Causes of white complexion

A not entirely healthy complexion has become a serious problem that worries a large part of the world's population. The most common problem is a pale face. A few centuries ago, ladies, trying to achieve aristocratic pallor, made considerable sacrifices. Bloodletting, white lead, vinegar baths - what medieval beauties did not do!

Today, pallor is a sign of health problems. Natural shades are yellowish, soft pink and beige. How to determine why your face is pale, what diseases may be a symptom of sallowness, and how to return your skin to its natural shade, read in this article.

Overwork or illness? What is the cause of paleness?

In most cases, pale skin can be explained by simple everyday reasons. Sometimes this is an individual feature. The main reason for this appearance is the lack of walks in the fresh air and insufficient physical activity, sitting for a long time in front of a computer monitor or in front of the TV. Due to lack of oxygen, hemoglobin levels decrease.

Another reason is chronic fatigue. Nervous tension, physical activity and poor ecology disrupt the rhythm of sleep. The body does not recover, attractiveness disappears.

A pale complexion may indicate poor nutrition. A large amount of carbonated water, alcohol, fatty and spicy foods leads to problems associated with the digestive system and, accordingly, to pallor.

In order to determine the disease, it is not enough to note only pallor. It is worth paying attention to the mucous membranes and nails. In case of serious problems, they also become discolored.

Diseases that cause a very pale face

The paleness of the face is caused by narrowing of the subcutaneous blood vessels. This happens due to severe infections, injuries, and severe stress.

If pallor is combined with general weakness, fatigue and constant lack of air, then most likely it is anemia. Anemia can appear against the background of hemorrhoids, ulcers, and intestinal tumors. In addition, the causes of this disease can be blood loss during menstruation and aspirin use. The level of hemoglobin in the blood decreases during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It’s easy to get rid of such pallor - just start consuming foods high in iron and vitamins.

A pale face in tandem with facial swelling and swelling under the eyes indicates kidney disease.

Narrowing of the aorta can also cause pallor. In this case, there is a very strong pallor of the lips.

Noticeable general pallor, which is accompanied by sweat and severe abdominal pain, is a symptom of appendicitis or perforation of a gastric ulcer. In addition, pale skin is the first sign of a heart attack and internal bleeding.

Weakness, paleness, yellowness, high fever and headache may indicate the onset of sepsis. Any bacteria can cause a severe infectious disease. Sepsis has many serious consequences, and therefore at the first symptoms you should immediately consult a doctor.

A pale face without blush is a sign of disorders of the cardiovascular system. Vegetative-vascular dystonia is accompanied by pallor, dizziness, and chest pain. In addition, with this disease, a person’s hands and feet become cold.

External factors

There are no malfunctions in the functioning of the body, but is your pale face still bothering you? The reasons may lie in external factors. For example, pallor can be caused by heat stroke or hypothermia. After all, during heat stroke, there is an outflow of blood from the surface of the skin. Overheating is usually accompanied by weakness and increased sweating. When hypothermia occurs, the blood vessels narrow noticeably, blood flows to the most important organs, without delivering nutrition and warmth to the skin.

Short-term and age-related pallor

Paleness can appear for just a few minutes due to stress, fear, severe shock or pain. In addition, complexion changes after sixty years. This occurs due to skin dehydration, lack of nutrition and moisture. The structure of the skin changes, the work of blood vessels slows down.

A child has pale facial skin: reasons

Often mothers are concerned about the pallor of the baby’s skin. If you have any suspicions, you should consult a doctor. The doctor, having examined the oral cavity, eyes, and nails, will be able to draw conclusions about the baby’s health condition. If the child is active, eats well and sleeps well, the cause of pallor may be heredity and a lack of “sun” vitamin D.

If the baby gets tired quickly or gets irritated, it is worth checking to see if he is developing anemia. You should also start to worry if your child has dark circles under his eyes: this can be a symptom of several diseases, for example allergies. In addition, this may indicate urinary tract diseases. Bruises that appear on the baby’s body for no reason should also cause concern. Together with pale skin, they are a sign of diseases of the circulatory system.

