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Facial pale (pale face)
contents
definition
Causes and symptoms
When is paleness pathological?
Anemia / anemia
Low blood pressure
Diseases with facial pallor
Facial blotch in children
Treatment for facial blanching
Naturopathy with paleness
definition
The term "facial pallor" is usually understood to mean a skin color that is lighter than in the "normal state". However, as this is difficult to define and, above all, different for every person, a facial pallor can most likely be determined by itself, or by people who know the affected person well and can thus assess the natural complexion well. A paler skin is often associated with illness and discomfort and is therefore often expressed by questions such as "You are so pale, you do not feel well". Although facial paleness is most visible, the skin may appear paler on the neck or other parts of the body - sometimes due to illness, but also common in people who spend less time out in the fresh air.
Causes and symptoms
For a pale facial skin numerous causes come into consideration. However, it should always be kept in mind that people from northern regions often have a lighter complexion due to lower levels of sunlight, because the higher the level of UV radiation in an area, the greater the natural pigmentation of the skin. Even people who move little and / or are little out there or who consciously protect their skin to a greater extent from UV radiation, are often attracted by a particularly bright complexion. The same applies to smokers who, due to the lack of oxygen due to the inhaled carbon monoxide, often have a sickly-looking, pale "smoker's skin".
If the skin on the face suddenly becomes chalky, the trigger can also be a severe shock or shock, because the circulation reacts to the abruptly altered state of mind by collecting the blood from the face inside the body in order to protect and vital organs to ensure their function. This reaction of the body occurs in all forms of shock, such as circulatory collapse or severe blood loss from an accident or from internal injury. Because shock can quickly become a life-threatening danger for the person affected, they always require immediate medical assessment and care in order to avoid serious consequences.
In addition, a faded skin on the face can also be signs of circulatory problems, lack of nutrients or a generally one-sided, unhealthy diet - accordingly, for example, diets or eating disorders affect the complexion. In addition, facial blotches also occur in connection with various infections, heart disease (for example, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease) or blood disorders (leukemia, anemia).
When is paleness pathological?
Accordingly, facial basses may have relatively "harmless" causes, but may also point to a more serious illness or, in case of emergency, may even be signs of a cardiac arrest-related circulatory shock, which means acute mortal danger to the individual and must be treated promptly. Paleness can be health risky - but not necessarily. Therefore, in case of doubt, a doctor should always be consulted, if in addition to the paleness there is a general malaise or an uncertainty or the feeling that something is wrong. In addition, a medical examination should always take place when the paleness increases or lasts longer or passes to other parts of the body, or when accompanying symptoms such as pain, stomach problems, dizziness, chronic fatigue, palpitations, circulatory weakness or respiratory distress occur. The same applies if there are parallel changes in the urine or stool, such as blood in the stool or dark urine, as these may, among other things, indicate kidney disease or chronic inflammatory bowel disease requiring medical treatment.
Anemia / anemia
Often, facial pallor is associated with something called "anemia" or anemia. In this there is a lack of red blood cells (erythrocytes) or on red blood pigment (hemoglobin), whereby the oxygen transport is reduced and as a result, only a insufficient supply of tissue and organs takes place. Anemia, in addition to conspicuous paleness of the skin, is typically characterized by symptoms such as tiredness, headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating. If the anemia is more pronounced, tachycardia, sweating, shortness of breath and fainting are possible, even dry skin, torn corners of the mouth and brittle hair or nails are common. Anemia can have different causes: The most common cause, however, is an iron deficiency, which results from a reduced intake or increased release of the vital trace element, especially in case of increased iron needs (pregnancy, lactation, children in growth, extreme sports, injuries, etc.). , Vegetarians and people suffering from eating disorders can enter relatively quickly. In addition to the general symptoms of anemia, swallowing disorders, dry throat, burning of the tongue, painful inflammations in the oral mucosa (aphthae), torn corners of the mouth and brittle hair or nails (Plummer-Vinson syndrome) are characteristic of such iron deficiency anemia..
