Health Encyclopedia

Home | List of Topics | General Medical Information | General Adult Health

Skin - clammy

Definition

Clammy skin is cool, moist, and usually pale.

Alternative Names

Sweat - cold; Clammy skin; Cold sweat

Considerations

Clammy skin may be an emergency. Call your doctor immediately.

Common Causes

• Shock
• Severe pain
• Heart attack
• Anxiety attack
• Heat exhaustion

Home Care

For shock, the patient should lie down on the back with legs elevated about 12 inches. Either call for emergency help or take the victim to a hospital. For heat exhaustion, have the person drink plenty of fluids and move to a cool, shaded environment.

Call your health care provider if

People with any of the following symptoms should immediately call their doctor or seek emergency help.

• Shortness of breath
• Chest discomfort
• Signs of shock (such as confusion, diminished consciousness, or weak pulse) 

If you are unable to reach your doctor, call for emergency help or take the victim to a hospital.

Always contact your doctor if the symptoms do not go away quickly.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

The doctor will perform a physical exam and ask questions about the person's medical history.

Questions documenting clammy skin in detail may include:

• Time pattern
  • How quickly did this develop?
  • Did it develop suddenly?
  • Has it ever happened before?
• Medical history
  • Has there been an injury?
  • Is the person ill?
  • Are they in pain?
  • Do they seem anxious or stressed?
  • Has there been a recent exposure to high temperatures? 
  • What other symptoms are also present?

Review Date:3/21/2006
Reviewed By:Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-RooseveltHospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.