Gangrene is a dangerous and potentially fatal condition that happens when the blood flow to a large area of tissue is cut off. This causes the tissue to break down and die. Gangrene often turns the affected skin a greenish-black color.
Necrotic tissue, termed eschar, is easily identified as black or dark brown in colour. Eschar may be dry or moist and presents as thick and sometimes leathery necrotic tissue cast off from the surface of the wound.
If a wound reaches the point of formation of black or dark, leathery brown tissue, this is an indication of pervasive necrotic tissue and medical assistance needs to be sought immediately.
Eschar is sometimes called a black wound because the wound is covered with thick, dry, black necrotic tissue. Eschar may be allowed to slough off naturally, or it may require surgical removal (debridement) to prevent infection, especially in immunocompromised patients (e.g. if a skin graft is to be conducted).
After injury or irritation, skin inflammation triggers an explosion of pigment production. All this color lingers in the area long after wounds heal, creating darker sections of skin and drawing unwanted attention to your scars.
Tissue that has been damaged by gangrene can't be saved. But treatment is available to help prevent gangrene from getting worse. The faster you get treatment, the better your chance for recovery.
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is darkening of the skin in an area of prior injury or inflammation from increased pigment (melanin) left from the healing process.
As the healing procedure of skin becomes, it produces too much melanin. Excess production of melanin darkens and discolors the skin. This discoloration appears and remains there even after the wound has completely healed.
Redness. The area may be swollen, sore, and red in color right after you've sustained your injury. This is normal as blood is being sent to the area to supply oxygen and other nutrients for healing. But if the wound is still red and swollen after five days, it's a sign that your body is not healing correctly.
A fresh wound is usually red, irritated and possibly swollen, whereas a chronic wound has distinctive symptoms, including: No signs of healing within a 30-day period, such as scabs or new tissue. Numbness around the wound area. A change in color.
The surrounding area becomes red, and this area gets larger over time. The area surrounding the wound becomes swollen, tender to the touch, or painful. The wound weeps off-color or odorous fluid; this pus may be yellow, greenish, or cloudy. Red streaks spread out from the site of the wound.
While some cases of necrosis may heal on their own, it's important to see a healthcare provider if you develop any symptoms of necrosis. Some types of necrosis require immediate treatment. A healthcare provider can diagnose your necrosis and recommend the appropriate treatment.
A necrotizing infection causes patches of tissue to die. These infections are the result of bacteria invading the skin or the tissues under the skin. If untreated, they can cause death in a matter of hours. Fortunately, such infections are very rare.
Hyperpigmentation refers to dark brown spots that form on the scar due to an overproduction of the skin pigment melanin. Once formed, this brown discoloration can be permanent. If you cannot avoid sun exposure, it's important to protect your scar from the sun by using a broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen.
It can take up to 12-18 months after your injury or operation for a scar to heal. A normal scar will become darker initially and after a period of time this will start to fade. Dark scars can remain for years or indefinitely in people with darker skin.
There are two main types of necrotic tissue present in wounds. One is a dry, thick, leathery tissue usually a tan, brown, or black color. The other is often yellow, tan, green, or brown and might be moist, loose, and stringy in appearance. Necrotic tissue will eventually become black, hard, and leathery.
When your skin cells react to damage or irritation by making extra melanin, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the result. This skin condition shows up as tan, brown, dark brown, or even blue-gray patches and spots on your skin.
Dry gangrene.
This type of gangrene involves dry and shriveled skin that looks brown to purplish blue or black. Dry gangrene may develop slowly. It occurs most commonly in people who have diabetes or blood vessel disease, such as atherosclerosis.
General symptoms of gangrene include: red, purple or black skin in the affected area, which may be harder to see on black or brown skin. swelling of the affected area. either a loss of sensation or severe pain in the affected area.
Surgery to remove the dead tissue.
This is called debridement. It can help keep the gangrene from spreading to healthy tissues nearby. In cases where the gangrene is widespread, a finger, toe, or even a limb may need to be amputated.
If the scab appears to be getting bigger after several days instead of staying the same size or getting smaller, this can also indicate an infection. A common misconception is that if a scab is black instead of deep red or brown, the area is infected. This is not the case.
A spot that is a few shades darker than your natural skin color will usually fade within 6 to 12 months. If the color lies deep in your skin, however, fading can take years. Discoloration that lies deep in the skin is often slate blue to gray in color.