ABSTRACT
Normal skin colour is mostly determined by the child's constitutional degree of melanin content of the skin resulting from hereditary and racial backgrounds. Pallor or reduced or loss of the colour of skin or mucous membrane can be caused by a variety of conditions including normal complexion, lack of exposure to sunlight, anaemia, emotional stress, shock or chronic disease. Cyanosis is caused by the presence of an excess of deoxygenated haemoglobin which is visible in the skin and mucous membranes. Pigmentary disorders are a common presentation to family physicians, paediatricians and dermatologists. Melanin plays key roles in determining human skin colour. Mastocytosis is a group of disorders that are characterised by an accumulation of mast cells in the skin and other organs. Carotenaemia – yellow discolouration of the infant skin by the pigment carotene – is often mistaken as jaundice. Albinism is a hypopigmented disorder involving the skin, hair and iris.