It is worth remembering that if any alarming symptom appears, you should consult a pediatrician, and not draw conclusions and “prescribe” treatment yourself. Only a specialist should conduct an examination, select treatment and prescribe the necessary medications.

How to get rid of pallor

Healthy skin color is an indicator of the health of the entire body. Cosmetics can only mask a pale complexion, but this will not solve the problem of physical condition. If a medical examination does not reveal any ailments, you can restore a healthy complexion on your own. Playing sports will help with this. Physical exercise improves blood circulation and restores the functioning of the cardiovascular system. This means that in a couple of weeks your complexion will return to normal. If you are worried about a pale face, the reasons for which are a heavy lunch and slight dizziness, try to lie down. In this case, the head should be lower than the level of the heart.

Simple rules

To make the reflection in the mirror pleasing, you need to follow simple rules. After all, the way your skin looks depends not only on your physical condition, but also on your mood.

— In order for your complexion to be natural, make it a habit to include citrus fruits, carrots or apricots in your breakfast.

— Spend as much time as possible outside.

— In order for skin microcirculation to return to normal, it is necessary to massage daily. Its main feature is the use of ice cubes. You can freeze water or herbal decoction.

— Avoid conflicts, do not show aggression.

Masks for pale skin

A mask made from carrots and apples, taken in equal quantities and grated on a fine grater, will help restore a healthy color to the skin. Apply a thin layer of mask to a cleansed face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then the mixture should be rinsed off with cool water and a nourishing cream should be applied to the skin.

Masks with the addition of essential oils will help restore healthy color. Geranium, eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary and lavender oils are suitable. Any base oil is suitable as a base - coconut, olive, jojoba or almond. You can add one or two drops of essential oil to any homemade masks, such as clay ones. In order to improve your complexion, you need to take two tablespoons of pink or white clay and dilute it with milk. After thorough mixing, you need to add essential oils from the list. It is not recommended to keep this composition on your face for more than 15 minutes!

Pale skin and solarium

If you have a pale face, it is better to avoid visiting a solarium. However, if the desire to sunbathe is too strong, you need to remember about safety! The first sessions should not be more than twice a week, and their duration should not exceed three minutes. Don't neglect special cosmetics. The oils and vitamins that make up tanning creams moisturize the skin and do not dry it out.

Just a few centuries ago, women poisoned their bodies with lead white, burned their skin with vinegar, and performed bloodletting for one thing—pale skin. In those days, such a complexion was considered the standard of beauty and aristocracy, but in the modern world it is a sure sign of possible diseases, especially if pallor accompanies a person for a long time. Many people notice that their faces are pale. The cause may be any disease, so it is important to be examined on time and begin treatment.

Diseases that cause paleness

The cause of pale skin is not always lack of sun rays. Many serious diseases can make a person turn pale.

Heart failure

For angina pectoris normal blood circulation is disrupted in the heart, little blood flows to the vessels on the surface of the skin, which is why it turns white. In addition to pallor, symptoms may include:

1. increased fatigue, weakness;
2. shortness of breath even after slight physical exertion;
3. rapid heartbeat when lying down after exercise, heavy meals;
4. stabbing pain in the left half of the body, radiating to the left arm;
5. irritability, depression;
6. in some cases there is a strong cough, sometimes with blood.

Every day the symptoms intensify and begin to appear even at rest. It is necessary to begin treatment for angina as early as possible, otherwise there is a risk of developing myocardial infarction.

Anemia is the most common cause

With a lack of iron in the human body anemia develops, which can make a person’s skin white. The capillaries under the skin are not filled enough with blood, which is what causes a pale complexion. The reason, at first glance, is not very serious, since half of the world's population has ever encountered it, but if anemia is not treated, then in extreme cases the patient can face death. Symptoms of anemia:

1. apathy, irritability, depression, reluctance to do anything;
2. weakness, fatigue even after minor exertion;
3. tingling in the limbs;
4. shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat;
5. sometimes cracks in the corners of the lips;
6. dryness and flaking of the skin;
7. in the late stage, black stool.

