BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSkin - clammySweat - cold; Clammy skin; Cold sweatClammy skin is cool, moist, and usually pale.PalePaleness is an abnormal loss of color from normal skin or mucous membranes.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Considerations Clammy skin may be an emergency. Call your health care provider or 911 or the local emergency number. Causes Causes of clammy skin include:Anxiety attack AnxietyStress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stres...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Heart attack Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Heat exhaustion Heat exhaustionHeat emergencies or illnesses are caused by exposure to extreme heat or sun. Heat illnesses can be prevented by being careful in hot, humid weather....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Internal bleeding Low blood oxygen levels Medicine reaction Sepsis (body-wide infection) Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) Severe pain Shock (low blood pressure)ShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care Home care depends on what is causing the clammy skin. Call for medical help if you are not sure.If you think the person is in shock, lie them down on their back and raise their legs about 12 inches (30 centimeters). Call 911 or the local emergency number or take the person to the hospital.If the clammy skin may be due to heat exhaustion and the person is awake and can swallow:Have the person drink plenty of (non-alcoholic) fluids Move the person to a cool, shaded place When to Contact a Medical Professional Seek immediate medical help if the person has any of the following signs or symptoms:Altered medical status or thinking ability Chest, abdominal, or back pain or discomfort Headache Passage of blood in the stool: black stool, bright red or maroon blood Recurrent or persistent vomiting, especially of blood Possible drug abuse Shortness of breath Signs of shock (such as confusion, lower level of alertness, or weak pulse) Always contact your provider or go to the emergency department if the symptoms do not go away quickly. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about the symptoms and the person's medical history, including:How quickly did the clammy skin develop? Has it ever happened before? Has the person been injured? Is the person in pain? Does the person seem anxious or stressed? Has the person recently been exposed to high temperatures? What other symptoms are present? Tests and treatments may include:Airway support, including oxygen, breathing tube through the mouth (intubation), and breathing machine (ventilator) Blood and urine tests Chest x-ray ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) Fluids through a vein (intravenous or IV) Medicines to treat symptomsThe outlook depends on the cause of the clammy skin. Examination and test results will help determine immediate and long-term outlooks.Open ReferencesReferencesAngus DC. Approach to the patient with shock. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 98.Marik PE. Endocrinology of the stress response during critical illness. In: Ronco C, Bellomo R, Kellum JA, Ricci Z, eds. Critical Care Nephrology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 76.Puskarich MA, Jones AE. Shock. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 3.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Paleness(Symptoms) Review Date: 1/2/2023 Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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Skin - clammySweat - cold; Clammy skin; Cold sweatClammy skin is cool, moist, and usually pale.PalePaleness is an abnormal loss of color from normal skin or mucous membranes.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Considerations Clammy skin may be an emergency. Call your health care provider or 911 or the local emergency number. Causes Causes of clammy skin include:Anxiety attack AnxietyStress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stres...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Heart attack Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Heat exhaustion Heat exhaustionHeat emergencies or illnesses are caused by exposure to extreme heat or sun. Heat illnesses can be prevented by being careful in hot, humid weather....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Internal bleeding Low blood oxygen levels Medicine reaction Sepsis (body-wide infection) Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) Severe pain Shock (low blood pressure)ShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care Home care depends on what is causing the clammy skin. Call for medical help if you are not sure.If you think the person is in shock, lie them down on their back and raise their legs about 12 inches (30 centimeters). Call 911 or the local emergency number or take the person to the hospital.If the clammy skin may be due to heat exhaustion and the person is awake and can swallow:Have the person drink plenty of (non-alcoholic) fluids Move the person to a cool, shaded place When to Contact a Medical Professional Seek immediate medical help if the person has any of the following signs or symptoms:Altered medical status or thinking ability Chest, abdominal, or back pain or discomfort Headache Passage of blood in the stool: black stool, bright red or maroon blood Recurrent or persistent vomiting, especially of blood Possible drug abuse Shortness of breath Signs of shock (such as confusion, lower level of alertness, or weak pulse) Always contact your provider or go to the emergency department if the symptoms do not go away quickly. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about the symptoms and the person's medical history, including:How quickly did the clammy skin develop? Has it ever happened before? Has the person been injured? Is the person in pain? Does the person seem anxious or stressed? Has the person recently been exposed to high temperatures? What other symptoms are present? Tests and treatments may include:Airway support, including oxygen, breathing tube through the mouth (intubation), and breathing machine (ventilator) Blood and urine tests Chest x-ray ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) Fluids through a vein (intravenous or IV) Medicines to treat symptomsThe outlook depends on the cause of the clammy skin. Examination and test results will help determine immediate and long-term outlooks.Open ReferencesReferencesAngus DC. Approach to the patient with shock. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 98.Marik PE. Endocrinology of the stress response during critical illness. In: Ronco C, Bellomo R, Kellum JA, Ricci Z, eds. Critical Care Nephrology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 76.Puskarich MA, Jones AE. Shock. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 3.