| Pallor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A girl with circumoral pallor due to scarlet fever | |
| Specialty | Hematology, Rheumatology, Dermatology |
| Differential diagnosis | Hypopigmentation |
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.
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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.
In patients with dark skin, pallor is more subtle and harder to detect, often manifesting as a more grayish or ashy tone of skin in individuals with very dark brown skin, or alternatively a more yellowish tone in individuals with lighter brown skin. Assessing the palms, soles, and mucous membranes with appropriate lighting in such cases may make detection easier. [1] [2]
