Causes of unhealthy complexion: yellow, sallow, olive, gray, pale, red

The beauty of a person is judged by his face: the shape and symmetry of the eyes, the shape of the nose and eyebrows, the fullness of the lips - all this must form a holistic and harmonious picture, then the person will be considered attractive or beautiful. Skin color is the basis on which we judge health: our own or another person’s.

Changes in skin color are medically called dyschromia. It most often occurs due to some internal diseases (we will look at them below), and a cosmetologist or dermatologist are the last specialists you need to visit about this.

A change in complexion towards a paler or redder color should be a reason to, instead of grabbing cosmetic corrective products, grab a blood pressure monitor and then count your own pulse. If you describe the color as yellow, green or bluish, you should not hesitate to see a doctor: conditions that change the complexion to such shades are life-threatening.

About skin

Human skin is the organ with the largest area. On average, it occupies 2 square meters in an adult, and its total mass is more than 10 kilograms. The main task of the skin, present from birth: to protect the underlying tissues from the penetration of microbes and chemicals into them. In addition, it protects them from high and low temperatures, ultraviolet and other rays, for which the subcutaneous tissue and muscles are clearly not designed. The skin also performs other very important functions: it participates in respiration, thermoregulation, synthesizes some vitamins, enzymes and bioactive substances, and conveys information about pain, tactile sensations and temperature to the spinal cord. It can absorb substances applied to it, delivering them into the systemic circulation.

From 3-4 months of life, another important function of the integumentary tissue, which is relevant to our topic, develops - excretory. The skin removes some of the products, both those formed during the normal functioning of organs, and those that arise during the neutralization of toxins by our main “filters”.

A person's complexion depends on:

combinations of pigments in it;
thickness of the stratum corneum;
the depth of the location of vessels in it and their filling;
on the intensity of metabolism occurring in the body.

Changing each of the parameters leads to a change in complexion. Let's look at all this in more detail.

Nutrition

An incorrectly designed diet is one of the causes of constipation and heaviness. First of all, all this is reflected on your skin. More attention needs to be paid not only to the fruits and vegetables themselves, but also to their compatibility.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytcopyrightru

To maintain the beauty and health of the skin, it is necessary to enrich it with vitamins A and E. To do this, introduce the following products into your diet:

lean meats;
eggs;
cheese;
cottage cheese;
seafood;
cereals;
nuts;
greenery;
vegetable oil.

Skin structure

Our covering tissue, skin, consists of two layers. The top one is called the epidermis. This is the same epithelium as the one that forms all the mucous membranes of the internal organs. Its difference is in the number of cell layers. The latter, gradually turning into dead plates from the lower layer to the upper, still remain on the surface of the skin and protect it from adverse external influences. Between the ordinary cells of the epidermis are those that, being the owners of a coloring pigment, provide the skin with brownish and yellowish shades.

The deep layer of the integument is represented by the dermis. There are protein fibers here that are responsible for the elasticity of the skin and the ability to straighten it when forming a fold. The intercellular substance located between them is responsible for moisturizing the skin and the ability to correctly “cooperate” with facial muscles - to straighten without forming wrinkles after demonstrating another emotion.

The dermis is the layer of skin that contains blood vessels: many blood vessels and some lymphatic vessels. The hemoglobin found in them gives the cover a pink color.

Recipes for folk remedies for blue spots

For minor defects in the form of blue spots on the surface of the face, you can try to get rid of them using traditional methods.

Mix bodyaga powder with hydrogen peroxide in a 1:1 ratio to a paste, apply to blue spots for at least 5-7 minutes. After removing the mixture, you need to treat the skin with kefir to relieve inflammation. This product is suitable exclusively for oily skin. This product must be used with caution, avoiding contact with mucous membranes and eyes.

Pigments

Healthy color is provided by a combination of four pigments:

melanin;
carotene;
oxyhemoglobin;
reduced hemoglobin.

Melanin

This is a brown pigment. Its task is to protect the skin from ultraviolet rays, which are dangerous due to their oncogenicity, ability to cause burns and oxidative stress (and with it early aging). Therefore, when exposed to the sun, our skin turns brown, and people living in conditions of increased solar activity have dark or even black skin.

