Pallor facts for kids
 A girl with pallor around her mouth caused by scarlet fever
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| ICD-10 | R23.1 |
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| ICD-9 | 782.61 |
| MedlinePlus | 003244 |
Pallor (also called paleness) is when your skin looks much lighter than usual. It happens when there is less blood flow to the skin's surface. This can make your skin look pale, especially on your face, palms, and inside your eyelids.
Pallor can appear suddenly or slowly over time. Sometimes it's a normal reaction to things like being cold or scared. Other times, it can be a sign that something else is going on in your body.
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What Causes Paleness?
Many things can make your skin look pale. Some are very common and not serious, while others might mean you need to see a doctor.
Common Reasons for Paleness
- Feeling Cold: When you are cold, your body tries to keep warm. It does this by making the blood vessels in your skin get smaller. This sends more blood to your important organs, making your skin look pale.
- Fear or Shock: If you get a sudden fright or are in a shocking situation, your body goes into "fight or flight" mode. Blood rushes away from your skin and to your muscles, preparing you to run or fight. This makes your skin look pale.
- Tiredness: Not getting enough sleep can sometimes make your skin look dull or pale.
- Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia): If you haven't eaten in a while, your blood sugar can drop. This can make you feel weak, shaky, and sometimes look pale.
Medical Reasons for Paleness
Sometimes, paleness can be a sign of a health issue. These are some common medical causes:
- Anemia: This is a common reason for paleness. Anemia means your blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen all over your body. If you don't have enough, your skin might look pale because there's less red color from the blood near the surface. Anemia can be caused by not getting enough iron, which is important for making red blood cells.
- Migraines and Headaches: Some people might look pale during a severe migraine or headache.
- Scarlet Fever: This is a type of infection that can cause a rash and make the skin around the mouth look pale, even if the rest of the face is flushed.
- Other Illnesses: Many different illnesses can cause paleness, especially if they make you feel very unwell or cause your body to work harder than usual.
When to See a Doctor
Most of the time, paleness is nothing to worry about. But it's a good idea to tell a parent or guardian if:
- Your paleness is new and doesn't go away.
- You also feel very tired, weak, dizzy, or short of breath.
- You have other symptoms like a fever, pain, or a rash.
A doctor can figure out why you are pale and make sure you get any help you might need.
