It’s important to visit your dermatologist regularly as he or she is trained to recognize abnormal signs from your skin. Although dermatologist visits can be quite pricey, once you notice any of the following signs, a checkup is worth the price:
Eye bags and puffiness
Excess consumption of salt may cause your body to retain water under your eyes, causing eye bags. Another culprit of eye bags and puffiness is allergies. Allergic reactions may enlarge the blood vessels under the sensitive skin around your eyes and cause them to leak out a little blood, resulting in a dark purple-blue shade.
Gray skin
Gray skin can be the warning signs of a wide range of health issues. Most of the time, gray skin results from an oxygen deficiency in your blood, which may lead to a heart attack. Pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis and some types of cancer can also cause gray skin.
Hyperpigmentation and discoloration
Sun exposure is not the only thing that can change your skin color. Brown and gray patches on the armpit, neck or groin area may be the sign of diabetes.
Dry skin
Dry skin, accompanied by dry hair and nails, can indicate a problem with the thyroid. Your skin is supposed to be smooth and hydrated. Besides, severely dry skin may come from deficiencies in vitamin A, essential fatty acids like omega-3s, or zinc.
Photosensitivity
Everyone burns under direct contact with sunlight. But if you burn too easily, there may be a problem with your health. Photosensitivity, or extreme sensitivity to the UV rays from the sun, may point to the autoimmune disease lupus erythematosus.
Rashes
Rashes that are itchy and blistering may be a form of dermatitis herpetiformis – a skin condition caused by celiac disease. This is often found in those who are gluten intolerant. These rashes may occur almost anywhere in the body. But, they are most common around the knees, elbows, scalp, back and buttocks. Rashes caused by celiac disease usually come after a burning sensation at the affected area.
Orange skin
Those who eat too many carrots, or any food that is high in carotene, may experience orange skin. Cutting back on the sources of carotene is often enough to solve the problem.
Brown skin
Skin that looks tanned, without sunbathing, may be the sign of a hereditary disorder called hemochromatosis. So, if you haven’t been under the sun a lot but your skin starts to turn brown, seek medical help as soon as possible.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
