What is the process that darkens the skin when it is exposed to UV light?
UV radiation induces immediate pigment darkening (IPD) by chemical modification of melanin, and possibly spatial redistribution of melanosomes in keratinocytes and melanocytes (7). UV exposure also leads to delayed tanning (DT) by new synthesis of melanin over several days after UV exposure and persists for weeks (8).
Why is my skin getting darker for no reason?
Darker areas of skin (or an area that tans more easily) occurs when you have more melanin or overactive melanocytes. Bronzing of the skin may sometimes be mistaken for a suntan. This skin discoloration often develops slowly, starting at the elbows, knuckles, and knees and spreading from there.
How do you describe skin color in medical terms?
Skin color may be described as constitutive or as facultative. Constitutive skin color represents an individuals baseline, or the color of skin that has not been altered by sun or other types of ultraviolet (UV) exposure; one example of a constitutive skin site in most people is the upper inner arm.
How would you describe skin nursing assessment?
A skin assessment should include the presenting concern/compliant with the skin, history of the presenting concern/compliant, past medical history, family history, social history, medicines (including topical treatment) and allergies and impact on quality of life.
Is skin discoloration common?
Discolored patches of skin, including birthmarks, pigmentation defects, rashes, and infections, are normal and have many causes. Some causes are innocuous, but medical treatment will be needed for others. The skin contains melanin, which is the pigment that gives skin its color.
What does UV light trigger to make more melanin?
A healthy glow Human melanocyte skin cells fluoresce as their calcium signaling spikes after exposure to ultraviolet light and retinal, a key step in producing melanin.
What causes skin to darken?
If your body makes too much melanin, your skin gets darker. Pregnancy, Addisons disease, and sun exposure all can make your skin darker. If your body makes too little melanin, your skin gets lighter. Vitiligo is a condition that causes patches of light skin.
How do you assess patient skin color?
Skin color also can be assessed through digital image analysis or measured with such instruments as a spectrophotometer or colorimeter. These techniques generally are used in research, to collect forensic evidence, or during dermatologic procedures.
What are the 4 abnormal skin colors?
Certain skin colors may represent serious disease, including pallor (pale), cyanosis (blue), jaundice or icterus (yellow), gray, and hyperpigmentation (brown). Table 8-1 summarizes these abnormal states, including the underlying physiological features and associated causes of the color.
Should I be worried about skin discoloration?
While there are many harmless causes of skin discoloration, such as birthmarks, some cases of discolored skin may develop from an underlying medical condition that requires diagnosis and treatment. Discolored skin patches may also commonly develop on certain body parts due to a difference in melanin levels.