Melanin is produced in special cells of the epidermis - melanocytes. Through special processes, vesicles with pigment are delivered to other cells - keratinocytes, where they accumulate. Some of it is dissolved in the dermis.

The accumulation of melanin bubbles in the main skin cells is dictated not only by genetic, but also by constitutional factors. Thus, some localizations darken greatly under the influence of ultraviolet rays, while others remain practically unchanged, while others are brown regardless of radiation. Genetics “dictates” that some people become very dark in the spring and summer. Others - this disorder is called albinism - do not tan under any circumstances, maintaining a milky white skin color.

The process of formation and accumulation of melanin is regulated by two main enzymes - copper-containing and zinc-dependent. If the body lacks each of them, there is nothing to absorb ultraviolet rays.

Carotene

This is the name of the yellow pigment dissolved in the dermis of the skin. It is a natural antioxidant that protects the skin from the harmful effects of oxygen radicals. The same one is found in carrots and some algae, from where, when eaten, it penetrates the skin.

In the Caucasian race, carotene is almost invisible - it is hidden by melanin. But in Mongoloids it is visible and turns their skin yellowish.

Hemoglobin and its types

This pigment is not found in the skin itself, but in the vessels lying in the dermis. Its main task is to transfer oxygen to tissues and take carbon dioxide from them. When it transports oxygen (called oxyhemoglobin), it is pink in color. When hemoglobin is saturated with carbon dioxide, it colors the vessels dark red or bluish. The extent to which the hemoglobin present in the vessels will stain the skin will depend on:

number of blood vessels in the skin;
proximity of dermal capillaries to the surface layer of the skin;
filling of these capillaries, which depends on the pressure in the larger arteries. This is regulated by the autonomic nervous system and the hormonal system. The filling of small skin vessels is also affected by the amount of fluid in the vascular bed;
thickness of the stratum corneum.

Pathological pigments

The skin can be colored not only by pigments present under physiological conditions, but also by substances that penetrate here during pathology. Sometimes these are pathological substances - such as iodine or silver. But more often these are products formed from hemoglobin:

Bilirubin, which is formed during the breakdown of red blood cells. There is a lot of it in the body either when large quantities of red blood cells are destroyed at once, or when hemoglobin metabolism in the liver is disrupted. It turns the skin yellow and the condition it causes is called jaundice. We'll talk more below.
A rich dark, almost blue color of the skin occurs when a person’s hemoglobin changes its structure, becoming methemoglobin. Such a substance, containing iron of a different valency, does not tolerate oxygen, and if there is a lot of it in the vessels, it is deadly.
Brown color can be caused not only by the accumulation of melanin. The skin acquires this shade as a result of a genetic disease called “porphyria”, when the hemoglobin contained in the vessels of the skin, which is in the process of transformation, is exposed to sunlight.

Thus, skin color depends on the combination of coloring pigments in different layers of the skin, as well as its thickness. An even complexion is obtained when all parameters - pigment saturation, thickness of the stratum corneum, and distribution of blood vessels - are the same in all areas.

This is influenced by:

the work of the autonomic nervous system (it is what regulates the lumen of blood vessels);
quality of facial skin care;
human lifestyle: nutrition, bad habits;
environmental conditions of the place of residence;
chronic diseases.

Norm

Jaundice occurs due to disruption of bilirubin metabolism, its excretion and accumulation.

Bilirubin tends to form due to cytochromes, red blood cells and myoglobin, which have broken down.

Bilirubin comes in two forms:

Incoherent. It is toxic, interacts with the protein albumin, and is transported to the liver area through the bloodstream;
Connected. Cells that are in the liver area combine bilirubin and glucuronic acid, changing it into direct or conjugated bilirubin. Next, the liver produces bile, where bilirubin will be located, and it enters the intestines with it. Next, bilirubin is removed from the feces.

Darkening of color

This word can describe complexion in various diseases.

Adrenal insufficiency

A uniformly dark complexion, when the skin can be described as bronze or too dark, is characteristic of adrenal insufficiency - usually primary, when the paired endocrine organ itself suffers. In this case, it will not be the face that will darken at first, but not the parts of the body protected by clothing, those that rub against parts of clothing and those that are already pigmented (peripapillary circle, genitals, armpits). In addition, there will be weight loss, digestive disorders, and sometimes changes in the sexual sphere. Learn more about the symptoms and causes of adrenal insufficiency.

