What Your Skin Says About Your Health: 19 Telltale Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Your skin is the most visible part of your body and every change in its appearance can tell you a lot about your health. For instance, the emergence of bruises, dark spots, and rashes in your skin all indicate that something far more serious is happening.
Particularly concerned about what your skin says about your overall well-being? Read on to know what the following 19 telltale skin signs communicate.
19 Essential Things Your Skin Says About Your Health
1. Red and Itchy Rashes
Any change in the skin’s normal appearance can be called a rash. However, there are rashes that simply result from minor skin irritation and those that are caused by underlying medical conditions. It’s important to know the differences between the two.
If you noticed your rashes are not going away anytime soon and are extremely irritating, it might be a telltale sign that you have skin inflammation, also known as dermatitis. There are also cases when patients with celiac disease show symptoms of red and itchy rashes accompanied by blistered skin.
2. Butterfly Rashes
While there are many kinds of rashes, one particularly stands out due to its unique shape that spreads across the cheeks and resemblance to sunburn. This is called a butterfly rash and is often linked to lupus, a chronic auto-immune system disease.
Did You Know? Aside from affecting the skin, lupus also has severe impacts on an individual’s blood, heart, lungs, and kidneys.
3. Dry and Itchy Skin
Dry skin isn’t usually serious as it’s often a result of the dry weather, hot showers, and harsh soaps. However, if you noticed persistent dryness combined with itchiness and inflammation, it might be time to look into the problem deeper.
For instance, chronic dry skin can be a symptom of eczema. It’s a skin condition mostly affecting children and is often accompanied by asthma or hay fever.
Psoriasis is another disease that could be a result of dry, flaky skin. It’s often associated with diabetes, depression, and heart disease. Unfortunately, when it comes to these two skin conditions, a cure is not yet found.
4. Unusual Hair Growth
Hair is an important part of your skin that helps insulate against cold and naturally wicks moisture away. They are normally found on the head, underarms, chest (for men), nether regions, and sometimes on parts of the face. However, if you’re a woman and noticed a stray hair growing out of a strange area in your body, it’s best to have yourself checked by the doctor.
This unusual hair growth is often a tell-tale sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It is a hormonal disease common among women of reproductive age and affects their ability to get pregnant. PCOS is characterized by infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods as well as higher androgen (male hormone) levels, thus the random appearance of stray hairs.
Did You Know? Aside from unusual hair growth, the unexpected loss and brittleness of hair follicles should also be a concern. It either indicates a mild case of hormonal imbalance or a serious health problem like hypothyroidism.
5. Sunspots
Sunspots and freckles are a result of constant and excessive exposure to the sun’s harmful rays. They are both a measure for lifelong sun damage and can indicate an increased risk for skin cancer.
In order to minimize their appearance on your skin, make sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 whenever you’re going out.
6. Random Moles
Aside from sunspots, small changes in your skin such as random moles and raised lesions are also telltale signs of skin cancer. Make sure to keep an eye on these changes especially when it comes to each one’s size, color, and shape.
For instance, moles related to melanoma (a type of skin cancer) usually have irregular shapes that often evolve. They also vary in color ranging from shades of tan and brown to black and sometimes, white or red.
Tip: Make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist as soon as possible if you find any spots on your skin that are different from the others.
7. Excess Fine White Hairs
Many people are aware that the signs of skin cancer appear on the epidermis. However, a few know that other types of cancers can also have skin-related symptoms.
For instance, a particular condition called acquired hypertrichosis lanuginosa is characterized by fine white hairs growing on the face. It’s also known as a “malignant down” or internal malignancy associated with bladder, colon, and lung cancers.
8. Red Bumps
Don’t mistake red bumps with pimples and acne-like lesions. In fact, these bumps are extremely common in patients diagnosed with rosacea.
Rosacea is simply a chronic skin condition caused by hereditary and environmental factors. Its prevalence is also widespread with about 415 million suffering from this particular facial skin disorder. There’s no cure yet but several facial treatments can help you manage the appearance of red bumps across your face.
9. Constant Redness
If you constantly suffer from flushing and redness of the skin, it might also be a symptom of rosacea. This skin condition can’t really be helped as it comes and goes but you can minimize any outbreak by avoiding known triggers. These triggers would depend on the individual but they usually consist of spicy foods, direct sunlight, warm temperatures, and alcohol.
Did You Know? Extreme flushing is also associated with hormonal changes in women such as menopause.
10. Puffy Eyelids
The major culprit for puffy, irritated eyelids is allergies. However, when this condition is accompanied by rashes, it might be a telltale sign of contact dermatitis.
This is a common skin condition caused by exposure to a lot of irritants ranging from simple everyday essentials (soaps, cosmetics, and fragrances) to outdoor substances (plants, sawdust, and wood dust). Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to prevent through wearing protective gear around the eyes and apply a barrier cream.
