Color
Compare the patient with their baseline and inspect several useful locations. Describe the change rather than assuming one shade looks the same on everyone.
Start here
Look, feel, compare, and connect the finding to the whole patient
Skin signs are fast clues about circulation, oxygenation, temperature regulation, hydration, and illness. They become useful when you compare with baseline and combine them with mental status, pulse, breathing, blood pressure, and the history.
Colornormal, pale, flushed, cyanotic, jaundiced, mottled
Temperaturewarm, hot, cool, or cold
Moisturedry, normal, moist, or diaphoretic
Refilla clue to peripheral perfusion
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Four parts of skin assessment
Do not stop at “warm and dry”
Temperature
Use the back of your hand, compare central with peripheral areas, and compare sides when circulation is a concern.
Moisture
Unexpected diaphoresis, very dry skin, or changes that do not fit the environment can add important context.
Capillary refill
Use it as one peripheral-perfusion clue. Cold, lighting, site, age, and technique can affect what you see.
Interactive pages
Build the assessment one skill at a time
Learn each concept before the quizzes, scenarios, and simulator practice.
Findings Explorer
Change baseline skin tone, explore pallor, flushing, cyanosis, jaundice, and mottling, and learn where to look.
Explore findingsAssessment Skills
Practice inspection, temperature, moisture, capillary refill, and the correct assessment sequence.
Open skills labClinical Clues
Connect findings to shock, hypoxia, fever, sepsis, dehydration, liver problems, and urgent warning signs.
Open clinical cluesPractice now
Use your existing EMSCodeSim tools
Assessment reminder: A skin finding is not a diagnosis. Interpret it with the patient’s baseline, symptoms, environment, lighting, vital signs, perfusion, and overall appearance.