Paleness

Alternative names:

pallor; skin pale or gray

Definition:

Abnormal loss of normal skin or mucous membrane color which develops suddenly or gradually.

Considerations:

Unless pale skin is accompanied by pale lips, tongue, palms of the hands, inside of the mouth, and lining of the eyes, it is probably not clinically significant, and does not require treatment.

Pale-looking skin does not necessarily indicate disease--lack of sunlight or inherited paleness may be the reason.

Although generalized pallor affects the entire body, it is most apparent on the face, lining of the eyes, inner mouth, and nails. Localized pallor usually affects a single limb.

How easily pallor is diagnosed varies with skin color and the thickness and vascularity of the subcutaneous tissue. Sometimes it is only a subtle lightening of skin color. It may be very difficult to detect in a dark-skinned person; sometimes it is apparent only on the eye and mouth lining.

Paleness is the result of decreased blood supply to the skin (cold, fainting, shock, hypoglycemia) or decreased number of red blood cells (anemia).

Common causes:

• normal fair complexion
• lack of exposure to the sun (it is healthier to be pale than tanned)
• anemia (blood loss, metrorrhagia, poor nutrition, or underlying disease)
• shock
• frostbite
• chronic diseases including infection and cancer

Note: There may be other causes of pallor. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as location, quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for pallor, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.