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| Photo courtesy to Flickr user briteside913 |
What Your
Skin Has To Say
The body’s largest living organ weighs anywhere from six to
nine pounds and has a total body area of about 20 square feet. It’s your skin.
And it has a lot of room to talk! Your skin does an extraordinary amount for
your health and well-being, and one of its most fundamental responsibilities is
communication.
Skin loves to talk. But are we always listening? Here a few examples
of how your skin communicates when it experiences compromising conditions and
when it’s time for you to speak up on your body’s behalf.
Blue and
purple veins running up your legs
Do not be alarmed, as varicose veins are very common in
women, people older than 50 and during pregnancy. They occur when the blood
does not circulate as it should, causing it to back up and gather into the vein.
This backup is the reason it pools and bulges.
A few ways to prevent or help varicose veins is to exercise
regularly and wear compression hose. If the veins become warm and tender to the
touch, let your health care provider know.
Dark red
lines on your palms
You do not need to be a fortune teller to read these signs
that may appear on the palms of your hands. Dark red lines on your palms and
other areas of skin may indicate an adrenal insufficiency or endocrine disorder
commonly known as Addison’s disease. An endocrine disorder will usually display
itself on skin folds, lips, scars and pressure points. It has many signs and
symptoms ranging from low blood pressure to severe pain. Make sure you are
listening to your body and contact your health care provider as soon as
possible if you experience any of these symptoms.
Yellowish
skin or orange palms
When your thyroid does not produce enough important
hormones, it upsets the chemical balance of your body and causes hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism may be detected by a yellowish skin tone, orange palms, dry and
cold skin, a swollen face or thinning hair. This condition can be easily fixed
with the right medication, but be sure to contact your health care provider for
the best treatment for you.
Super
pale skin, blue-tinged nails
This is your skin telling you that you may be suffering from
severe anemia caused by an iron, folate or B12 deficiency, which causes a lack
of red blood cell production. This condition will likely present itself by a
bluish tint in your mouth and on your gums and lips. It is a common issue, but
if it is accompanied by fainting or vomiting blood, you need to consult your
health care provider immediately.
Tingling
and rash
Just like your skin told you, and all of your friends, that you were
suffering from chicken pox as a child by a flashy display of red bumps and
itchiness, shingles (also known as Herpes Zoster) is commonly called the adult
form of chicken pox. And it’s just as flashy with its display. Shingles appear
as a rash of red bumps on one side of your face, neck, trunk or legs. It is a
virus caused by stress, infection and by certain medications. It’s actually
caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox in children, so be especially
wary if you had chicken pox already.
Your skin is always willing to communicate. It often
communicates through change of color and sensitivity. Be sure to examine your
skin often and keep an eye out for anything it may be trying to say. If you
have any questions or concerns, please leave them in the comment box below or
call 901-759-2322 to make an appointment with our dermatology staff.