Thyrotoxicosis

When the dark color does not cover the face evenly, but with blurred brown spots, this indicates increased activity of the thyroid gland. Additional signs that speak in its favor will be a rapid, palpable heartbeat, skin that is hot to the touch, irritability, increased appetite and, at the same time, weight loss.

Spots with hyperthyroidism must be distinguished from lentigo or chloasma - areas of melanin accumulation that occur due to other reasons. In both of these cases, there will be no changes in the general condition - only areas of darker skin will appear. And they, unlike spots with hyperthyroidism, will not change their shape and color. Read more about the symptoms and treatment of thyrotoxicosis.

Liver pathologies

If not the entire face darkens, but only the area near the hair, this indicates liver disease. In this case, a person may notice a deterioration in appetite, a desire to sleep longer, an aversion to fatty foods and bleeding when brushing teeth, or heavier periods. If there is at least one more sign, in addition to areas of darkening of the face, contact a therapist or gastroenterologist and take a liver test. Read more about the symptoms of liver disease.

Bacterial endocarditis

The word “dark color” can also describe light brown, which is also called “coffee with milk”. This is the complexion characteristic of prolonged septic endocarditis, a disease in which bacteria settle on the heart valves, leading to the development of polyposis and ulcers here.

This pathology is characterized by a slow deterioration of the condition in a person who has long been diagnosed with valvular heart disease. He begins to get tired faster and wants to lie down more often. Unpleasant sensations or minor pain appear in the heart. The same vague and unexpressed pains are noted in the joints.

Body temperature rises: usually to low levels, with chills and palpitations. Later it rises to 39 degrees, chills appear, and the person sweats profusely. Sometimes the temperature immediately rises to high levels, an attack of heart palpitations develops, and first one thing or another hurts. In some cases, the temperature remains elevated for a long time to 37.8, and against this background it periodically rises to 39 and above.

Septic endocarditis is a life-threatening disease: masses of endocardium “recycled” by bacteria, which were located here in the form of polyps, “fly off” from the valves. Such emboli can clog the vessels of organs: brain, kidneys, spleen, limbs, skin. Kidney damage is manifested by darkening of the urine, the appearance of blood in it, and a decrease in its amount. With cerebral embolism, clouding of consciousness, dizziness, double vision, muscle twitching or convulsions occur. A sudden loss of consciousness with difficulty breathing may occur, which leads to death if help is not provided urgently.

Hemorrhages occur in the skin, which look like large or smaller areas soaked in blood (irregular bruises), the center of which is whitish. They do not rise above the skin, and often affect only the skin of the legs and the conjunctiva of the lower eyelid. The disease is also characterized by the following symptom: the appearance of red, dense and painful nodules on the palms or soles, which resolve after 2-3 days.

Hemochromatosis

Here, grayish-brown or dark brown spots appear on the skin, merging with each other, which can serve as a reason for making a preliminary diagnosis of chronic adrenal insufficiency. An accurate diagnosis is made by skin biopsy in stained areas, when deposits of hemosiderin and melanin are detected.

Early systemic scleroderma

Here, numbness and coldness of the hands first appear, accompanied by the feeling of crawling “goosebumps”. These symptoms bother the patient for several years without being supplemented by anything else. Then dark spots appear on the hands, face and feet, or only in a separate location. They are dense, seem to consist of thick skin, spread to free areas, and hinder movements of the facial muscles. The diagnosis is made by detecting antibodies to RNA polymerase, topoisomerase I or histone in the blood (one type of antibody is detected in each patient), as well as antinuclear factor (it is detected in 90-95%).

Porphyria cutanea tarda

When this disease develops after exposure to the sun, as well as when drinking alcohol, blisters appear on exposed areas of the body, the skin becomes brittle and brittle, darkens, but may also lighten. After the slightest injury to the skin, the same thing happens. The conjunctiva of the eyes swells and turns red, while the throat does not turn red, and no other cold symptoms occur. Ultrasound shows liver damage.

