How cyanide appears on the skin will vary depending on strength of application. In a fine mist you will not see any damage to the skin but feel a deep cold pain that can disable the area affected. In a more coarse grained application it will bleach the skin white, and as it penetrates subcutaneously areas will turn pinkish, meaning some blood vessels are leaking. As vessels are destroyed you will see purplish areas and sometimes, but rarely dark brown areas where the blood coagulates, to blackish as the tissue is actually burned subcutaneously.