Skin discoloration - bluish | Multimedia Encyclopedia | Health Information (2024)

Cyanosis is a bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane that is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood.

Considerations

Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Most of the time, nearly all red blood cells in the arteries carry a full supply of oxygen. These blood cells are bright red and the skin is pinkish or red.

Blood that has lost its oxygen is dark bluish-red. People whose blood is low in oxygen tend to have a bluish color to their skin. This condition is called cyanosis.

Depending on the cause, cyanosis may develop suddenly, along with shortness of breath and other symptoms.

Cyanosis that is caused by long-term heart or lung problems may develop slowly. Symptoms may be present, but are often not severe.

When the oxygen level has dropped only a small amount, cyanosis may be hard to detect.

In dark-skinned people, cyanosis may be easier to see in the mucous membranes (lips, gums, around the eyes) and nails.

Causes

Cyanosis that is seen in only one part of the body may be due to:

• A blood clot that blocks the blood supply to a leg, foot, hand, or arm
• Raynaud phenomenon

  Raynaud phenomenon is a condition in which cold temperatures or strong emotions cause blood vessel spasms. This blocks blood flow to the fingers, to...

  

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LACK OF OXYGEN IN THE BLOOD

Most cyanosis occurs because of a lack of oxygen in the blood. This can be caused by the following problems.

Problems with the lungs:

• Blood clot in the arteries of the lungs ( pulmonary embolism )

  A pulmonary embolus is a blockage of an artery in the lungs. The most common cause of the blockage is a blood clot.

  

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• Drowning or near-drowning
• High altitude
• Infection in the smallest air passages in the lungs of children, called bronchiolitis

  Bronchiolitis is swelling and mucus buildup in the smallest air passages in the lungs (bronchioles). It is usually due to a viral infection....

  

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  See Also

  What Causes Skin Discoloration Between the Buttocks?What You Need to Know About Cyanosis, or Bluish Discoloration of the SkinCyanosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment (2024)Skin discoloration - bluish

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• Long-term lung problems that become more severe, such as COPD , asthma , and interstitial lung disease

  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease. Having COPD makes it hard to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:Chroni...

  

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  Asthma is a disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow. It leads to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughi...

  

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  Interstitial lung disease is a group of lung disorders in which the lung tissues become inflamed and then damaged.

  

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• Pneumonia (severe)

  Pneumonia is a breathing (respiratory) condition in which there is an infection of the lung. This article covers community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). ...

  

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Problems with the airways leading to the lungs:

• Breath-holding
• Choking on something stuck in the airways
• Croup

  Croup is breathing difficulty and a "barking" cough. Croup is due to swelling around the vocal cords. It is common in infants and children....

  

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• Epiglottitis

  Epiglottitis is inflammation of the epiglottis. This is the tissue that covers the trachea (windpipe). Epiglottitis is a life-threatening disease....

  

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Problems with the heart:

• Heart defects that are present at birth (congenital)
• Heart failure

  Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...

  

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• Heart stops working (cardiac arrest)

Other problems:

• Drug overdose (narcotics, benzodiazepines, sedatives)
• Exposure to cold air or water
• Seizure that lasts a long time
• Toxins such as cyanide

Home Care

For cyanosis caused by exposure to cold or Raynaud phenomenon, dress warmly when going outside or stay in a well-heated room.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Bluish skin (cyanosis) can be a sign of many serious medical problems. Call or visit your health care provider.

For adults, call your doctor or 911 if you have bluish skin and any of the following:

• You cannot get a deep breath or your breathing is getting harder, or faster.
• Need to lean forward when sitting to breathe.
• Are using muscles around the ribs to get enough air.
• Have chest pain.
• Are having headaches more often than usual.
• Feel sleepy or confused.
• Have a fever.
• Are coughing up dark mucus.

For children, call the doctor or 911 if your child has bluish skin and any of the following:

• Hard time breathing
• Chest muscles moving in with each breath
• Breathing faster than 50 to 60 breaths per minute (when not crying)
• Making a grunting noise
• Sitting with shoulders hunched over
• Is very tired
• Is not moving around much
• Has a limp or floppy body
• Nostrils are flaring out when breathing
• Does not feel like eating
• Is irritable
• Has trouble sleeping

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider will perform a physical examination. This will include listening to your breathing and heart sounds. In emergency situations (such as shock ), you will be stabilized first.

The provider will ask about your symptoms. Questions may include:

• When did the bluish skin develop? Did it come on slowly or suddenly?
• Is your body blue all over? How about your lips or nailbeds?
• Have you been exposed to cold or gone to a high altitude?
• Do you have trouble breathing ? Do you have a cough or chest pain?

  Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathingUncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air

  

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• Do you have ankle, foot, or leg swelling ?

  Painless swelling of the feet and ankles is a common problem, especially among older people. Abnormal buildup of fluid in the ankles, feet, and legs ...

  

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Tests that may be ordered include:

• Arterial blood gas analysis

  Blood gasesare a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxideare in your blood. They also determine the acidity (pH) of your blood.

  

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• Blood oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry
• Chest x-ray

  A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.

  

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• Chest CT scan
• Complete blood count (CBC)

  A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The tota...

  

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• ECG

  An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.

  

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• Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)

  An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a s...

  

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The treatment you receive depends on the cause of cyanosis. For example, you may receive oxygen for shortness of breath.