Marbling of the skin may not pose any danger to health, but may, on the contrary, be a sign of any pathology that needs urgent therapy. The causes of the appearance of marbling on the skin, as well as the manifestations themselves, are very diverse and in order to understand, you should promptly seek the advice of a specialist and conduct all necessary examinations.
What is marble skin
Marbling of the skin is a pattern of small capillaries that looks like marble, hence the name of the disease. The main task of capillaries in the body is their response to external influences. In the children's body, the coherence of the capillaries may not be present, therefore, in the case of a sharp narrowing of the vessels, the skin may acquire a bluish tint. While the other part of the vessels remains unchanged, the skin turns red. In the first six months or a year, this phenomenon of the body is considered the norm. But if after a year the marbling of the skin of the child does not disappear, then this is an occasion to consult a doctor.
Causes
Knowing the exact reason for the formation of marbling of the skin of a child, one can understand whether parents should worry and immediately seek the advice of a specialist, or, conversely, there is absolutely no reason for anxiety.
The causes of marbled skin in a child can be both physiological and pathological in nature.
Physiological reasons
Factors that are physiological in nature are normal and do not cause any harm to the health of infants and older children:
- Capillaries located too close to the epithelium. In the case when the vessels are located in close proximity to the skin, the capillary network begins to shine through very much. During the expansion of blood vessels, the pattern is especially pronounced on the arms and legs of the child, but often the capillary pattern can cover the entire body. The body thus reacts to hypothermia and overheating when the vessels narrow and expand. Marble skin in a child after massage is also quite common. It can also occur due to the proximity of the capillaries. In this case, you just need to slightly weaken the rubbing - the massage should be carried out with your fingertips, smooth and gentle movements that do not irritate the baby's skin.
- Binge eating. Young children cannot control their appetite, and young mothers try to feed their babies as often as possible. Marble skin during overeating is a reaction of the body due to the fact that the capillaries are not fully strengthened.
- Genetic predisposition. If one of the parents suffers from vegetovascular dystonia, then the likelihood that the baby will be born with a vascular pattern on the skin is quite high.
Pathological causes
The development of marbling on the skin of a child can be triggered by the presence of pathological causes. In this regard, the baby must be shown to the doctor so that he prescribes the necessary tests and appropriate treatment. Options may be as follows:
- Cyst of the brain or lupus. Pathology develops in complex childbirth, when the entire main load falls on the head of the child.
- Down Syndrome and Edwards Syndrome. With these diseases, a phenomenon such as marbling of the skin manifests itself quite often.
- Congenital heart disease and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Anemia, rickets.
- Encephalopathy is perinatal.
Marble skin in young children
The marbling of the skin in a 1-year-old child mainly indicates that the blood vessels are not yet fully formed or are located too close to the surface of the epithelium. Usually marbling is manifested during the period of hypothermia or overheating of the child, but when the baby's body temperature becomes normal, the skin color is restored.
Marbling of the skin in a 2-year-old child, which appears mainly during crying on the face and nasolabial triangle, indicates that the baby may have problems with the nervous system and heart, in particular, it may be a heart defect. Such a manifestation requires immediate contact with a neurologist and cardiologist.
Marble skin in children over 2 years old
With the formation of marbling of the skin in a child of 3 years, there can be no talk about the immaturity of blood vessels. In cases where marbling appears rarely enough and only during periods of overheating or hypothermia, there is nothing to worry about. But if such a manifestation occurs quite often without any reason, then you should consult a doctor, since marbling in this case may be a consequence of the development of any pathological process in the body.
Marble skin in a child 6 years old and older can talk about the initial stage of erythema, and manifest mainly on the legs - calves, lower thigh. If such signs appear, you should immediately consult a doctor, undergo the necessary examination and conduct therapy in order to prevent the further development of pathology.
Marbling of the skin in a child of 5 years of age and older, manifested in most cases on the palms of the hands, may indicate disturbances in the nervous system.
