Cyanosis (Skin Discoloration): Causes, Signs, And Treatment

Have you ever noticed a bluish or gray discoloration on the skin? It could denote cyanosis, a skin condition that occurs if you have serious health issues associated with the heart or lungs. This condition usually warrants immediate medical attention and must not be ignored.

Here, we discuss cyanosis, its causes, signs, and symptoms, and the treatment options available to reduce the risk of complications. Keep reading.

Fun Fact

The name ‘cyanosis’ stems from the color cyan, derived from the Greek word ‘cyanós,’ meaning the color blue.

What Is Cyanosis? What Are Its Types?

Cyanosis is a pathologic condition where your skin becomes blue, grayish, or purple due to insufficient oxygen in the bloodstream. Cyanosis indicates inadequate oxygen delivery to the peripheral tissues. It also occurs due to increased oxygen extraction by the tissues (1). It can affect your fingers, toes, nails, earlobes, mucous membranes, lips, and skin.

Cyanosis is divided into two categories:

• Central Cyanosis: It is bluish discoloration found on the body, mouth, head, and torso. It occurs when the deoxygenated hemoglobin level is below 5g/dL with oxygen saturation being below 85% (1).

• Peripheral Cyanosis: It occurs due to the body’s inability to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the peripheral tissues (2). Fingers, toes, and nail beds become blue or purple. It can happen due to congestive heart failure or shock. It can also occur due to exposure to extremely cold temperatures.

Acrocyanosisⁱ  A persistent, painless disorder that causes bluish discoloration on the skin due to lack of oxygen and spasms in small blood vessels. is a form of peripheral cyanosis that is more prevalent in children and adults younger than 30 years (3).

It resolves within the first few days of life. Risk factors include cold climate, outdoor activities, and a low body mass index.

Trivia

French physician Jean-Baptiste de Sénac first described cyanosis in the year 1749.

What Causes Cyanosis?

Lack of enough oxygen in the blood turns skin bluish-green or bluish-purple. Some of the life-threatening causes of cyanosis are:

• Chest wall injuries
• Obstruction of the airways
• Heart failure or congenital heart diseaseⁱ  A birth defect with one or more issues of the heart structure that affects the normal functioning of the heart.
• High blood pressure in the lungs
• Blood clot in the lungs
• Suffocation or shock
• Presence of methemoglobin in the blood due to methemoglobinemia (caused by drugs or toxins) (1)

Health issues related to the heart, lungs, or blood can cause cyanosis.

You may also experience cyanosis if you have a long-term health condition like:

• Asthma
• Pneumonia
• Severe anemia

Other causes of cyanosis include:

• Overdose of medications
• Beta-blockers (medications used to manage high blood pressure), which may affect blood circulation (4)
• Raynaud’s syndromeⁱ  A medical condition that causes numbness of toes, nose, or ears due to the response of smaller arteries to cold temperatures.
• Exposure to poisons like cyanide or carbon monoxide poisoning
• Extreme cold conditions
• Wearing tight clothes or jewelry

All newborn babies have central cyanosis until up to 5 to 10 minutes after birth. Seek medical help if you notice bluish discoloration in your newborn after the stipulated time. Cyanosis in children may be the result of heart or respiratory distress during birth. Children with congenital heart diseaseⁱ  A birth defect with one or more issues of the heart structure that affects the normal functioning of the heart. require regular immunizations to prevent infections. Some may even need a permanent pacemaker.

It is evident that most of these conditions can lead to serious health issues. Hence, you must know the symptoms of cyanosis to treat it promptly.

Signs And Symptoms Of Cyanosis

The symptoms of a mild cyanosis condition include:

• Bluish, grayish, or purplish color changes to the skin
• Cold or clammy skin in affected areas
• Increased heart rate
• Fatigue

The most common symptom is the color changes in the skin. Detecting these color changes is easier in those with a lighter skin tone. However, those with dark skin must watch for purplish color changes on their lips, tongue, gums, nail beds, and around the eyes.

In serious cases, one may experience:

• Chest pain
• Breathing issues
• Frequent headaches
• Sleepiness
• Confusion
• Fever
• Coughing up dark-colored mucus

Seek immediate medical help if you notice any such symptoms. Your doctor will identify the type of cyanosis and treat it accordingly.

