What Is Paleness?
Paleness (pallor in Latin) 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 (melanin) in the skin. This skin hue is common in people in north European countries (Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Scandinavian countries). • Absence of skin tan from sun avoidance. • 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.
