Blue Skin (Cyanosis)

Blue skin (cyanosis) may be a result of a simple issue or a serious health condition that requires immediate treatment.

Blue skin (cyanosis)

Blue skin (cyanosis) occurs when there is a lack of oxygen in the blood because this makes it darker than usual.

Causes of blue skin (cyanosis)

The lack of oxygen in the blood that leads to blue skin (cyanosis) occurs either because there is something that prevents the blood from having enough oxygen or due to the contraction of blood vessels in cold weather to keep the appropriate body temperature. Causes of cyanosis include:

• Airway problems, like choking, swelling around the vocal cords, and epiglottitis.
• Lung problems, like asthma, infection in the respiratory tract, pneumonia, COPD, pulmonary hypertension, and high altitude.
• Heart problems, like congestive heart failure, cardiac arrest, and congenital defects.
• Other causes include tight clothes that limit the circulation, extreme cold, Raynaud’s disorder, seizures, hypertension medications, drug overdose, and toxins.

Symptoms of blue skin (cyanosis)

• The main symptom of cyanosis is blue lips, tongue, gums, ears, nails, hands, or feet. The color may be white or gray in darker skin.
• Other symptoms that may occur, depending on the cause, are numbness or tingling, low body temperature, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, dizziness, fatigue, and weakness.

Diagnosis of blue skin (cyanosis)

• Physical exam.
• Blood, lung, and heart tests.

Treatment of blue skin (cyanosis)

• Treating blue skin (cyanosis) depends on the underlying cause.
• The first treatment is oxygen therapy.
• The risk of cyanosis can be reduced by avoiding smoking, limiting caffeine intake, and dressing properly in cold weather.