skin and Skin color changes (72 causes)
• Dark skin and Nerve symptoms (37 causes)
• Dark skin and Sensations (35 causes)
• Dark skin and Head symptoms (34 causes)
• Dark skin and Pain (33 causes)
• Dark skin and Hyperpigmentation (32 causes)
• Dark skin and Swelling symptoms (31 causes)
• Dark skin and Face symptoms (27 causes)
• Dark skin and Digestive symptoms (25 causes)
• Dark skin and Muscle symptoms (22 causes)
• Dark skin and Muscle weakness (22 causes)
• Dark skin and Weakness (22 causes)
• Dark skin and Body symptoms (21 causes)
• Dark skin and Fatigue (21 causes)
• Dark skin and Sexual symptoms (21 causes)
• Dark skin and Weight symptoms (19 causes)
• Dark skin and Abdominal symptoms (19 causes)
• Dark skin and Behavioral symptoms (19 causes)

See full list of 986 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Dark skin

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Skin color changes (712 causes)
• Skin symptoms (1828 causes)
• Skin problems (1677 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Dark skin

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Dark skin:

• Skin color changes (712 causes)
• Hyperpigmentation (123 causes)
• Whitening (58 causes)
• Hypopigmentation (53 causes)
• Blueness (279 causes)
• Cyanosis (279 causes)
• Purple skin (16 causes)
• Orange skin (14 causes)
• Yellow skin (49 causes)
• Sun sensitivity (15 causes)
• Hyperpigmentation (123 causes)
• Skin color changes (712 causes)
• Purple skin (16 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Dark skin

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Dark skin from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Dark skin. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Dark skin

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Dark skin

Psoriasis often undiagnosed cause of skin symptoms in children: Children who suffer from the skin disorder called psoriasis can often go undiagnosed. The main problem is that psoriasis is rare in children, and not often seen by physicians for this reason. children may receive treatment for fungal skin infections. See misdiagnosis of psoriasis or symptoms of psoriasis....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Dark skin

Diagnostic tests for Dark skin:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Dark skin. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Examine the dark skin in area or areas affected and note pigmentation features
  • Examine for signs of systemic disease that may be associated with the casue of the dark skin - e.g. enlarged liver with jaundice.
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count

See full list of 18 diagnostic tests for Dark skin

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Dark skin. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you noticed the dark skin? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Is the skin darkness localized or generalized? - if generalized should consider jaundice (yellow discoloration), chronic liver disease and hemochromatosis ( bronze discoloration).
• If localized darkness to skin, what areas of the body are affected? - may assist in diagnosis e.g. "sun kissed" pigmentation of the nipples, palmar creases, pressure area and mouth in Addison's disease; isolated dark-brown to light brown patches which tend to remain on one side of the midline especially on the back, buttocks or scalp are characteristic of McCune-Albright syndrome; darkened skin on cheeks and forehead called cloasma in pregnancy; hyperpigmented eyelids with atopic dermatitis (eczema); reddish purple flush around the eyes associated with swelling is characteristic of dermatomyositis; blotchy brown pigmentation on one shoulder of teenage boys is characteristic of Becker's nevus; velvety thickened hyperpigmentation in axilla is characteristic of acanthosis nigricans.
• Sun exposure? - exposure to ultraviolet radiation increases the melanin in the skin and causes darkening of skin in exposed areas called tanning.
• Past medical history? - e.g. peripheral vascular disease may suggest gangrene if black dead skin in extremities; hemochromatosis; systemic sclerosis; systemic sclerosis; Addison's disease; neurofibromatosis and phaeochromocytoma are associated with Café au lait patches; Diabetes mellitus, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease, hypothyroidism, bowel cancer and obesity may be associated with acanthosis nigricans.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Dark skin (17 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Dark skin) may include:

• Itch? - may suggest eczema, malignant change in a mole.
• Hair growth in localized pigmentation? - may suggest Becker's nevus.
• Symptoms of Addison's disease? - e.g. pigmentation on the nipples, palmar creases, pressure areas and mouth, tiredness, weight loss, reduced appetite, nausea, diarrhea, passing urine at night.
• Symptoms of hemochromatosis? - e.g. bronze pigmentation, fatigue, loss of libido, painful joints, symptoms of diabetes, symptoms of congestive cardiac failure.
• Symptoms of systemic sclerosis? - e.g. plaques of thickened reddened skin that cause darkened skin patches on resolution, symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome, heartburn, acid reflux, pain with swallowing.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Dark skin (17 listings)

Stories from Users for Dark skin

Real-life user stories relating to Dark skin:

• Dark Skin on my neck
• skin darkness on my bum
• mother in the dark
• Dark skin
• Dark skin under arms, breasts, and inner thigh
• help extra skin?
• purplesih/dark flat dots unde skin with Pictures
• Archiv Dark Porn
• Darker pigmented skin accompanied by skin that doesn't seem to exfoliate
• dark skin
• Dark Skin
• Dark Forehead
• dark skin patches
• dark skin......

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Dark skin or relevant symptoms:

• Gastrointestinal (Food - from entry to exit) (452)
  • Bloating/Distention/Intestinal Gas
  • Intense Abdominal Pain
  • Help Please! Extreme Abdominal Pain/Gas/Bowel Symptoms ++
  • Feels like a baby kicking-not pregnant
  • 7 year old with severe heartburn/stomach aches
  • More user stories
• Integumentary (Skin) (244)
  • Itchy red bumps all over body? Hives?
  • Sensitive Skin to Touch
  • Painful skin and no answers!!!
  • Pinprick red dots, itchy skin, wrongly diagnosed
  • Skin blisters, joint & muscle pain, Photos..
  • More user stories
• Endocrine (Growth and Metabolism) (93)
  • Symptoms of Cushing's - Tests all negative
  • Has anyone been diagnosed with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome and are being treated??
  • Pitutary tumor
  • I am at my wits end with these symptoms
  • I think I have Cushings, can you help?
  • More user stories

Videos for Dark skin

Patient Surveys for Dark skin

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about diseases related to your Dark skin
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Organs affected by Dark skin:

The list of organs typically affected by Dark skin may include, but is not limited to:

• Skin

Detailed list of causes of Dark skin

The list below shows some of the causes of Dark skin mentioned in various sources:

• Acanthosis nigricans
• ACTH resistance - increased pigmentation
• Actinic keratosis - red-brown skin
• Addison's disease - hyperpigmentation
• Adrenal Cortex Diseases - darkening of skin

See full list of 104 causes of Dark skin

How Common are these Causes of Dark skin?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Dark skin. Of the 104 causes of Dark skin that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 3 causes are "very common" diseases
• 3 causes are "common" diseases
• 2 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 2 causes are "rare" diseases
• 5 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 93 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 104 causes of Dark skin

Conditions listing symptoms: Dark skin:

The following list of conditions have 'Dark skin' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Dark skin Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Dark skin based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: