Erythema is clearly visible on light toned skin. It may appear red or cause a purplish discoloration on some darker toned skins however it is difficult to see on very dark skin. Assessing the affected site or area for other signs including warmth, swelling or induration can assist in clinical assessment and diagnosis of erythema.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation happens when your pigment skin cells are stimulated during the wound-healing process. The darkened spots are a concentration of pigment in one area. Post-inflammatory erythema tends to happen more often in fair skin, while hyperpigmentation happens more in darker skin.

Many images of the shingles rash show how it appears on white skin. These images typically display a patch of skin that’s very red and inflamed. This is called erythema and is due to the dilation of blood vessels in the skin. While erythema can happen in all people, its effects can be harder to see on black and brown skin.