In dark-skinned patients, where should you look for jaundice?

In dark-skinned patients, where should you look for jaundice?

• A. Face
• B. Sclera
• C. Behind the ears
• D. Palms of hands and soles of feet

Answer: (D)

When assessing jaundice in dark-skinned patients, look for the yellow tint in areas where pigment is less likely to mask it. The palms of the hands and the soles of the feet are the most reliable sites because bilirubin-induced yellowing stands out there even when skin on the face or trunk is heavily pigmented. So, inspecting those areas helps detect jaundice earlier; you can supplement with findings in the eyes or mucous membranes, but the palms and soles provide the clearest early clue in darker skin.

When assessing jaundice in dark-skinned patients, look for the yellow tint in areas where pigment is less likely to mask it. The palms of the hands and the soles of the feet are the most reliable sites because bilirubin-induced yellowing stands out there even when skin on the face or trunk is heavily pigmented. So, inspecting those areas helps detect jaundice earlier; you can supplement with findings in the eyes or mucous membranes, but the palms and soles provide the clearest early clue in darker skin.