a. Color.
(1)
Many blood vessels lie near the surface of the skin.
(2)
Pigmentation in individuals will not hide changes in the skin's underlying
color.
(3)
In lightly pigmented individuals, skin normally has a pink color.
(4) In patients with deeply pigmented skin, changes in skin color may only
be apparent in certain areas, such as the fingernail beds, the lips, the mucous
membranes in the mouth, the underside of the arm and hand, and the conjunctiva of the
eye.
(5) Poor peripheral circulation will cause the skin to appear pale, white,
ashen, gray, or waxy and translucent like a white candle. These skin colors can also
appear in abnormally cold or frozen skin.
(6) When the blood is not properly saturated with oxygen, it changes to a
bluish color. Skin over the blood vessels appears blue or gray, a condition called
cyanosis.
(7) Red skin will result from carbon monoxide poisoning, significant fever,
heatstroke, sunburn, mild thermal burns, or other conditions in which the body is unable
to properly dissipate heat.
(8) Color changes may also result from chronic illness. Liver disease
dysfunction may cause jaundice, resulting in a yellow cast to the skin.
b. Temperature.
(1)
Normally, the skin is warm to the touch.
(2)
The skin feels hot with significant fever, sunburn, or hyperthermia.
(3) The skin feels cool in early shock, profuse sweating, heat exhaustion,
and profound hypothermia and/or frostbite.
(4) Feel the patient's forehead with the back of your ungloved hand to
determine marked fever.
MD0531
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