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Veins close to the surface of the skin appear blue for a variety of reasons. The factors that contribute to this alteration of color perception are related to the light-scattering properties of the skin and the processing of visual input by the visual cortex , rather than the actual colour of the venous blood which is dark red.
Livedo reticularis is a common skin finding consisting of a mottled reticulated vascular pattern that appears as a lace-like purplish discoloration of the skin. [1] The discoloration is caused by reduction in blood flow through the arterioles that supply the cutaneous capillaries, resulting in deoxygenated blood showing as blue discoloration ().
Superficial veins are veins that are close to the surface of the body, as opposed to deep veins, which are far from the surface. Superficial veins are not paired with an artery, unlike the deep veins, which are typically associated with an artery of the same name. Superficial veins are important physiologically for cooling of the
Furthermore, mongolian spots, large birthmarks, and the consumption of food products with blue or purple dyes can also result in the bluish skin tissue discoloration and may be mistaken for cyanosis. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Appropriate physical examination and history taking is a crucial part to diagnose cyanosis.
For ages, children were taught that blood was blue until it hit oxygen, when it turned red. Not so. Veins look blue through the skin because of how the light hits them.
Though veins might make it appear as such, human blood is never naturally blue. [3] The blue appearance of surface veins is caused mostly by the scattering of blue light away from the outside of venous tissue if the vein is at 0.5 mm deep or more. Veins and arteries appear similar when skin is removed and are seen directly. [4] [5]
Veins close to the surface of the skin appear blue for a variety of reasons. However, the factors that contribute to this alteration of color perception are related to the light-scattering properties of the skin and the processing of visual input by the visual cortex , rather than the actual color of the venous blood.
Skin infections can come from bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, which means flare-ups can look quite different depending on the cause. Some infections are surface level, while others go deep ...