Blue skin or lips (cyanosis)

Blue skin or lips need to be checked urgently in hospital. See a GP if you have blue fingers or toes.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you or your child's:

• lips, tongue, face or skin suddenly turn blue/grey (or gums and round the eyes in darker skin)
• breathing becomes difficult
• chest hurts

These are signs of a serious medical problem.

Causes of cyanosis

Blue lips, skin, tongue (central cyanosis)

Blue or blue/grey skin on the face or over most of the body is usually a sign there's not enough oxygen in the blood because of a problem with the:

• lungs – like asthma or pneumonia
• airway – choking, or croup
• heart
• seizures (fits) that last a long time

Blue hands, feet, limbs (peripheral cyanosis)

The limbs will also usually feel cold.

It happens when blood circulation is poor because of:

• Raynaud's phenomenon – where the blood supply to the fingers and toes becomes temporarily reduced
• an artery problem that affects the blood supply to the legs
• beta-blockers, a medicine used to treat high blood pressure
• a blood clot that stops the blood supply to or from a limb

Sometimes it can also be caused by:

• being in cold air or water
• being at high altitude

Treatment for cyanosis

Cyanosis is a symptom of many different conditions.

Treatment depends on the cause.