Buzz
There are numerous urban myths and misunderstandings surrounding death. For instance, people believe that the deceased continue to grow their fingernails and hair (which is a myth). Another myth suggests that bodies transmit pathogens, potentially infecting coroners or those who handle them. (This is also false, although hepatitis and tuberculosis can be rare exceptions.)
Some myths actually have a basis in truth. For example, corpses can move slightly as their ligaments stiffen. But can the skin of a deceased person still tan? Or is tanning only for the living?
To many’s surprise, it’s possible. A study published in The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology in 2023 (link here, though be cautious of some potentially disturbing images of dead bodies) explored this very question. The study, referred to as “postmortem tanning,” examined three instances where corpses showed signs of sun exposure with tan lines that corresponded to their clothing.
In the first case, a woman was discovered frozen. After being thawed in a controlled laboratory environment, her body exhibited “brown pigment transformation” on the skin that had been exposed. However, the areas covered by clothing remained unaffected.
The second case involved a male victim who was found after a motor vehicle accident. His tanned skin showed a pattern that matched the awkward positioning of his clothing, as he had been a pedestrian struck by a car. The skin exposed due to the bunching of his clothes had darkened after being left under the sun for hours before the body was found and retrieved.
The third case, a male who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, also showed tanned skin on areas exposed due to his rumpled clothing.
What makes these situations intriguing is that tanning is essentially a response to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, a metabolic process that would typically be absent in the deceased. In two of the cases, the bodies were found in freezing temperatures, which led the authors to hypothesize that the metabolic pathways required for tanning were preserved. However, this theory doesn’t explain the third case, where the body was found in a warm summer climate.
The paper doesn’t state whether any of the three bodies experienced sunburn, only tanning. Sunburn is defined as erythema (redness) and blistering that occurs hours or days after sun exposure. As these symptoms were not mentioned, it remains uncertain whether a dead body can respond in this way.
It’s essential to remember that other factors can alter skin color after death. Mummification can cause the skin to darken as it becomes dehydrated and fragile, particularly in dry, hot climates. Another occurrence, known as “bog body formation,” involves bodies left in acidic peat bogs, triggering a chemical reaction in the skin that can lead to a brownish hue.
Although it may seem grim, postmortem tanning could play an important role in forensic investigations. Posthumous sun exposure can help determine the time of death and offer valuable insights for criminal investigations. Naturally, sun exposure can also be a cause of death, which is why it’s always wise to wear sunscreen.
