Pallor (paleness) is abnormal loss of color from normal skin or mucous membranes due to reduced amount of the blood in the skin arteries.

Paleness should be distinguished from other causes of prominent white skin:
-- Fair skin is genetically determined skin hue with low concentration of skin pigment in the skin. This skin hue is common in people in north European countries.
-- Myxedema (in hypothyroidism) – swelling of under-skin tissues causes pale appearance of the skin.
-- Albinism is a rare genetic disorder with partial or complete lack of melanin in the skin, hair and iris of the eye. Affected persons have white skin and hair, and red iris.
-- Vitiligo is a patchy loss of skin color due to destruction of pigment cells (melanocytes) from an unknown cause.

Everyday Causes of Paleness
-- When exposed to low environmental temperature, your face, palms or other body parts may become pale because of narrowing (constriction) of the small skin arteries as part of a body’s heat-saving process.
-- When you keep your arms or legs above the level of the heart for a minute, they may become pale, since the power of the heart can not efficiently pump the blood into the limbs against the force of gravitation.
-- Skipped meal and resulting drop of glucose blood level, or dehydration, may trigger adrenalin release and constriction of your skin arteries.
-- In exertion or fear, blood is redirected from the skin to muscle arteries. Your skin may remain pale for several minutes after exertion.

When to See a Doctor?
If you have pale skin, visit a doctor, if you also have:
-- Repeated unexplained attacks of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, muscular cramps
-- Unexplained fever
-- Blood in the stool or heavy menstrual bleeding
-- Chest pain
-- Painful limbs, fingers or toes
-- Unintended weight loss
-- Prolonged diarrhea
-- Weakness, tiredness