Paleness

Definition

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

Alternative Names

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 skin does not necessarily mean you are sick. You may just lack of sunlight or have inherited light-colored skin.

General paleness affects the entire body, and is most easily seen on the face, lining of the eyes, inner mouth, and nails. Local paleness usually affects a single limb.

How easily paleness 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. Paleness 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).

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