Variegated porphyria manifests itself in a similar way. Only doctors distinguish them.

Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis

In this case, a brown spot of varying diameter (café au lait color) appears on the body - one or many. The disease debuts in childhood. It is also characterized by premature puberty and high blood pressure.

Similar symptoms are characteristic of two other diseases that appear in childhood - Watson's syndrome and Albright's syndrome. Only doctors can distinguish them.

Dysplastic nevus syndrome

Dark brown spots with a clear border appear on the skin. Papules raised above the skin and variegated in color may also develop. There are usually no other complaints.

Leopard syndrome

Dark brown spots are found everywhere on the skin. And although other symptoms are not subjectively disturbing, when performing an ECG, various types of changes are noted. An ultrasound of the heart reveals a decrease in the lumen (stenosis) of the pulmonary artery.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Multiple dark brown spots appear on the lips and fingers. In addition, periodic pain in the abdomen (closer to the navel) is bothersome. When examined by a gastroenterologist or during an X-ray examination of the intestine with preliminary administration of contrast (barium), polyposis of the small intestine is detected.

Blackening of the face

If the skin turns black, this is a sign that you need to urgently consult a doctor, as it is dangerous. This coloring may appear due to the following diseases.

Meningococcal infection

This life-threatening disease most often affects children: in adults, the meningococcus bacterium most often does not cause illness, but forms a carrier state, settling in the nose (such people are infectious to their loved ones without knowing it).

The disease occurs acutely: body temperature rises, spots appear on the skin. At first they may be red, then they become purple, brown or black, and merge. Without emergency medical care, the rash merges, forming large black areas, while the person becomes lethargic, drowsy, and may vomit, after which it does not get better. An ambulance should be called as soon as possible.

Kidney diseases

If a person develops an infectious disease of the kidneys or bladder, he may develop a black discoloration of the skin of the face - mainly in the area of the cheekbones and the root of the nose. Additional symptoms include change in urine color, lower back pain, nausea, fever, and painful urination.

Pellagra

This is a disease when the body is low in B vitamins, especially vitamin PP (nicotinic acid). It usually occurs after an intestinal infection, against the background of chronic alcohol consumption, with frequent exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun or solarium, and also when a person experiences increased loss of this vitamin during pregnancy, lactation or hard work against the background of chronic malnutrition.

The main symptoms of the disease will be: general weakness, a burning sensation in the mouth, “goosebumps” that periodically “run” along the arms, constant diarrhea and abdominal pain. Red spots or blisters with cloudy liquid first appear on the skin of the face and open parts of the body, then a dark color appears here. The skin in these places peels off.

In addition to skin manifestations, a person notes mental status disorders: fatigue, depression, and sometimes psychosis with hallucinations.

Xeroderma pigmentosum

This is a hereditary disease in which the integumentary tissue is hypersensitive to ultraviolet rays. When exposed to this radiation, areas of redness, spider veins and large, merging pigment spots of a dark, almost black color appear on the skin of open areas, including the face.

Excessive melanoblastosis

It appears in newborns. At the same time, damage to the nervous system comes to the fore: drowsiness, vomiting not associated with food, strabismus, low tone of the hands and some others. This occurs due to the deposition of melanin in the nuclei of the cranial nerves. The same pigment is deposited in the skin, which turns it black.

Occupational melasma

If a person works with petroleum distillation products (tar, pitches) for a long time, substances are absorbed into the skin that enhance the effect of ultraviolet radiation on it.

Elimination methods

Today, there are several completely different methods that can help remove blue spots. After reviewing them, everyone can make their own choice.

The medical method of treatment uses a variety of medications that help remove spots on the face:

a special cream that has an anti-pigment, strong brightening effect. True, it should be used with great caution so as not to provoke allergies or, even worse, skin cancer;
scrubs that contain various hydroacids: lactic, citric, salicylic;
drugs that suppress melanin production: azelaic acid, arbutin, kojic acid.