11. Unexplained Tanning
Do you know someone who unexpectedly got two shades darker despite spending most of one’s time indoors? That individual might be suffering from Addison’s Disease.
It is a long-term disease that occurs when the adrenal cortex is damaged, leading to a shortage of cortisol and aldosterone on the body. Cortisol is important to regulate bodily reactions to stressful situations while aldosterone helps control potassium and sodium levels. There is a long list of causes related to Addison’s Disease and it will depend on the classification of illness you have. Treatment plans would rely on the causes of your condition and should be followed strictly in order to minimize the chances of its progression as a life-threatening illness.
12. Increased Sweating
If you noticed any unusual sweating despite the absence of heat or any physical activity, it’s best to have yourself checked. Increased sweating is usually a skin sign that you have hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid.
This particular condition speeds up your metabolism, causing unwanted side effects such as nervousness, anxiety, and sensitivity to heat. There is a range of treatments available, though, and it will depend on your age and severity of the disease.
Did You Know? Increased sweating might also be a skin sign of hyperhidrosis or abnormally excessive sweating.
13. Visible Veins
Visible veins can make you extremely conscious of how you look. But aside from being a cosmetic concern, these veins are helpful indicators of your circulatory health.
Varicose veins or spider veins found on your legs are often a tell-tale sign of a far more serious condition with regards to your blood flow. Fortunately, this skin condition could be avoided with regular exercise, a healthy weight, and avoiding sitting with the legs crossed.
Unsightly veins in your face are also a symptom of rosacea or excessive straining. Facial treatments such as sclerotherapy, laser therapy, and intense pulsed light can all help reduce these bulging facial veins.
14. Dark Patches
Brown or gray-brown patches found in the face is often a skin sign of melasma. It is a common pigmentation problem experienced mostly by women—with those who are pregnant at a greater risk.
The cause of this skin condition is still unknown but it may be related to malfunction of melanocytes or the cells responsible for color in your complexion. Fortunately, melasma is completely harmless and often does not require treatment. Still, to those living in constant embarrassment, there are a range of treatments available. This includes creams, peels, microdermabrasion, and lasers.
15. Cuts That Won’t Heal
Most of the time, a cut is something that’s completely normal caused by small hazards that occur in everyday life. It’s also extremely easy to treat as your skin heals on its own. However, if these cuts and scrapes take too much time to heal, it could be an indicator of a skin infection.
In order to prevent this from happening, make sure to clean the wound as soon as it appears on your skin. Then apply pressure using a clean cloth or gauze to stop the bleeding from the affected area.
Aside from skin infections, cuts that won’t heal are often also a signal of skin cancer (basal or squamous cell carcinoma), diabetes, and a blood clotting disorder.
16. Bruises
Bruising is your body’s natural response to any physical trauma such as a cut or blow. However, bruises that appear easily and constantly for no reason might be a skin sign of an underlying bleeding disorder.
Visit a doctor immediately if these random bruises occur alongside swelling and extreme pain. Do make sure to inform him or her of any medications you might be taking, though, as blood thinners can also contribute to bruising.
17. Yellowish Skin
If you noticed any yellowing of the skin accompanied by whites in the eyes (jaundice), have yourself checked as both are a classic symptom of hepatitis, thalassemia, and even pancreatic cancer.
Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease affecting the liver which is often caused by a viral infection. It can also be a result of constant medications, alcohol, drugs, and other toxins. Thalassemia, on the other hand, is an inherited blood disorder which results to the destruction of red blood cells or anemia. Lastly, pancreatic cancer affects the pancreas, a vital endocrine organ responsible for digestion. It is often diagnosed late as it’s difficult to detect due to subtle symptoms.
18. Yellow Nodules
Aside from yellowing of your skin, you might also experience an outbreak of yellow nodules in your body. These are called xanthoma in which fats grow underneath the skin and can vary in size. Fortunately, they don’t cause any pain and is not dangerous at all. Having said that, this condition is just one of the many skin signs that indicate an underlying diabetes disease.
19. Sallow Complexion
A dull-looking and a sallow complexion is common in old people. This is due to the fact that aging leads to increased dryness, thinness, and wrinkling of the skin. However, it’s important to know that sallow skin isn’t necessarily a sign of aging. In fact, it might be caused by numerous external factors such as dehydration, stress, and vitamin deficiency.
In order to prevent such from happening, drink 8-10 glasses of water daily for proper hydration. You should also get enough sleep and exercise regularly to keep blood flow healthy. Lastly, switch to a healthy, nutrient-rich diet for a skin that’s glowing and younger-looking.
As the largest organ in your body, your skin can say a lot about your health. From simple cuts and bruises to unexplained conditions, these 19 telltale skin signs can be an indicator that something more serious could be happening with regards to your overall well-being.
Do you think you have one of the mentioned skin problems? It’s best to schedule an appointment with board-certified dermatologists like Skin MD. We offer medical consultations that can help you with any skin concern through personalized and specialized approach. Contact us today to learn more!
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