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Skin issues that show something may be wrong with your health

Published

8 years ago

April 7, 2016

Skin issues that show something may just be wrong with your health

There are some skin issues that show something may be wrong with your health. When your skin gives you ‘tude, it’s easy to blame the usual culprits—wishy-washy temps, working OT, or indulging in a few too many macarons. But it turns out your skin is like an alarm system for your body, and it can alert you to all kinds of health issues. When something’s off on the inside, clues start dropping with skin issues on the outside.

Here are eight skin issues and what they might be trying to tell you:

Super-Dry Patches: These tend to strike during cooler months, when your skin’s protective barrier breaks down, causing you to lose hydration. But if you’re experiencing pesky symptoms like fatigue, constipation, and weight gain in addition to scaly skin, you may have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which your doc can diagnose with a blood test.

Perma-Blushing: If you look like you’re embarrassed 24/7, it could be a condition called rosacea. Triggers vary but can include cold weather, alcohol, spicy foods, and (no shocker here) stress. Aside from steering clear of those factors, your dermatologist might recommend prescription medications and Intense Pulsed Light treatments (which deliver light through the skin’s surface) to improve appearance and keep flare-ups to a minimum.

Surprise Freckles: New spots are usually triggered by excessive sun exposure. They’re your skin’s way of protecting itself from sun damage. Freckles that appear post-sunburn usually indicate an increased risk of melanoma, so it’s important to check in with your dermatologist just to be safe.

Major Breakouts: Hardcore acne typically flares up during times of high stress—tight work deadlines, breakups, a crappy night’s sleep—or just before your period. Hormones play a key role in triggering adult acne, which is often inflammatory and cystic, and tends to involve the lower face and neck. If you notice that your acne is of the menstrual variety, your dermatologist can prescribe a pill that can prevent or reduce the severity.

Red Patches: Raised, red patches could be psoriasis, an autoimmune disorder where the immune system sends signals that tell skin cells to grow too quickly. This means the body cannot shed these skin cells fast enough. Instead, the cells pile up on the skin’s surface, causing patches of red, thickened skin with silvery scales.

Paleness: Pale skin combined with a lack of energy and shortness of breath could be a sign of anemia. It’s usually caused by an iron deficiency, which can be treated with iron supplements and adding more iron-rich foods to your diet—such as poultry, seafood, and dark green, leafy veggies. However, if you become pale suddenly and for no reason, check in with your doc to rule out more serious issues like internal bleeding or leukemia.

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