No, skin doesn't simply "get darker" after death in a uniform way. Instead, postmortem changes cause discoloration that can appear darker in certain areas, but this is due to the settling of blood and other processes, not a uniform darkening of the entire skin.
Postmortem Skin Discoloration: A Complex Process
Several factors contribute to the changes in skin color after death. These changes aren't a simple darkening but a complex process resulting in various discolorations depending on factors like time elapsed since death, environmental conditions, and individual factors.
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Livor Mortis: This is the pooling of blood in the lower parts of the body due to gravity after circulation ceases. This results in a dark reddish-purple discoloration, often appearing as blotches or patches, in the dependent areas. [Source: Livor Mortis: What Is It, Occurrence, and More | Osmosis; Livor Mortis - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics]
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Decomposition: As the body decomposes, various chemical and bacterial processes alter the skin's appearance. This can lead to greenish-black streaks from blood vessels becoming visible (marbling), and ultimately, a range of discolorations from green to black. [Source: Moreover, the phenomenon of marbling is also present during this stage, where blood vessels are visible on the skin as greenish-black streaks and eventually results in skin discoloration ranging from green to black.] This typically takes 24-48 hours to become apparent.
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Pallor Mortis: Initially, the skin may appear pale (pallor mortis) as blood circulation stops. This effect is not the same for all skin tones. [Source: Are the effects of pallor mortis on dark skin the same as for light skin ... ]
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Mummification: In hot, dry environments, mummification can occur, where tissue desiccation leads to a different kind of skin alteration – drying and shrinking. [Source: Evaluation of Postmortem Changes - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf]
It is crucial to understand that the darkening observed is not a uniform process across the entire skin surface but rather localized discolorations due to these postmortem changes.
The misconception that skin simply "turns black" is inaccurate. The changes are more nuanced and depend on a variety of factors. [Source: Why does the skin color of people turn dark when they die? - Quora; ELI5: Why does necrotic tissue turns black, when the skin of recently ...]
