As the largest organ of the body, your skin has so many functions. For starters, it serves as a beauty indicator, as clear skin is considered desirable. But it doesn’t end here; your internal doesn’t get bombarded by foreign objects because your skin forms a protective barrier against these things. However, did you know that it can also alert you to your current state of health? Changes in your skin can be a result of health conditions hiding in your body, and paying attention to them can help you detect and solve them immediately. Here is what your skin says about your health.
Butterfly rashes
Rashes on the body can be a minor inconvenience sometimes, often requiring topical treatment. However, you should be concerned if you have butterfly rashes. This often spreads across your cheeks and looks like a sunburn. Butterfly rashes are your skin saying that your body may manifest lupus, an autoimmune disease. This condition attacks your tissues and organs, including your brain, blood cells, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and skin. What’s sneaky about lupus is its symptoms are like many health conditions, so you can go about your life without knowing that it is responsible for your current state of health. If you are still not convinced that your butterfly rashes are due to lupus, you can look for accompanying signs such as shortness of breath, fatigue, joint pains, dry eyes, and so on.
Also, the last thing you may want is to develop lupus complications such as kidney failure, strokes, seizures, pneumonia, or cardiovascular conditions. Cancer, infections, and bone tissue death are also things that can arise. Seeing how dire lupus can be if left untreated, taking immediate action is always the best solution. Your doctor should be your first call if you notice butterfly rashes on your cheeks. Yes, there’s no known cure yet, but lupus can be effectively managed so you can live life to the fullest without worrying. Regular trips to the hospital are non-negotiable; your healthcare practitioner will prescribe medications that could keep the condition at bay.
Abnormal hair growth in unusual places
It can be exciting to know that the hair on your scalp is growing much faster; this means longer hair to style and flaunt in whatever way you want. However, the same cannot be said when hair grows in places it isn’t supposed to. For instance, beard hairs appearing when you are a woman can make you believe that something is not right with your hormones- and you’d be right! Beards growing on your chin can be an indicator of the presence of polycystic ovarian syndrome, also known as PCOS. But unwanted hair is not the only thing that comes with this health condition. You may also notice that your periods are irregular; when they finally come around, you may menstruate for a long time. Your body may also pour out more androgen than estrogen, which is the culprit for beards, male-pattern baldness, acne, and abnormal body hair. PCOS can be a huge problem if your dream is to start a family soon. This is because it triggers your ovaries to release immature eggs, lowering your chances of becoming pregnant. But that’s not all! PCOS can lead to other health risks such as metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, diabetes, endometrial cancer, mental health problems, and the like. The good news is that this condition can be treated; the key is knowing how to go about it. For starters, you will have to make significant lifestyle changes; your weight must be in the healthy range, and you can achieve this by exercising regularly and eating the right meals. Alternatively, your doctor can put you on medications like birth control to increase progestin levels, metformin to improve insulin production, and clomiphene to boost fertility. If many treatments don’t work, ovarian drilling surgery may be in order.
Bumps and rough skin
As stated earlier, smooth and clear skin is all the rage as women embrace many skincare routines. Therefore, it can be concerning if you begin to see bumps and rough patches on your skin. These can be unpleasant to the eyes and touch, and you may wonder what triggered them. Well, there are several causes, and knowing which one is responsible can help you seek immediate treatment. Rough and bumpy skin can alert you that many dead skin cells are having a field day, which is often triggered by age, the cold weather, and many more factors. It can also indicate the presence of diabetes; this is especially true if you notice rough patches around your legs and feet. This is because blood circulation to these areas significantly reduces when there are excess blood sugar levels. This, in turn, causes the skin to become dry and bumpy. You don’t only have to be concerned with cosmetic implications; diabetes can cause nerve damage, amputation, vision problems, heart attack, and so on. Therefore, you don’t want to wait until you notice bumps and scaly patches. Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to determine the root causes and administer the needed treatment.
Excessive sweating
While sweating may initially seem uncomfortable, it is a normal skin function. Sweat cools your body when the weather is hot. However, there may be a problem if sweating is more excessive than the average person. The most common culprit is an overactive thyroid; this condition skyrockets your metabolism, leading to anxiety and sensitivity to heat. Other issues that can trigger excessive sweating are heart failure and diabetes. Fortunately, you can get the needed treatment to treat this problem and underlying health issues.
Yellow-tinted skin
Yellow-tinted skin is not something you should overlook, as you may be dealing with jaundice. This is usually the case if yellowish eyes accompany it, so keep this in mind. It’s also worth noting that jaundice can be a sign of other serious conditions like hepatitis, pancreatic cancer, and thalassemia. Since you can’t be so sure what the root cause of yellowish skin is, you should go for a medical screening for a more informed decision.
