Skin assessment in dark pigmented skin: a challenge in pressure ulcer prevention
- Clark, Michael PhD
The classic signs of skin damage are different in Caucasian and dark pigmented skin. Advice on how to identify pressure ulcers in dark skin is provided
ABSTRACT
Clark M (2010) Skin assessment in dark pigmented skin: a challenge in pressure ulcer prevention. Nursing Times; 106:30,16–17.
Skin assessment is a vital element in the prevention of pressure ulcers, and many recommendations for skin assessment depend on visual and tactile cues to identify changes in skin appearance. These visual cues that indicate changes in skin appearance may be easily observed in Caucasian skin but, with darker pigmentation, it may be harder to spot visual signs of early changes caused by pressure damage. This article outlines how nurses can address this problem in clinical practice and the technological developments that may help to solve this clinical issue.