Blue skin or lips (cyanosis)
Cyanosis is where your skin or lips turn blue. It can be a sign of a serious problem.
You may notice a blue colour on your:
- lips
- tongue
- gums
- skin
- ears
- under your nails
If you have dark skin, cyanosis may be easier to see:
- on your lips, tongue and gums
- under your nails
- around your eyes
Your hands and feet are usually a normal temperature unless you also have poor blood circulation.
Cyanosis can mean there's not enough oxygen in your blood, or you have poor blood circulation. It can be caused by a serious problem with the:
- lungs, like asthma or pneumonia
- airways like choking or croup
- heart, like heart failure or congenital heart disease
Other causes of cyanosis include:
- Raynaud's, which affects your fingers and toes
- beta blockers, a medicine used to treat high blood pressure
- a blood clot that stops the blood supply to or from a limb
- being in cold air or water
- wearing clothing or jewellery that's too tight
Cyanosis is a symptom of many different conditions.
Treatment depends on the cause.