Anemia often accompanies those who are addicted to diets, as their food lacks iron.

Stomach or duodenal ulcer

These diseases may cause heavy internal bleeding, causing the skin to turn pale. In addition, signs of the disease are:

1. heaviness in the stomach after eating;
2. nausea, belching, vomiting;
3. decreased appetite;
4. constipation;
5. increased sweating;
6. heartburn.

Ulcers can be prevented by starting treatment at the stage of gastritis.

Lack of thyroid hormones

Hypothyroidism is a disease that causes a decrease in the amount of thyroid hormones in the body, which perform several functions:

1. regulate all metabolic processes;
2. control the activities of almost all organs and systems;
3. have immunomodulatory and anti-stress effects
4. promote the growth of the body as a whole.

In this syndrome, anemia develops, causing the skin to become white.

Blood cancer

With leukemia, the patient is pale, bruises appear on his skin from the slightest impact, large blue or black circles appear under his eyes, and the person himself lethargic, indifferent, drowsy and tired. He develops pain in his joints and bones, and his lymph nodes become enlarged.

“Consumptive pallor” in tuberculosis

Cough with hemoptysis appears only at the last stage of the disease when the form is open. One of the first signs of tuberculosis in the latent form of the disease is pale skin, as well as:

1. increased sweating during sleep;
2. rapid weight loss;
3. general deterioration of health;
4. lethargy, fatigue, drowsiness.

Other causes of pallor

Fortunately, diseases are not always to blame for a person’s pale face. The reasons may be:

1. A banal fright, during which adrenaline is released into the blood and causes a narrowing of blood vessels. When frightened, a rapid heartbeat is typical.
2. If a person does not have sufficient physical activity. In this case, there is not enough oxygen in the blood, causing the heart to work less intensely. In addition, physically active people have many more blood cells.
3. In women, pale skin can occur during menstruation and pregnancy.
4. Smoking and alcohol intoxication can also cause this skin color.
5. People who are often exposed to stressful situations often suffer from pale skin.
6. People may be pale due to a diet that lacks essential vitamins and minerals for the body.
7. Many people turn pale with age, as the skin in old age loses moisture and produces less collagen, which is why it is highly susceptible to environmental influences.
8. Some people are naturally pale; this is a feature of theirs that is not caused by illness or external signs.
9. Hypothermia or sunstroke. When hypothermia occurs, blood from the surface of the skin is directed to the internal organs to warm them. With heat stroke, blood also drains from the skin; in addition, the person suffers from weakness, nausea and increased sweating.

Pale face in children

Mothers often wonder why their child’s face is pale. A doctor will help determine the cause by examining the baby’s skin, oral and nasal cavities, eyes and nails. Only after this will he be able to objectively assess his condition. If the child is active, eats well and plays, then the cause may be heredity or lack of vitamin D.

If the baby is lethargic, drowsy, and gets tired quickly, then this may indicate the development of anemia. Parents of such a child should be especially concerned if dark circles appear under his eyes and bruises appear on his body for no apparent reason. This may be a symptom of diseases of the circulatory system or urinary tract.

Under no circumstances should you make a decision about treating a child on your own without examining a doctor.

