Pale Skin

About the Symptom

Pale skin (or skin pallor) is a lightening of the skin: a relative decrease in the color and warm tones of the skin. People of all skin types and shades may at times have pale skin. Skin going from normal to pale can be caused by a wide variety of things but is generally a sign of less blood flow to the skin. Skin may quickly turn pale, for example, if you are suddenly frightened and the blood flows out of the skin in your face or if you are very cold. It may also happen more slowly, for example, if you have less blood flowing in your body (anemia) due to low iron levels or blood loss.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Repeated fever above 38 ℃
• Fainting with loss of consciousness
• Respiratory wheeze
• Unexplained weight loss of 5% or more in 1 month
• Seizure attack
• Fever
• Difficulty breathing / breathlessness
• Peripheral cyanosis

Possible Causes

Generally, Pale skin can be related to:

• Tracheal Stenosis

  Tracheal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the trachea, also known as the windpipe, that restricts normal breathing.

• Breath Holding Spells

  A condition sometimes seen in young children. Spells most commonly occur around one year of age with a range of six months to four years. Up to 15 percent of cases may have an initial episode below the age of six months. The child may stop breathing for up to 1 minute, causing them to lose consciousness and tone. Although alarming to parents, this condition is common and can happen in healthy children, who will grow out of it as they age. Triggers for spells include frustration, pain, or fear.

• Pheochromocytoma

  Pheochromocytoma is a rare and typically benign tumor that grows in your adrenal gland. Your adrenal glands are small triangular organs, located above your kidneys, responsible for producing hormones that regulate your blood pressure, metabolism, and body reactions in stressful states. Pheochromocytomas are usually caused by genetic mutations and are associated with hereditary syndromes. Some symptoms include These symptoms can include: high blood pressure, headaches, irregular heartbeat, and sweating.

• Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
• Multiple Myeloma (MM)

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Pale skin may be related to these serious diseases:

• Intussusception

  A condition where a segment of the intestines "telescopes" into another. This can cause the intestine walls to die, so prompt medical attention is needed. It is associated with certain genetic conditions and growths, but often no clear cause is found.

• Leukemia
• Asphyxiation
• Invasive Fungal Infections
• Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Do you look paler than usual?
• How long have you been looking pale or sickly?
• How often have you appeared more pale or sickly than usual?
• How has the symptom of looking paler or sicker changed?
• Did your face briefly turn pale?

Find Similar Symptoms

References

• Kalantri A, Karambelkar M, Joshi R, Kalantri S, Jajoo U. Accuracy and reliability of pallor for detecting anaemia: a hospital-based diagnostic accuracy study. PLoS One. 2010 Jan 1;5(1):e8545. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008545. PMID: 20049324; PMCID: PMC2797134.

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2797134/

• Muhe L, Oljira B, Degefu H, Jaffar S, Weber MW. Evaluation of clinical pallor in the identification and treatment of children with moderate and severe anaemia. Trop Med Int Health. 2000 Nov;5(11):805-10. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2000.00637.x. Erratum in: Trop Med Int Health 2001 Apr;6(4):326. PMID: 11123829.

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11123829/