Does Black Death turn skin black?
John Thompson
Updated on January 20, 2026
Skin and other tissues may turn black and die, especially on fingers, toes, and the nose. Septicemic plague can occur as the first symptoms of plague or may develop from untreated bubonic plague. This form results from bites of infected fleas or from handling an infected animal.
Septicemic plague
Septicemic plague occurs when plague bacteria multiply in the blood. It can be a complication of pneumonic or bubonic plague or it can occur by itself. When it occurs alone, it is caused in the same ways as bubonic plague; however, buboes do not develop.
https://emergency.cdc.gov
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