Cosmetic treatment offers salon procedures that allow you to quickly tidy up your skin by removing blemishes on your face:

chemical peeling based on trichloroacetic or glycolic acid. To improve the quality of the procedure, it is recommended to combine peeling with the use of retinoids;
Fractional photothermolysis and microcurrent therapy are those procedures that are performed directly on spots or scars and are used to accelerate metabolic processes, improve skin health, and enhance blood microcirculation. These methods have the additional effect of improving the production of substances such as collagen and elastin, which help even out the tone and surface of the skin;
dermabrasion or laser resurfacing - this procedure does not completely remove spots, but noticeably smoothes and brightens the skin.

Traditional medicine offers a wide variety of remedies suitable for eliminating blue spots.

The only drawback of these methods, despite the naturalness of the ingredients, is the long-term treatment required to achieve results.

Blue face

The blue color accompanies life-threatening heart or lung diseases, or covers the face when taking certain medications.

Blue face as a result of treatment

A drug such as Cordarone can turn the face blue. In this case, you need to consult a cardiologist about reducing the dosage of the medication.

The second cause of ceruloderm (as doctors call blue skin) is the use of silver preparations, mainly for antiseptic purposes, for example, for a runny nose. People involved in silver processing also get sick. This condition is called argyria and usually leads to damage to the bone marrow, eyes, kidney failure and damage to the nervous system - silver salts accumulate not only in the skin, but also in all internal organs, vessel walls, mucous membranes, sclera of the eyes, and remain there for the entire life.

If a person stops using medications containing silver salts, the symptoms of damage to internal organs will go away, but the blue color of the skin will remain.

Methemoglobinemia

This is the name of the condition when normal hemoglobin is replaced by an altered one - methemoglobin, in which iron is not divalent, but trivalent, and cannot carry oxygen. This disease most often appears during poisoning with hemolytic poisons. For example, it occurs with an overdose of Paracetamol, the use of long-stored Phenacetin and sulfonamides, as well as in cases where large amounts of nitrates and nitrites are ingested in food (they are found in well and tap water, in canned meat, in fruits fertilized with nitrate-nitrite fertilizers and vegetables). There are also hereditary forms of pathology.

For any form of the disease, the symptoms will be as follows:

the skin acquires a gray-blue tint;
the nail phalanges do not change their shape (if the heart or lungs are affected, the nail-bearing phalanges expand, taking on the appearance of “drum sticks”);
physical activity is accompanied by shortness of breath and fatigue;
headaches are frequent and severe.

Cardiopulmonary diseases

These pathologies cause both generalized cyanosis, when the whole body acquires a bluish tint, and regional cyanosis, manifested by blueness of the skin under the nails, the tip of the nose, lips and nasolabial triangle.

This condition develops in various diseases:

Heart failure . In this case, there is pain in the heart during physical activity, shortness of breath at rest, which increases with physical activity, and swelling, localized mainly in the legs. An ECG or ultrasound of the heart can determine the disease that caused this pathology.
Asthma attack . Here, the appearance of an attack can be associated with an encounter with an allergen (for example, plant pollen or household chemicals), there is a dry cough, it becomes difficult to exhale, and sometimes wheezing can be heard from afar.
Pneumonia . It is not always, but often manifested by cough and fever. In addition, there is shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air, weakness, and nausea.
Cyanotic variant of erythrocytosis.
Tuberculosis . In this case, a cough is noted: it is dry, sometimes during a cough attack a certain amount of mucous sputum is released. The temperature rises to low levels (up to 38 degrees), weakness and increased fatigue are noted.
Pulmonary embolism: when one or more branches of the vessel leading from the heart to the lungs develops a “congestion” or blockage with a blood clot, fat, gas, or masses detached from the inflamed heart valves. The disease develops abruptly: often after straining or performing heavy physical work, a person with varicose veins, heart defects or an aneurysm suddenly develops weakness, shortness of breath with a feeling of lack of air. A little later, a cough and pain in one of the halves of the chest develop.
Any type of shock , manifested by a sharp decrease in blood pressure. Shock can develop with significant dehydration, large amounts of bacteria entering the body, blood loss, severe pain due to injury, or anaphylaxis.
Heart defects . Often, only fatigue is subjectively felt; there may be rhythm disturbances and headaches. The upper half of the body may differ in color from the lower.
Chronic bronchitis . It manifests itself as a cough, fever, and sometimes a feeling of shortness of breath. If a person has had this disease for a long time, his fingers change: the nail phalanges thicken, becoming like “drumsticks.” Nails also change: they become dull, they are covered with grooves (such nails are called “watch glasses”).
Pleurisy . This condition develops after pneumonia. It is characterized not only by the development of a bluish coloration of the skin, but also by a repeated increase in body temperature that has already returned to normal, chest pain when breathing, chills, weakness, and night sweats.
Pneumothorax . This term characterizes a condition when, due to injury to the lung, air penetrates into the cavity surrounding it. If the amount of air increases, then it compresses the lung itself and the heart lying nearby. Is it dangerous. The pathology develops acutely, usually after physical effort or a coughing fit. Severe pain appears on the side of the damaged lung, which intensifies with deep inspiration, coughing and movement. Shortness of breath and a feeling of lack of air also appears.

