In patients with deeply pigmented skin, changes in color may be apparent only in certain areas, such as the:

• A. forehead and face
• B. lips or oral mucosa
• C. dorsum of the hand
• D. back of the neck

Answer: (B)

Focusing on areas with little pigment and thin tissue makes color changes easier to detect in deeply pigmented skin. The lips and oral mucosa fit this best because they are mucous membranes with less melanin and more translucency, so underlying blood flow and pigment changes (such as anemia, cyanosis, or jaundice) become noticeable there even when skin color is dark. In contrast, skin surfaces like the dorsum of the hand or the back of the neck are more heavily pigmented, which can mask color changes. This is why the lips or oral mucosa are classic sites for observing color changes in patients with deeply pigmented skin.