Marble skin at temperature
The formation of marbling of the skin at a high temperature in a child is associated with a violation of the heat transfer of the body, which, in turn, causes spasms of blood vessels. In this case, such an organism reaction may indicate the presence of a bacterial infection, which requires immediate treatment and a doctor’s consultation.
Diagnostics
In order to establish the exact cause of marbling and the accompanying disease, the doctor prescribes the following tests, which include both laboratory and instrumental studies. The following doctors should take part in the examination of the child: neurologist, cardiologist, dermatologist, phlebologist and others. Only in this way can one confirm or deny the presence of a pathology, one of the signs of which is marbling of the skin. It is necessary to conduct such studies:
- General blood test, which determines not only the level of hemoglobin, but also the content of red blood cells. In addition, you should pay attention to platelets, white blood cells and color index.
- Doppler ultrasound.
- Coagulogram.
- Reovasography.
- Electrocardiogram.
Treatment
Knowing the causes of skin marbling in a child, the doctor may prescribe appropriate therapy. It is worth carefully adhering to his recommendations. However, it should be noted that in 90% of cases of skin marbling in children, no treatment is required, except for preventive measures. The body manages itself and at the age of 2–7 months the baby's skin color is completely leveled.
In order to eliminate the marbling of a child’s skin resulting from increased body temperature, you need to give him an antipyretic and rub the body with a soft terry towel. If the child cries a lot, constantly wants to sleep and refuses to eat, you should consult a doctor, so this may indicate the presence of an infectious disease.
With hereditary vegetative-vascular dystonia, the child is prescribed multivitamins, a strict daily regimen, sports and physiotherapy. Drug therapy is prescribed only if the disease interferes with a full life.
With heart disease, oxygen and aerotherapy are prescribed, drugs containing potassium, diuretics and cardiac glycosides. With low hemoglobin and anemia, eating iron-rich foods and taking appropriate medications is recommended.
Therapy for lupus and cysts of the brain, as well as intracranial pressure, is prescribed only by a doctor. Self-medication is by no means unacceptable.
Children with Down and Edwards syndromes should be constantly monitored by a neurologist and receive appropriate supportive care.
Possible complications
Since marbling of the skin in a child is not an independent disease, no complications and consequences can arise if it is present. Except when marbled leather is a sign of a serious illness. To exclude any complications from the central nervous system and organs of the cardiovascular system, it is necessary to consult a specialist at the first sign.
Is skin marbling dangerous
Marbling on the skin of a child does not carry any danger if its appearance is not associated with the development of any disease. Very often, pathologies, if any, in the presence of marbled skin in a baby can be diagnosed in the hospital and treatment begins immediately, which continues after discharge.
Marble skin in a baby is dangerous if its appearance is associated with heart disease and other disorders in the functioning of the organ.
Marbling of the skin can be even more dangerous in the presence of symptoms such as constant tearfulness and irritability in the child, developmental delay. These signs may indicate problems in the functioning of the central nervous system, and in the absence of appropriate therapy they will only worsen.
Prevention
To prevent the appearance of marbling of the skin in a child, a number of simple preventive measures should be observed, namely:
- The room in which the child spends most of his time should be regularly ventilated. In addition, it is important to observe the same temperature regime - the child should neither overheat nor supercool.
- From early childhood, the child must be tempered. Baths with coniferous extracts and sea salt are very effective.
- Spend as much time as possible in the fresh air.
- Massage and gymnastics also play an important role in a child’s life.
- Swimming in the pool promotes proper growth and physical development.
- In the cold season, it is advisable to give the baby vitamin complexes. In addition, it is necessary to provide it with a sufficient amount of vitamins and at normal times, in particular we are talking about vitamins of groups B and D.
- Nutrition must be proper and balanced. For infants, it is necessary to maintain breastfeeding.
Conclusion
If any spots or an unusual skin tone appear, the parents of the baby should not immediately panic, but it is also impossible to let it go by itself. At the first changes in the skin and in the state of the child’s health, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor, only in this way it is possible to avoid any complications and negative consequences.