Paleness causes a person’s complexion to appear paler than usual. Possible causes of pallor include low blood pressure, anemia, and leukemia. Treatment depends on the underlying condition and may not be necessary if the cause is harmless.
What is pallor?
Paleness refers to a phenomenon in which a person’s skin color is lighter than normal. It should be noted that each person has an individual skin color. Paleness refers to a phenomenon in which a person’s skin color is lighter than normal. It should be noted that each person has an individual skin color. This means that some people have a particularly light skin by nature. A light skin color alone does not mean paleness, because paleness means that the skin is lighter than normal. People from the north or people who rarely spend time in the sun due to their lifestyle typically have a rather pale skin color. Generally, pallor should be taken seriously as a symptom, as it can indicate an underlying condition. In most cases, facial pallor is present, with the skin on the face or neck appearing paler than normal. However, a change from normal skin coloration may also occur in other areas of the skin.
Causes
There are a wide variety of causes for pallor. Often, circulatory disorders cause noticeable facial pallor. This is particularly common in cases of low blood pressure, where there are sometimes problems with blood flow. Spontaneous circulatory weakness usually passes quickly and often has no serious causes. If the pallor persists over a longer period of time, anemia, i.e. a deficiency of the red blood pigment, may be present. Characteristically, in anemia, the pallor is also visible on the mucous membranes. Pale skin may also indicate a deficiency of minerals or vitamins. For example, if the body is not supplied with enough folic acid (vitamin B12), this deficiency can become apparent through a pale skin color. In addition, pallor can indicate a serious disease such as cancer. Leukemia, for example, results in a deficiency of red blood cells, which usually causes affected individuals to have a very pale skin color. Other possible causes of pallor include heart disease, diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, renal insufficiency, and a wide variety of circulatory disorders.
Diseases with this symptom
- Infectious diseases
- Mineral deficiency
- Anemia
- Leukemia
- Metabolic disorder
- Pheochromocytoma
- Low blood pressure
- Liver cirrhosis
- Folic acid deficiency
- Circulatory disorders
- Hypothermia
- Splenomegaly
- Acute stress reaction
- Diabetes mellitus
- Renal insufficiency
- Vitamin deficiency
- Heart disease
- Pseudocroup
Diagnosis and course
Paleness in itself is not a disease, but only a symptom of an underlying disease. Since many possible causes of pallor can be considered, it is important that the attending physician takes a detailed medical history. This is followed by a basic examination of the body’s functions. Among other things, the doctor measures blood pressure and examines the oral mucosa. Depending on the suspected diagnosis, he then orders further tests such as an ECG or a bone marrow examination. If the doctor suspects a vitamin or mineral deficiency, the diagnosis can be confirmed by a blood test. During the blood test, liver or kidney values are also measured to determine the functioning of the organs. The course of pallor depends on the underlying disease. If it is only a mild case of low blood pressure, the prognosis is considered extremely positive. Serious diseases such as leukemia can sometimes be life-threatening.
Complications
Paleness can be perfectly normal and healthy depending on the skin type, which is why it is sometimes not even recognized as a symptom of the disease. The lighter the skin type, the less pallor would be noticed at all and can be overlooked for a long time. In everyday life, paleness becomes difficult, especially in summer, because pale skin has lower levels of the skin pigment melanin. This not only colors the skin darker, it also protects it in this way from the harmful components of sunlight.Sunburn can therefore occur more easily, and in the case of severe pallor, even a few minutes in blazing sun are sufficient. Due to the tendency to sunburn, the skin is attacked more severely even by low UV light exposure and skin cancer is more likely to occur in old age, since the skin must constantly regenerate and recover from burns. In cases of pronounced pallor, a normal sunscreen is therefore no longer sufficient and it is also not enough to apply it only when necessary. To avoid skin cancer caused by years of sun exposure, sunscreen with high SPF must be worn regularly. Visits to solariums are particularly dangerous, because when pale, the light attacks the sensitive skin just as natural sunlight does, and even a very good sunscreen may not be enough to completely ward off damage to pale skin.
When should you go to the doctor?
