Has your baby changed color recently? No, I am not referring to a melanin shift in the skin turning pale skin dark or dark skin pale. No, I’m talking about what happens when your baby develops a mottling of purplish, pink or even blue areas on their body. Most often, a change in skin color is due to an immature circulatory system.
Imagine for a moment, when we cry or we are upset, the skin on our faces changes color – deepening to a red or pink shade. We describe a very angry person as mottling purple and a very cold person may turn a bit blue around the edges. These are all due to changes in the circulatory system.
Newborns are Still Developing
When our infants are born, they are in a constant state of development. It is far from unusual for an infant to have an immature circulatory system. This may be reflected when a child’s hands and feet appear a bit bluish compared to the rest of their body – this usually vanishes within the first week of life and if it prolongs, you may want to consult with your pediatrician.
Other evidence of an immature circulatory system can be seen when your baby appears pink on one side of the body and not on the other. Shifting the baby can often flush the color out along the body. Mottling also appears when babies cry or when they are chilled – this is also a sign of an immature circulatory system. This is why when your baby is flush you should always check their skin temperature at the neck or along the face – they may very well feel chilly rather than hot.
If he or she is too cold, then add some layers or a blanket to their clothing to help keep them warm and don’t worry – in time as their body’s ability to control circulation improves, the problem with skin color changes should vanish over time.
Did you baby have trouble with skin color changes?
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