Medical Health Encyclopedia

Paleness

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

Skin layers

Overview Treatment

Paleness

Definition:

Paleness is an abnormal loss of normal skin or mucous membrane color.

Alternative Names:
Skin pale or gray; Pallor

Text Continues Below

---

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 a serious condition, 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 paleness (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 amount of blood vessels in the tissue under the skin. Sometimes it is only a subtle lightening of skin color. Pallor may be very difficult to detect in a dark-skinned person -- sometimes it is apparent only in the eye and mouth lining.

Paleness may be 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, poor nutrition, or underlying disease)
• Shock
• Frostbite
• Chronic diseases including infection and cancer

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.