Blue skin and lips is usually caused by low blood oxygen levels or poor circulation. It can be a sign of a serious problem. Call 999 or go toyour nearest emergency department immediately if you notice an adult or child suddenly turning blue.
When to seek emergency help
Call 999 or go toyour nearest emergency department immediately if you notice an adult or child suddenly turning blue.
This is particularly important if they have other symptoms, such as:
- difficulty breathing
- chest pain
This could be a sign of a life-threatening problem.
When to see your GP
See your GPifyou have cyanosis that:
- comes on very gradually
- affects just the fingers, hands, toes or feet
This is usually the result of a less serious problem with blood circulation, but it should still be checked by a doctor.
Common causes of cyanosis
When blood has lessoxygen than normal, it changes from bright red to darker in colour, making the skin and lips look blue. Some of the maincauses of cyanosis are described below. You shouldn't use this to diagnose yourself. You should always leave that to your GP.
Cyanosis that just affects the hands, feet or limbs
If just the fingers, toes or limbs have turned blue and feel cold, it's known as peripheral cyanosis.
It can be caused by being exposed to cold air or water. Other causes include poor circulation resulting from:
- Raynaud'sphenomenon
- peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
- beta-blockers– medication commonly used to treathigh blood pressure
- ablood clotblocking the blood supply to or from a limb
Cyanosis that affects the skin generally and/or lips
When all the skin and/or lips have a blue tinge, it's known as central cyanosis. It is usually a sign of low levels of oxygen in the blood. Common causes for central cyanosis are listed below.
A problem with the lungs:
- worsening of a long-term lung condition, such asasthma orchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- lung infections, such aspneumonia,bronchiolitisorwhooping cough
- bronchiectasis
- apulmonary embolism
- neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS)oracute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- drowning or nearly drowning
A problem with the airways:
A problem with the heart:
- heart failure
- congenital heart disease
- cardiac arrest
Other causes:
- exposure to cold air or water
- being at high altitude
- fits (seizures) that last a long time
- a problem with the blood,such as abnormal haemoglobin (the blood can't take up enough oxygen) or a high concentration of redblood cells(polycythaemia)
More useful links
The information on this page has been adapted from original content from the NHS website.
For further information seeterms and conditions.
