Mottling

"Mottling" is sometimes used to describe uneven, discolored patches on the skin of humans as a result of cutaneous ischemia (lowered blood-flow to the surfaces of the skin) or Herpes zoster infections. The medical term for mottled skin is dyschromia. Although not always the case, mottling can occur in a dying patient and commonly indicates that the end of life is near. Mottling usually occurs in the extremities (lower first) and progresses up as cardiac function declines and circulation throughout the body is poor. In animals, mottling may be a sign of disease, but may also be a hereditary trait, as seen with the champagne and leopard complex genes in horses.