Also, a deficiency of folic acid or vitamin B12 may be responsible for anemia. In addition to the general symptoms of anemia, mental symptoms (depression, lack of concentration, etc.) often occur in vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, as well as stomach discomfort, abnormal sensation ("ant tingling") or tongue burning (Möller-Hunter glossitis). In addition to the deficiency symptoms, however, a number of different diseases can trigger anemia, for example infections (for example malaria), autoimmune and kidney diseases, chronic inflammations or tumors, and the so-called "myelodysplastic syndrome", a rare disease of the bone marrow, is also suitable.
Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure (hypotension) can also be the reason for facial blanching. This occurs very frequently in the population, often affects young, slim women and is present when in the blood pressure measurement, the usually first mentioned (systolic) value less than 100 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or the second mentioned (diastolic) value is less than 60 mmHg. In hypotension, the skin often appears pale, dull, pale and sickly, as well as fatigue, headache, cold hands and feet and in some cases, inner restlessness, depressive moods and sleep disorders. Here, various causes such as hypothyroidism, certain drugs or fluid loss into consideration, but usually the blood pressure without apparent reasons permanently low (constitutional hypotension). The low blood pressure is not dangerous per se - instead, a constitutional hypotension can even have a positive effect on health and in many cases cause no to only minor discomfort. However, if blood pressure drops quickly (eg, by getting up suddenly after prolonged lying), hypotension can also cause blurred vision ("blackening in front of the eyes"), tinnitus, dizziness, or fainting - these symptoms usually disappear after a short rest (orthostatic dysregulation ).
Diseases with facial pallor
In addition, facial blotch appears as a symptom of various diseases, such as in a number of infections such as a relatively "harmless" cold or a flu infection or the "real" flu, which by the highly infectious influenza viruses A and B or in very rare cases is also triggered by influenza C viruses. Typical symptoms here are, besides the paleness, sudden onset of chills, high fever, headache, cough and a strong feeling of general malaise - it can take quite a few weeks before the affected person regains a "healthy complexion".
In addition to cirrhosis comes into question, which is the hardening and shrinkage of the liver (cirrhosis), which in most cases caused by a permanently excessive alcohol consumption. Since in this case usually the skin blood circulation deteriorates and the blood pressure decreases, the facial skin often appears pale-pale, partly also pale-yellowish, in addition there are among other things loss of appetite, constipation, water retention and a swelling belly.
Even tumors such as leukemia (blood cancer) and lymphoma (lymphoma) are accompanied in most cases with a changed appearance in that in addition to a partially strong weight loss and physical restrictions often show a sickly-pale skin - often, but not only the face but concerning the whole body. Due to the weight loss and the pale, "transparent" skin often prominent vessels or dark spots on the skin are recognizable.
In addition, chronic kidney failure may also be the cause of pale skin on the face, which in most cases is caused by diabetes. As the renal weakness causes the skin vessels to contract more quickly, swollen legs or swelling of the eyes, as well as concentration disorders, general weakness, nausea and cardiac arrhythmias often occur.
Also conceivable for facial pallor are heart diseases such as heart muscle inflammation or coronary heart disease, which also occur typical symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, anxiety or upper abdominal pain. While heart muscle inflammation is most commonly caused by viruses such as coxsackie B virus, the most common cause of CHD is arteriosclerosis (arteriosclerosis)..
Facial blotch in children
If children are noticeably pale, this quickly leads to parents worrying and suspecting a disease. Of course, as with adults, a short night or even a cold can make small people feel sick and severely cut off, especially if the child is generally a fair skin type. Likewise, pale skin may also be an indication of a disease and should therefore always be considered as a warning sign and accordingly examined by a doctor. In addition to the paleness fatigue, difficulty concentrating, headache, loss of appetite, dizziness or shortness of breath, it may be, for example, an anemia, which means a reduction in hemoglobin concentration in the blood below the age-appropriate standard.