Michelle, a blogger, shared her experience of dealing with cyanosis during Covid. She writes, “I ended up back in emergency, in the middle of the night, because my lips had started to turn blue around the edges, as did my nail beds. I knew this was a sign of cyanosis, and didn’t want to take any chances (i).”

Diagnosing Cyanosis

Your doctor may diagnose the condition by a physical examination. You may also be asked about your medical history and details about the symptoms.

Your doctor may examine your cheeks, nose, ears, and oral mucosa as the outer layer of the skin is very thin and has generous blood supply (1).

Understanding the type of cyanosis present will also help the doctor find out the cause of the condition. They may perform a few tests to:

• Know the complete blood count.
• Measure the oxygen levels in the blood.
• Measure your heart’s electrical activity.
• Check if you have pneumonia or other pulmonary issues like pulmonary embolism.

Keep reading to learn more about the treatments available for cyanosis.

Treating Cyanosis

Cyanosis may be a symptom of a serious underlying condition, and treating it must be a priority. The treatment may involve:

• Surgery: Cyanosis caused due to congenital heart diseaseⁱ  A birth defect with one or more issues of the heart structure that affects the normal functioning of the heart. may need surgical intervention.
• Oxygenation: Cyanosis can also occur due to hypoxia. Hypoxia is caused due to a lack of oxygen in the tissues. If you are looking for how to increase the oxygen level in blood naturally, there are many ways, such as exercise, antioxidant diets etc., However, depending upon your situation, you may need respiratory support to stabilize this condition.
• Intravenous Fluids: Infants with cyanosis may have difficulty consuming food. They need to be administered with intravenous fluids.
• Medications: The doctor may prescribe drugs depending on the underlying medical conditions. Antivirals, antibiotics, diuretics, or anticoagulants may be recommended.
• Warming Of The Affected Area: Cyanosis caused by exposure to cold, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and acrocyanosisⁱ  A persistent, painless disorder that causes bluish discoloration on the skin due to lack of oxygen and spasms in small blood vessels. may be reduced by warming the affected area.

When To See A Doctor

Since cyanosis is linked to chronic and life-threatening causes, you must seek immediate medical help if you notice any symptoms. Visit a doctor if you develop a bluish tint on your skin, lips, fingertips, or nails that does not fade in 1 to 2 days. Cyanosis often accompanies other symptoms like breathing difficulty, rapid breathing, chest pain, fever, or coughing dark mucus. In such cases, you must seek emergency medical attention.

Want to understand cyanosis? Click on this informative video and delve into the symptoms and causes of both central and peripheral cyanosis.

You can prevent the risk of developing cyanosis by following a few tips. Check them out in the next section.

How To Prevent Cyanosis

You can prevent cyanosis by addressing the underlying causes and maintaining good overall health. Here are some steps to help prevent cyanosis:

• Avoid exposure to cold temperatures as they may reduce blood flow and oxygen delivery to the toes and feet (2).
• Wear warm clothes or use a portable heater when at high altitudes.
• Limit smoking or caffeine intake as they can narrow the blood vessels and reduce their capacity to carry oxygen (2).
• Consume iron rich-foods to tackle anemia as iron helps increase hemoglobin and improves the flow of both blood and oxygen (5).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can low iron cause cyanosis?

Yes, iron deficiency anemia may cause cyanosis if the oxygen saturation falls below normal hemoglobin levels.

Can a pulse oximeter detect cyanosis?

No, a pulse oximeter may not correctly detect cyanosis.

Does cyanosis cause brain damage?

Insufficient oxygen may result in brain damage. However, cyanosis can be a sign of underlying health conditions like hypoxia, which may lead to brain damage.

Can an infection cause cyanosis?

Infections like pneumonia and fever can cause cyanosis.

Illustration: Cyanosis (Skin Discoloration): Causes Signs And Treatment

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

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Dr. Sameeksha ChandMBBS, MD DVL

   

Dr. Sameeksha Chand Malhotra is a board-certified dermatologist with 10 years of experience. She is well versed in general dermatology, procedural dermatology, and aesthetic dermatology and certified in permanent makeup and microblading.

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Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Swathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over three years of experience in writing on beauty, health, and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach.

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Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.

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Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach with a keen interest in skin, hair, tattoos, nail art, and lifestyle trends.

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