• Question: Why does your skin change colour when it’s cold

    Asked by The exterminare to Eoin, Fiona, Ivor, Karl, Pattie on 5 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Eoin McEvoy

      Eoin McEvoy answered on 5 Mar 2018:

      Your skin has a pinkish colour because of all the blood traveling through vessels close to the surface of your body. When the body gets cold, it’s first priority is making sure all your organs and important body parts get enough blood and stay warm, so it reduces the amount of blood at the surface (on your skin). As a result your skin gets paler.

      In contrast when you get really warm the skin gets red and flushed. More blood has now moved closer to the surface so it can release some heat into the air and the body can try cool down.

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