Redness of the skin

A red complexion is not always a sign of alcohol abuse, as previously thought. This is a sign of the following diseases:

Arterial hypertension (increased blood pressure), which can accompany hypertension, develops as a result of kidney or adrenal diseases. Redness of the face develops against the background of a headache, spots before the eyes, and pain in the heart.
Carbon monoxide poisoning . This happens to people with stove heating who are in an unventilated room.
Erythrocytosis , in which there is too much hemoglobin and red blood cells, which does not improve oxygen transport, but poses a danger in terms of increased thrombus formation. Here the face and shoulders are bright red. This intensifies after taking a bath, and with this comes skin itching.
Allergic reaction : to medications, food, household chemicals, introduction of worms into the intestines and other things. In addition to redness, a dry cough, sneezing, and possibly diarrhea often appear. Improvement is observed if the allergen is eliminated.
Rosacea . At first, the skin turns red only when exposed to heat or cold, but gradually the face ceases to return to its normal color. Typically, pathology develops in women during menopause. It must be distinguished from the redness of the face characteristic of this period, which accompanies the sensation of “flushing”.
Tuberculosis . Here the cheeks are constantly red, but this color is not bright. In addition, the nasolabial triangle has a bluish tint, there is also a cough, and a constantly elevated temperature; the person sweats heavily.
Scarlet fever : the face turns red and the nasolabial triangle becomes pale. In addition, the temperature rises, and a red rash spreads throughout the body.
Pneumonia , when one cheek turns red. There is also a feeling of difficulty breathing, cough, weakness, and increased body temperature.
Sinusitis . Here one cheek is also painted - on the affected side. At the same time, there is a headache, a fever, a stuffy nose, and when instilled, a large amount of secretion is released, often mucopurulent.
Both cheeks and the back of the nose turn red with a disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus.
Redness of the cheeks against the background of an intestinal infection or acute respiratory infection in a child is a sign that his underlying disease has been complicated by the development of acetonemic syndrome. This is a condition when the body uses fats rather than glucose as energy substrates, the breakdown products of which have a toxic effect on the brain.
A large dose of atropine or scopolamine for a given person.
Poisoning with hallucinogens.

Also, the face - especially if a person suffers from vegetative-vascular dystonia - changes its color to red with any illness that is accompanied by an increase in temperature.

Earthy color

If your face suddenly acquires an unhealthy, sallow color, this may indicate chronic lack of sleep, lack of fresh air, unbalanced diet, excessive tanning and smoking. But most often this shade indicates pathology. For example:

Poor functioning of the thyroid gland . At the same time, the face becomes not only dull, but also puffy. The skin is dry, and the hair is brittle, splits and falls out. There is also excess weight with decreased appetite and poor nutrition.
Oncological disease (cancer) of any localization, including leukemia.
HIV infections . At the same time, the disease is staged: at first, a slightly elevated temperature lasts for several months, then it increases and a large number of lymph nodes begin to be felt. Only then does the color of the skin fade, a person begins to often suffer from pneumonia, every small violation of the integrity of the skin takes a long time to heal, and long-term diseases develop, the cause of which cannot be immediately found.
Sepsis (blood poisoning). In this case, at first there are symptoms of some bacterial disease: inflammation of the kidneys, lungs, festering wound, abscess, osteomyelitis, sinusitis, and so on. Then, after a short-term improvement, the temperature rises again, weakness, headache and nausea appear. This is complemented by symptoms of kidney or liver damage.