Paleness is not necessarily a symptom of disease. Some people have particularly pale skin by nature. It wasn’t that long ago that pale skin was even considered distinguished. With pallor, people often receive special attention by others worrying that they might not be well. Paleness from childhood is not yet a reason to go to the doctor, especially if the person is well. Some makeup and blush will help to liven up the complexion and attract less attention for pallor in the future. However, if pallor has been occurring for some time, possibly with fatigue and lack of appetite, it is better to consult the family doctor. A common cause of pallor can be iron deficiency with resulting anemia, as well as low blood pressure, circulatory weakness or heart disease. However, unusual pallor can also be caused by kidney inflammation, liver disease, spleen disease, rheumatism or blood cancer. The family doctor, who has usually known his patient for some time, will be able to assess the situation well. Based on his medical history and initial examinations, he will refer the patient to a specialist, such as an internist, cardiologist, hepatologist, rheumatologist or oncologist, if necessary.
Treatment and therapy
In order to effectively treat pallor, a diagnosis must first be made, as therapy is based on the underlying condition. If the patient suffers from mild circulatory weakness, this usually does not require treatment. In the case of a vitamin or mineral deficiency, it is often sufficient to change the diet. For example, a vitamin B12 deficiency can usually be treated very well with an appropriate diet. This also applies to iron deficiency, which can also lead to pallor. If the iron deficiency is severe, however, iron transfusions must be given to replenish the body’s iron stores. If a change in diet does not bring the desired success in the case of vitamin deficiency, the substances in question can be additionally supplied in the form of dietary supplements. This is particularly important during pregnancy in order not to endanger the development of the child. In case of severe circulatory problems with fainting, the affected person may have to take blood pressure medication. A circulatory disorder of the skin caused by smoking usually does not require medical treatment, since the circulation improves as soon as the affected person stops smoking. If this is not successful, medically supervised smoking cessation may be necessary. Cancer therapy must be tailored to the individual’s clinical picture.
Outlook and prognosis
Paleness does not necessarily have to be a disease. Many people are pale because of their background, which is not a health limitation. If the pallor is not due to a disease, it does not need to be treated. However, it is possible to tint the skin color darker through sun exposure or in a solarium and thus change it. However, pallor can also occur due to poor health. In this case, the color of the affected person’s face differs significantly from the usual face color. Paleness occurs mainly during colds, flu and other infections and is not serious. It usually disappears after a few hours and does not require further treatment if it is only temporary. If the pallor in the face is prolonged and has nothing to do with an acute change in health, a doctor must be consulted.In this case, the pallor is related to another symptom. In most cases, nothing needs to be done specifically against the symptom of pallor, as it disappears on its own and is only a sign of a temporarily poor state of health. On the other hand, it is helpful to treat the cause of the pallor.
Prevention
Acute pallor resulting from low blood pressure or fainting is difficult to prevent. If the occasional circulatory weakness is already known, precautions can be taken. For example, it is advisable not to leave the house without breakfast and to ensure a balanced diet during the day. If there is an increased need for vitamins or minerals, these should be taken in addition. This is especially true for pregnant women. Serious diseases such as leukemia cannot be prevented. To detect a possible cancer at an early stage, preventive examinations should be perceived at regular intervals.
What you can do yourself
Paleness often has harmless causes and can be effectively treated by self-measures and various home remedies. First of all, it is recommended to spend a lot of time in the fresh air, and if possible, to exercise regularly. In general, pallor can at least be reduced by getting enough sunlight and eating a balanced diet, although a light skin type is mostly genetic. Eating carrots and other foods high in beta-carotene, grape juice, peppers or beet is also an effective way to combat facial pallor. In addition, care should be taken to ensure an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals such as iron. Alternating showers are also considered helpful for pallor and provide a rosier coloration of the skin. In addition, various home remedies help: a face mask with apples, cucumbers or honey promotes blood circulation in the face, as do massages or a hot bath. In the long term, pallor can be reduced by a healthy lifestyle and plenty of time in the sun. However, if there is a serious underlying condition, it should be treated first. Once the underlying condition is overcome, pallor usually goes away as well.