What medical conditions cause pale skin?

Author: Duane Abbott  |  Last update: Sunday, October 12, 2025

What conditions cause pallor?
  • Anemia.
  • Circulatory system complications like artery blockages.
  • Respiratory illness.
  • Poor nutrition.
  • Frostbite or heat exhaustion.
  • An injury that causes blood loss.
  • Low blood sugar.
  • Chronic infections.

What illness causes pale skin?

Paleness can be caused by: Anemia (blood loss, poor nutrition, or underlying disease) Problems with the circulatory system. Shock.

What disorder has pale skin?

Overview. The term albinism usually refers to oculocutaneous (ok-u-low-ku-TAY-nee-us) albinism (OCA). OCA is a group of disorders passed down in families where the body makes little or none of a substance called melanin. The type and amount of melanin in your body determines the color of your skin, hair and eyes.

What deficiency causes paleness?

Anemia refers to a group of conditions that prevent the blood from having enough healthy red cells. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen. Without enough hemoglobin and oxygen, the skin can turn pale. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type, and it involves a person not having enough iron.

Why do I look so pale and washed out?

Lack of Sleep: Insufficient sleep can result in tiredness and a pale complexion. Dehydration: Not drinking enough fluids can lead to fatigue and a dull appearance of the skin. Nutritional Deficiencies: A poor diet lacking in essential vitamins and minerals can contribute to both paleness and fatigue.

Pale Skin: Common Causes and When to Seek Medical Care | BuoyHealth.com

Can dehydration cause you to look pale?

Signs of severe dehydration in a child include: decreased level of consciousness. pale or mottled skin. cold extremities, (that is, hands and feet)

What cancers cause pallor?

Visible symptoms of leukemia can include: Pale skin due to low blood cell counts (aplastic anemia)

What organ is affected by B12 deficiency?

If vitamin B12 deficiency is left untreated, it can cause lasting side effects that affect the nervous system and brain. More severe side effects of vitamin B12 deficiency include: Peripheral neuropathy. Degeneration of the spinal cord.

Why do I look so pale and tired?

Fatigue is a common clinical complaint. When associated with pale skin, it suggests that anemia, or low red blood cells, may be the specific cause of the fatigue. Anemia with fatigue can be from acute or chronic blood loss, infection, cancer, or medications. Reduced blood flow from heart failure can also cause anemia.

What medications cause pale skin?

Medications: Some medications, including chemotherapy drugs, antipsychotics, certain antibiotics, and antihypertensive medications, can cause pale skin as a side effect.

Why did I get pale as I got older?

With aging, the outer skin layer (epidermis) thins, even though the number of cell layers remains unchanged. The number of pigment-containing cells (melanocytes) decreases. The remaining melanocytes increase in size. Aging skin looks thinner, paler, and clear (translucent).

Can chronic stress make you pale?

It's not uncommon for those with anxiety to be described as "pale" during an anxiety attack because they appear much lighter than their skin does normally. This occurs because blood rushes away from the skin towards the heart, which causes the body to lose some of its natural pigmentation.

When should I be worried about pale skin?

Call your health care provider or 911 or the local emergency number if a person suddenly develops generalized paleness. Emergency action may be needed to maintain proper blood circulation. Also call your provider if paleness is accompanied by shortness of breath, blood in the stool, or other unexplained symptoms.

What autoimmune disease causes anemia?

The causes of autoimmune hemolytic anemia are poorly understood. It may be a primary disorder or secondary to an underlying illness, such as Epstein-Barr Virus, lymphoma, lupus, immunodeficiency disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, or ulcerative colitis.

What disease makes your skin lighter?

Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) die or stop producing melanin — the pigment that gives your skin, hair and eyes color. The involved patches of skin become lighter or white. It's unclear exactly what causes these pigment cells to fail or die.

What cancers are linked to B12 deficiency?

Particularly, individuals with lung, stomach, colon, oesophageal, and pancreatic cancers are more prone to experiencing a deficiency in vitamin B12. This article will discuss different types of cancers causing vitamin B12 deficiency, associated symptoms, and available treatment options.

What are the facial signs of B12 deficiency?

The deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause specific skin manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair and nail changes [1].

What blocks B12 absorption?

Conditions affecting the stomach

Some stomach conditions or stomach operations can prevent the absorption of enough vitamin B12. For example, a gastrectomy, a surgical procedure where part of your stomach is removed, increases your risk of developing a vitamin B12 deficiency.

What are the six signs of leukemia?

Common leukemia signs and symptoms include:
  • Fever or chills.
  • Persistent fatigue, weakness.
  • Frequent or severe infections.
  • Losing weight without trying.
  • Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen.
  • Easy bleeding or bruising.
  • Recurrent nosebleeds.
  • Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae)

How to fix pale skin?

Treatment for pallor could include:
  1. Managing any underlying conditions with medications or treatment by a specialist.
  2. Eating a well-balanced diet.
  3. Taking vitamins or supplements for a vitamin deficiency.
  4. Calming yourself if you're stressed, anxious or afraid.

What is sickly pallor?

When you've got the flu, that pale, sickly color of your skin is called a pallor. Other causes of pallor include shock, stress, or 10 days spent indoors trying to beat your new video game. Pallor comes from the Latin word pallere, which just means to “be pale.” That's easy enough to remember, right? Pallor, pale.

Why is my skin so pale all of a sudden?

Pale skin refers to the sudden loss of color from your skin. Unlike natural paleness, pale skin is usually a result of a health condition, such as anemia, low blood pressure, or frostbite. Some causes of pale skin are not serious, while others require immediate medical attention.

What drink will hydrate you the fastest?

The researchers found that while water — both still and sparkling — does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.

Can you smell when someone is dehydrated?

You have more body odor than usual.

Sweat is mostly water, so if you're low on fluids, it can be more concentrated and smell stronger.

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