“Gray” syndrome is a form of cyanosis in children in the first months of life associated with the use of chloramphenicol

“Gray” syndrome is a form of cyanosis in children in the first months of life associated with the use of chloramphenicol. In children, regardless of age (especially with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency), sulfonamides in high doses can cause sulfhemoglobinemia, and for clinical signs of cyanosis to appear, a blood level of 5 g/l of sulfhemoglobin is sufficient. Ingestion of 100-300 mg of methylene blue per day restores the oxygen transport function of the blood in all forms of methemoglobinemia, while ascorbic acid in a dose of 100 to 500 mg is effective in congenital methemoglobinemia. Sulfhemoglobin is a strong compound, and methylene blue has no effect on the restoration of the oxygen-containing space of the blood.

The light blue coloration of the skin in argyria may resemble cyanosis, but abnormal skin pigmentation due to skin color can occur in Addison's disease or hemochromatosis.

Pallor

Pale or unhealthy white color indicates various diseases, in which:

a) there is acute or chronic blood loss:

endometriosis;
ectopic pregnancy;
peptic ulcer;
internal bleeding;

b) the blood vessels of the skin spasmed so that there was enough blood for the central organs:

angina pectoris;
oncological diseases of any localization;
heart defects;
aortic aneurysm;
fat embolism;

c) diseases that occur with intoxication, due to which vasospasm occurs: ARVI (especially influenza), asthma attack, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases;

d) there is not enough melanin, which causes the skin to become more “transparent”. If this occurs throughout the skin, and there is also a lack of melanin in the iris of the eye, then this is albinism or phenylketonuria. When individual white spots appear on the skin, we can talk about vitiligo, a disease that has many causes;

e) deficiency of substances from which hemoglobin is formed: iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, proteins, glutathione, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. These are different types of anemia - deficiency and hypoplastic. The latter may occur due to kidney disease;

f) autonomic regulation of blood vessels is impaired (vegetative-vascular dystonia). This can be said if the pale color occurs during stress, fear, or nervous experiences;

g) hormonal regulation of vascular tone is disrupted: diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism;

h) edema, due to which skin vessels are poorly visible: hypothyroidism, kidney disease, loss of proteins due to exudative enteropathy, burns, malabsorption syndrome.

Cyanosis: main types and their features

In medicine, there is a special classification used to determine the degree of cyanosis, which doctors use in diagnosis. This sign is divided into several groups according to different parameters.

Depending on the location of distribution, cyanosis is of two types:

Total cyanosis covers all skin.
Local or regional cyanosis spreads to certain areas of the skin. Based on this characteristic, blueness, in turn, is divided into two subspecies:

central cyanosis is usually located near the mouth and around the eyes.
peripheral cyanosis (acrocyanosis) is noted in distant areas: fingers and nails of the extremities, earlobes.

Cyanosis is characterized by different levels of severity. For example, with a rapid increase in oxygen starvation, it manifests itself acutely, while the chronic type develops gradually over many years.

Gray face

Gray color is described in the following conditions:

Leukemia . These pathologies are very insidious, masquerading as ARVI: weakness, drowsiness appear, and body temperature rises. Most often they are detected when a general blood test is prescribed.
Diseases of the digestive system : pancreatitis, cholecystitis. In this case, nausea, bloating, bowel movements, pain in the upper abdomen when eating spicy, smoked or fatty foods, or alcohol are noted.
Smoking and stress.
After suffering serious illnesses.

Jaundice

Diseases in which a yellow complexion is observed have a common name - jaundice. This color is sometimes given by carotene if a person has eaten too many carrots. In this case, only the palms and soles are painted. In other cases, yellowness occurs when too much bilirubin is formed - a product that is formed from hemoglobin in red blood cells and then metabolized in the liver. A lot of bilirubin is produced either when a lot of red blood cells break down, or when liver function is disrupted.

