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How Does Cold Damage and Frostbite Look on Dark Skin Tones?

How Does Cold Damage and Frostbite Look on Dark Skin Tones? featured image
Photo by Megan Ruth on Unsplash

This winter season has consisted of vicious cold snaps. And experts predict there are plenty more on the way before spring has sprung. Most of us know that when temperatures drop below freezing, our skin is at risk of serious damage. But, most of the advice and key descriptions of cold damage apply to white skin.

When it comes to dark skin tones, MIT research indicates that even experts can have difficulty diagnosing dermatological conditions. Dermatologists also report a lack of dark skin in textbooks and training. We know that many skin conditions have different presentations on dark skin tones. The same is true for cold damage. This is what you need to know.

Winter Redness May Not Apply

“It’s so important to know how conditions appear on different skin tones because they won’t always look the same,” says Melville, NY dermatologist Kally Papantoniou, MD. “If we don’t know what to look for, it is so easy to miss something or misdiagnose it. Being able to spot these differences means better care for everyone.”

We’re often told that one of the first signs of cold damage to the skin is redness. Seasonally, winter redness is just our skin’s reaction to irritation caused by cold and dry air.

According to Vestavia Hill, AL dermatologist Julie C. Harper, MD, winter air causes skin barrier damage. “Our skin acts as a barrier between us and our environment,” Dr. Harper explains. “This barrier seals moisture in and keeps unwanted pollutants and toxins out. Environmental extremes, like cold, dry air can disrupt this barrier and allow the skin’s natural water and lipid content to leach out. The skin is left feeling rough, chapped, tight and dry.”

But on dark skin, that redness may not be obvious at all.

“On darker skin, you will definitely see signs of irritation and skin barrier damage during the winter, it just presents a little differently,” explains Dr. Papantoniou. “Winter reddening won’t be as obvious on darker skin due to the higher melanin content which masks the obvious bright redness. Instead, individuals with darker skin may notice other signs such as dryness, a gray or ashy appearance or an uneven skin tone in affected areas.”

Those with dark skin may also notice rough patches and hyperpigmentation when exposed to cold.

Serious Cold Damage Also Looks Different

When cold damage goes from irritating to serious, light skin tones also get the bulk of the information. The Cleveland Clinic explains that the three stages of frostbite, from frostnip and superficial frostbite to deep frostbite have different indicators. Stage one involves reddened skin and soreness. Stage two sees patches of skin begin to peel. And stage three, deep frostbite, includes numbness and hard, blackened skin.

On dark skin, though, these signs may not be so clear.

“Frostbite can be challenging to identify on darker skin because it doesn’t have the classic redness that is often associated with it,” Dr. Papantoniou explains. “Early signs may include a gray or bluish hue, while advanced frostbite might appear dark, purplish or black, depending on the severity.”

That said, there are signs that all skin will show.

“Texture changes in particular—like swelling or a waxy feel— are indicators to watch out for in all skin tones,” Dr. Papantoniou says.

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