Pallor
{{short description|Pale skin caused by low levels of oxyhaemoglobin}}
{{redirect|Pallid|the Antarctic mountain|Pallid Peak|the Antarctic ridge|Pallid Crest}}
{{Missing information|detection in people with dark skin|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name = Pallor
| image = Scarlet fever 1.JPG
| image_size = 200px
| alt = Young girl with circumoral pallor as a result of scarlet fever
| caption = A girl with circumoral pallor due to scarlet fever
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| field = Hematology, Rheumatology, Dermatology
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| differential = Hypopigmentation
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Pallor is a pale color of the skin that can be caused by illness, emotional shock or stress, stimulant use, or anemia, and is the result of a reduced amount of oxyhaemoglobin and may also be visible as pallor of the conjunctivae of the eyes on physical examination.
Pallor is more evident on the face and palms. It can develop suddenly or gradually, depending on the cause. It is not usually clinically significant unless it is accompanied by a general pallor (pale lips, tongue, palms, mouth and other regions with mucous membranes). It is distinguished from similar presentations such as hypopigmentation (lack or loss of skin pigment) or simply a lightly-melanated complexion.
Causes
File:Richard Parkes Bonington by Margaret Sarah Carpenter (née Geddes).jpg by Margaret Sarah Carpenter. Bonington was suffering from tuberculosis and the paleness of his face was noted by critics.]]
- migraine attack or headache{{cite journal |last1=Gupta |first1=V. K. |title=Conceptual divide between adaptive and pathogenetic phenomena in migraine: nausea and vomiting |journal=Brain |date=19 August 2004 |volume=127 |issue=11 |pages=E18 |doi=10.1093/brain/awh279 |pmid=15492109 |url=https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/127/11/E18/342657 |access-date=14 October 2022|url-access=subscription }}
- excess estradiol and/or estrone
- osteoporosis
- emotional response, due to fear, embarrassment, grief, rage{{cite journal |last1=Drummond |first1=Peter D. |title=Correlates of facial flushing and pallor in anger-provoking situations |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=October 1997 |volume=23 |issue=4 |pages=575–582 |doi=10.1016/S0191-8869(97)00077-9}}
- anorexia
- anemia,{{cite journal |last1=Kalantri |first1=Ashwini |last2=Karambelkar |first2=Mandar |last3=Joshi |first3=Rajnish |last4=Kalantri |first4=Shriprakash |last5=Jajoo |first5=Ulhas |title=Accuracy and Reliability of Pallor for Detecting Anaemia: A Hospital-Based Diagnostic Accuracy Study |journal=PLOS ONE |date=1 January 2010 |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=e8545 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0008545 |pmid=20049324 |pmc=2797134 |bibcode=2010PLoSO...5.8545K |language=en |issn=1932-6203|doi-access=free }} due to blood loss, poor nutrition, or underlying disease such as sickle cell anemia
- iron deficiency
- vitamin B12 deficiency{{cite journal |last1=Mishra |first1=Vikas A. |last2=Harbada |first2=Rishit |last3=Sharma |first3=Akhilesh |date=2015 |title=Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D Deficiencies: An Unusual Cause of Fever, Severe Hemolytic Anemia and Thrombocytopenia |journal=Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=145–148 |doi=10.4103/2249-4863.152276 |issn=2249-4863 |pmc=4366991 |pmid=25811010 |doi-access=free }}
- shock, a medical emergency caused by illness or injury
- acute compartment syndrome
- frostbite
- common cold
- cancer{{cite journal |last1=Fragkandrea |first1=Ioanna |last2=Nixon |first2=John Alexander |last3=Panagopoulou |first3=Paraskevi |title=Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Cancer: A Guide for Early Recognition |journal=American Family Physician |date=1 August 2013 |volume=88 |issue=3 |pages=185–192 |pmid=23939697 |url=https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2013/0801/p185.html |access-date=14 October 2022}}
- hypoglycaemia{{cite journal |last1=Poterucha |first1=Joseph T. |last2=Bos |first2=J. Martijn |last3=Cannon |first3=Bryan C. |last4=Ackerman |first4=Michael J. |title=Frequency and severity of hypoglycemia in children with beta-blocker–treated long QT syndrome |journal=Heart Rhythm |date=1 August 2015 |volume=12 |issue=8 |pages=1815–1819 |doi=10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.04.034 |pmid=25929701 |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.04.034 |access-date=14 October 2022 |language=English |issn=1547-5271|url-access=subscription }}
- bradycardia
- panic attack
- medications
- ketorolac
- amphetamines
- ethanol
- cannabis
- lead poisoning
- motion sickness{{cite journal |last1=Holmes |first1=Sharon |last2=King |first2=Stuart |last3=Scott |first3=J. R. Rollin |last4=Clemes |first4=Stacy |title=Facial Skin Pallor Increases During Motion Sickness |journal=Journal of Psychophysiology |date=2002 |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=150–157 |doi=10.1027//0269-8803.16.3.150 |url=https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2002-06470-002.html |access-date=14 October 2022 |language=en|url-access=subscription }}
- heart disease
- Peripheral vascular disease
- hypothyroidism
- hypopituitarism
- scurvy
- tuberculosis
- sleep deprivation
- pheochromocytoma
- squeamishness
- visceral larva migrans
- Orthostatic hypotension
- methyldopa
- loss of appetite
- Space adaptation syndrome
- fibromyalgia
- Buerger's disease
- Hypovolemia
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References
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External links
{{Medical resources
| ICD10 = {{ICD10|R|23|1|r|20}}
| ICD9 = {{ICD9|782.61}}
| MedlinePlus = 003244
| MeshID=D010167
}}
{{Skin and subcutaneous tissue symptoms and signs}}
Category:Dermatologic terminology
Category:Symptoms and signs: Skin and subcutaneous tissue
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