Two frontline doctors from Wuhan Central Hospital emerged from COVID-19-induced comas with noticeably darker skin—a rare effect linked to liver dysfunction and iron buildup.
Exposed on the front lines with potentially inadequate protection, cardiologist Dr. Yi Fan and urologist Dr. Hu Weifeng, both 42, contracted SARS-CoV-2 on January 18. Their conditions deteriorated rapidly, leading to medically induced comas.
Dr. Yi Fan spent 39 days bedridden before defeating the virus. In a recent CCTV interview from his hospital bed, he shared that he's mostly recovered but noted the ordeal left him deeply traumatized.
Dr. Hu Weifeng endured 99 days in bed, including 45 days on ECMO—a critical extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy reserved for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It bypasses the lungs to oxygenate blood externally. Though out of coma, Dr. Hu remains in intensive care with fragile overall health.
Despite differing recovery paths, both doctors shared one striking outcome: significantly darker skin upon waking. CGTN crews documented the phenomenon on-site, and footage quickly spread across social media.
Medical experts attribute this to excess iron accumulation in the liver, unmetabolized over time—likely from the virus's impact or administered treatments (specific drugs undisclosed). This hepatic overload altered skin pigmentation temporarily.
Fortunately, it's reversible. Early April images captured the change, but a recent photo shows Dr. Yi Fan's skin has nearly returned to normal.
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