Symptom: Dark skin
Dark skin: Darkening of the skin as a symptom
Introduction: 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.
Detailed cause information for symptom: Dark skin:
Medical articles on symptoms: These general medical articles may be of interest:
- Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
- Symptoms and Medical Malpractice
- Medical mistakes and their rates, causes and prevention
- Deaths and sudden death
Types of Dark skin: hyperpigmentation (9), purple skin (6)
Symptoms related to Dark skin: skin color changes (129), hyperpigmentation (9), whitening (8), hypopigmentation (4), blueness (33), cyanosis (33), purple skin (6), orange skin (3), yellow skin (24), sun sensitivity (5), hyperpigmentation (9), skin color changes (129), purple skin (6)
Dark skin type of: Skin color changes (129)
Symptoms: symptom center, symptom groups, symptom descriptions
Possible causes of symptom: Dark skin: The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Dark skin as a symptom. 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 (type of Erythema) - 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.
- Certain foods
- Certain medications
- See also causes of blue skin, purple skin, hyperpigmentation and other skin color changes
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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Conditions listing complications: Dark skin: The following list of conditions have 'Dark skin' or similar listed as a complication in our database. The distinction between a symptom and complication is not always clear, and conditions mentioning this symptom as a complication may also be relevant. 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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Last revised: Nov 12, 2003
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