Red blood cells disintegrate either due to the weakness of their own membrane, or when a substance enters the blood (for example, anti-Rh antibodies or poisons) that destroys the blood cells. Conditions caused by membrane disruption have a common name - hemolytic jaundice. There are many types of them, which only a hematologist can distinguish. Poisoning with hemolytic poisons is dealt with by toxicologists who have an artificial kidney apparatus in their arsenal. When red blood cells are destroyed due to burns, treatment takes place in the Combustiology Departments.

There is another type of jaundice - caused by diseases of the liver and biliary tract:

blockage of the bile ducts by tumors, stones or inflammation;
Gilbert's syndrome;
hepatitis: viral, toxic (including medicinal), alcoholic;
cirrhosis of the liver.

Jaundice will also manifest itself as inflammation of the pancreas, directly connected to the liver and gall bladder.

Bilirubin is a dangerous substance that can destroy the brain. Therefore, if yellowing of the skin appears, you should urgently call an ambulance. On his own, a person can only drink “Activated carbon” or another sorbent drug. It is also important to tell doctors what you ate or drank. In this case, the person’s future health depends on the urgency of the assistance provided by toxicologists.

How quickly can you get rid of acne marks?

The time it takes to resolve the problem depends on the type of skin and its ability to regenerate.
An important role is played by the products that were used during the treatment of acne themselves.
Affects problem solving and lifestyle.
Peeling and polishing procedures that remove stains can take from several months to six months.
The spots are small in size and pink in color and may go away on their own within a day.
Mechanical cleaning by squeezing pimples creates dark areas that will disappear within a few days or weeks.

The appearance of blue spots on the face, as a residual phenomenon after acne, is a very unpleasant problem, but solvable. With due patience and diligence, you can eliminate them using any of the methods described above, which will be most suitable for each individual case.

Professional skills : Chief physician of the medical center, practicing cosmetologist.

Brief biography and personal achievements : Teaching activity: teaching the subject “Social Medicine and Healthcare Organization”, including for foreign (English-speaking) students, conducting consultations and pre-exam preparation.

Scientific and research activities : writing scientific publications, accompanying documents, organizing interaction of the department with specialized leading clinical and cosmetology centers for joint research work, participation in conferences, symposiums, etc.

Allergic rashes, acne and pimples can lead to blue spots on the face. Such defects cause anxiety and negative emotions, which leads to complexes and mental disorders. If you have blue spots on your face , do not despair, modern medicine can give a clear answer to the question of how to remove blue spots on your face . Let's take a closer look.

Diagnostics

A therapist will tell you how to determine what causes a change in complexion. When prescribing your tests or recommending a consultation with a more specialized specialist, he will proceed from the new shade of your skin.

So, if your face is pale, you will be prescribed:

general blood test with mandatory determination of reticulocytes - the ancestors of red blood cells;
osmotic resistance of erythrocytes;
coagulogram;
liver tests.

If you are concerned about yellowness, the therapist refers you to an infectious disease specialist, and he, focusing on the history of your life and this disease, as well as ultrasound of the liver, gallbladder and pancreas, liver tests and markers for viral hepatitis, decides whether he, a gastroenterologist or hematologist.

Olive complexion requires the attention of a gastroenterologist, who will examine, palpate and listen to your stomach, prescribe an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity (it is performed after preparation) and FEGDS (here you will have to swallow the probe).

Black or blue shades that appear overnight, especially if there is a feeling of lack of air, require calling an ambulance. These specialists will figure out who should consult or treat you. If black spots are bothering you, but there are no other symptoms, it is advisable to consult the staff of the Department of Dermatology.

Cardiologists will help determine the reasons for the red color. These doctors will come to the aid of a tonometer for measuring blood pressure and an ECG. They will probably also need an ultrasound of your kidneys and adrenal glands to find out the cause of your high blood pressure, as well as an ultrasound of your heart.

Causes of blue spots

So where do the blue spots come from? They can occur as a residual phenomenon after acne, pimples, and even where the face is red from allergic rashes, and not always and not all inflammations can turn into spots or scars. The most likely reasons for their appearance:

very deep inflammation;
lack of drug treatment;
self-medication in the form of squeezing pimples.

A significant role in choosing methods for treating such spots is played by both their size and the degree of neglect. The most correct decision would be to contact a specialist - a dermatologist, who will determine the cause of their appearance and select an individual course of treatment.