How to get a healthy glow back

If pallor is not caused by diseases, then you can get rid of it by following some simple rules. These rules will help change not only complexion, but also the general condition of the body:

1. Healthy sleep. A person who does not sleep enough may often experience a pale face. Lack of sleep and stress can cause other disorders in the body in addition to white skin. A healthy sleep of 7-8 hours a day can restore a healthy glow and freshness to the skin.
2. Proper nutrition. A pale person's diet should include more fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits, apples, and carrots. It is advisable to avoid fatty, floury and fried foods at least for a while until the skin acquires a natural color. It is also important to adhere to the norm of clean water consumption - 2 liters per day. Liquids obtained from drinks and food do not count.
3. Face massage. A professional or even self-massage can restore a healthy glow to the skin in a short time. Massage should be done at least 5 minutes a day, and to achieve better results you can use a scrub. An excellent scrub is made from natural ground coffee. Coffee grounds should be mixed with honey and applied with massaging movements to the skin of the face. This peeling will not only give your skin a healthy tone, but will also help remove redness and flaking.
4. Physical exercise. Exercising can not only give the body the desired shape, but also saturate the blood with the necessary oxygen, due to which active blood circulation occurs. Blood rushes to the surface of the skin and gives it a gentle glow. It is not necessary to play sports professionally; it is enough to spend half an hour a day training at home. Exercises can be viewed on the Internet.

If a person is naturally pale

People with fair skin sometimes have a hard time; many point out this nuance to them and suggest going to a solarium or going to the sea. And if the second option can help in such a situation, then the situation with the solarium is controversial.

Ultraviolet rays in a solarium are too aggressive and can cause burns on the skin of pale people very quickly. If you decide to use the services of a solarium, you must carefully follow all safety rules and use strong sunscreen and after-sun cream.

A more gentle product is self-tanning in the form of a cream or spray.

Pale skin is not always a sign of some disease, but if pallor has appeared recently or there are other disturbing symptoms in combination with it, then this is a sure sign to consult a doctor.

Pale skin can also occur with heart failure. With angina pectoris (“angina pectoris,” a type of coronary disease), insufficient blood circulation occurs in the heart muscle. Against the background of pale skin, pressure appears in the heart area, pain radiating to the left arm, neck and even to the back.

With angina, pain occurs against the background of good health after physical activity (running, climbing stairs), excessive emotions (positive and negative), after a hearty lunch, or while walking in cold weather. The attack lasts up to 10 minutes and goes away with rest or taking medication (nitroglycerin).

If, along with pallor, pain occurs that is not associated with physical activity, and the attack lasts more than 15 minutes, then myocardial infarction may develop.

The appearance of the skin, like the entire body, is affected by stress, poor environment, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

1. causes of pale face

Only a qualified doctor can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment. However, it is useful for every person to know about the following signs, so that if they are found in themselves or in their loved ones, they do not delay in contacting doctors.

If the face is not only pale, but also has an unnatural “matte gloss”, reminiscent of wax (they say about such people – “the face of a wax doll”), then this may be a sign of pernicious anemia or Addison-Beermer disease caused by a lack of vitamin B12 body. Another characteristic symptom of this disease is a bright red tongue (as complications progress, it becomes as if varnished).

If pallor is combined with such signs as general swelling of the face (puffiness) and especially swelling under the eyes (“bags”), then this is most likely caused by kidney disease.

Excessive pallor, especially in combination with pale, bordering on bluish lips, is a sign of severe oxygen deficiency in the body. The most likely cause is narrowing of the aortic lumen. Be sure to consult a doctor.

If pallor is associated with yellowness, especially in combination with weakness, general poor health, fever, headache, then this may be a sign of the onset of sepsis. You must seek medical help immediately!

Very often, pallor occurs due to anemia, that is, a lack of hemoglobin in the blood, usually associated with a lack of red blood cells - erythrocytes.

Short-term pallor can occur due to a severe attack of pain or due to sudden fear or shock caused by some unpleasant news. In such cases, it usually goes away quickly after the pain stops or when the person calms down.

But sometimes pallor is explained by completely harmless, everyday reasons - a disordered daily routine, sitting for a long time at the computer, strenuous activities, especially if the person almost never spends time in the fresh air! In this case, you need to reduce your load, be sure to find time for walks or sports outside the home, and sleep in a well-ventilated area.

Remember: you shouldn’t risk your health in vain!