If the general symptoms of anemia are also accompanied by diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, dysphagia, brittle hair and nails or torn corners of the mouth, iron deficiency anemia may also be present. In addition, a pale facial skin, even in children already an indication of low blood pressure. In more severe cases, a leukemia (blood cancer) may be present, with the so-called "acute lymphoblastic leukemia" (ALL) represents the most common form, according to the German Childhood Cancer Registry, about 500 children and adolescents aged between 0 and 14 years each year. The ALL is a disease of the bone marrow or the blood-forming system, which among other things to chronic fatigue, fever, night sweats, vomiting, head and neck pain, anemia, loss of appetite and an increased susceptibility to infection comes.
Treatment for facial blanching
The therapeutic measures are based on a pale facial skin for the underlying cause. For example, if iron deficiency anemia is present, the central step is to remove possible sources of bleeding or to change the diet (meat, fish, grains, green vegetables) so that enough iron can be absorbed. In addition to iron supplements can be used when needed, in more severe cases, an intravenous supply of iron may be necessary. Here it is important to note, however, that appropriate preparations should not be taken without appropriate diagnosis on their own or preventive. Because there is no shortage, artificial iron supplements can also lead to excess iron in the body - which can lead to side effects such as nausea and vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation or abdominal pain and in more serious cases even organ damage.
With low blood pressure, medications are rarely needed, usually simple measures such as a healthy, balanced diet, exercise, sufficient fluid and relaxation to stabilize blood pressure and thereby reduce the paleness. In the case of a cancer such as leukemia, a targeted therapy is performed according to the type and stage of the disease (chemotherapy, radiotherapy). If cardiac or renal disease has been diagnosed as a cause of facial blanching, treatment based on the cause is also required.
Naturopathy with paleness
Often an iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia is caused by a pale facial skin, which in many cases results from a one-sided, unhealthy diet and can therefore be corrected by filling the iron stores in the body. No artificial iron supplements are normally needed here, instead there are a variety of iron-rich foods among whole grains, vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, meat and fish products. Millet, soy, oats and rye, chickpeas and white beans, chanterelles, parsley and salads (for example dandelion, stinging nettle), which for example can be supplemented with roasted sesame seeds or pumpkin seeds with iron, are particularly suitable for this purpose. If you do not want to do without animal foods, you will find the best source of iron in red meat, but this is also found in fish, poultry and liver or liver sausage - and the high level of pollution should always be taken into account.
In addition to nutrition, there are other home remedies for iron deficiency in iron deficiency anemia: here, for example, medicinal plants or herbs such as stinging nettles, dandelion, thyme or mint are considered, which can serve in pure form, as a salad or as a natural source of tea. Juices from raspberries, redcurrants or blueberries are just as suitable as cherry, grape or pomegranate juice for iron deficiency.
If the pallor can be attributed to a low blood pressure, there is usually no serious health risk, so that a drug therapy is usually not required. Accordingly, it is advisable to use home remedies or treatment options for naturopathy in case of complaints and only if they do not improve due to this, to resort to conventional medicines. Basically everything makes sense here, which can be done independently in order to increase already existing low blood pressure and to prevent a sudden drop in blood pressure. Very popular in this context are hydrotherapy treatments according to Sebastian Kneipp, such as a cold arm bath, which is a simple, small application with a good effect that stimulates and refreshes without "getting upset". However, it is important to take into account Kneipp's principle "Never use cold applications on a cold body!" And to ensure that the arms are warm in front of such a bath. The arms are then immersed in cold water (maximum 18 C °) up to the middle of the upper arms until a feeling of coldness develops (about 30 to 40 seconds), with the elbows bent at right angles. This is either a large sink or alternatively a tub, which is placed on the table. After immersion, the water is gently stripped, then the arms are moved until dry and warm, then the arms should be clothed again to provide reheating. (No)
Picture credits: Robert Babiak