The appearance of the skin reveals what is happening in the body

Some skin changes are the result of care mistakes. Others can provide a great deal of information about what is going on inside the body. The skin is a very sensitive he alth barometer. Learn about bruising, which means itchy skin, with seborrheic warts on the trunk and other skin lesions.

Changes in the skinmay not only be the result of care errors, but also the effect of an illness. When shouldthe appearance of the skinbother you? Which skin lesions aresymptoms of the diseaseand should worry you?

Itchy skin

Itching of the skin is usually caused by allergic skin diseases, the most common are:

• contact eczema
• atopic dermatitis
• hives

Itching of the skin, especially in the genital area, vaginal itching, a tendency to boils, onychomycosis, poor wound healing may be a symptom of diabetes.

Skin pruritus is also the most common and worrying symptom of liver and biliary diseases. Also available in:

• gout
• hypothyroidism
• leukemia

Increased sweating

Hyperhidrosis accompanies hyperthyroidism, pancreatic diseases, tuberculosis.

It occurs in rheumatoid arthritis, i.e. RA, polyneuritis, in states of hypoglycaemia (hypoglycaemia), in the menopause period, as well as in some cancers and AIDS.

Increased sweating is associated with:

• diseases of the central nervous system
• myxedema
• lowering the level of vitamin A
• dehydration
• diabetes insipidus

Bruises on the skin

A tendency to bruise suggests an inborn fragility of the vessels. In women, it is also associated with the phases of the menstrual cycle. It can also be a result of diseases such as:

• hemophilia
• von Willebrand disease
• Henoch-Schonlein syndrome (allergic purpura)

The tendency to bruise is also caused by:

• some medications
• acetylsalicylic acid
• steroids
• anticoagulants (warfarin, heparin)
• vitamin C and routine deficiency
• liver disease
• failurekidney
• leukemias

Yellows, the so-called yellow thickening on the eyelids

Yellow tufts are thickenings with a yellowish shade, mainly on the eyelids (they can also occur in other parts of the body), they are cholesterol deposits in the skin.

They are the result of lipid disorders (they indicate hyperlipidemia) and most often accompany diabetes, which is characterized by fluctuating blood sugar levels, which also increases the amount of lipids in the blood. The result of such irregularities are the so-called yellows (yellow tufts), in which cholesterol and lipids accumulate. They are visible on the eyelids, elbows and knees, and even on the buttocks. These yellowish lumps are symmetrical.

The appearance of jaundice may be a signal of developing diabetes, atherosclerosis, liver or kidney disease. Basic tests should be performed, including blood cholesterol and triglyceride tests, and a diet low in animal fats. Large skin lesions can be removed surgically or lasered.

Bloodshot face

If, regardless of the weather and physical exertion, you have strong blushes or the whole face turns red, you may have arterial hypertension or diabetes. The latter is also accompanied by increased thirst.

Test your blood pressure and measure your blood sugar. Limit the consumption of fatty foods and carbohydrates. Introduce more vegetables into your diet. Start exercising too, or at least go for long walks. Movement helps reduce high blood pressure and regulate blood glucose levels.

Important

Changes in skin color

• Yellowing of the skin - jaundice - is associated with an increase in bilirubin (a product of hemoglobin degradation formed in the liver, as well as in the spleen and bone marrow) in the blood. It occurs in the course of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, mechanical jaundice or pancreatic diseases. But it can also be caused by an increase in the concentration of carotenoids (yellow, red and orange plant pigments) in the blood. This is what happens with a diet rich in carotenes - then yellowing mainly affects the forehead, neck, soles of the feet, hands.
• Brownish-yellow skin accompanies chronic renal failure (uremia).
• Redness of the skin appears with an increase in the level of hemoglobin, e.g. in polycythemia.
• Blue skin is associated with a decrease in hemoglobin concentration, it also occurs with heart defects.
• Blue skin may indicate poisoning with heavy metals (lead, bismuth).
• Pale skin accompanies anemia (anemia) and also hypothyroidism.

Brown discoloration in groin and skin folds

Brown-brown discoloration, occurring in skin folds, most often on the neck, in the armpits and around the genitals, may be a symptom of dark keratosis. Actinic keratosis accompanies such diseases as:

• insulin resistance
• type 2 diabetes
• obesity
• polycystic ovary syndrome
• Addison's disease
• Cushing's syndrome
• acromegaly
• hypothyroidism
• hypogonadism

In addition, actinic keratosis may result from taking certain medications, e.g. steroids or hormonal drugs (including birth control pills).

Actinic keratosis can also accompany malignant neoplasms as a paraneoplastic syndrome - most often adenocarcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract, mainly gastric cancer, less often it is:

• pancreatic cancer
• colorectal cancer
• gallbladder cancer
• hepatocellular carcinoma
• kidney cancer
• lung cancer
• ovarian cancer
• breast cancer
• cervical cancer
• bladder cancer

Brown-yellow nodules on the skin

Small, hard, painless, scattered over the body or single, most often on the torso or face, occur in the course of sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease.

Stellar hemangiomas

Stellar hemangiomas are sometimes called spider veins. These are vascular birthmarks in the form of red dots or papules with radiating branches. They appear mainly in girls and young women, most often on the face and upper body, mainly during pregnancy and puerperium, but may also indicate circulatory disorders or liver diseases (e.g. cirrhosis).

Large, red, painful bumps

Large, painful bumps and vivid red bumps are erythema nodosum. The lesions usually appear on the lower legs, and single lesions also appear on the thighs and forearms. Erythema nodosum can be caused by:

• tuberculosis
• streptococcus
• Yersinia
• salmonella
• cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• HBV
• HCV
• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
• HIV virus
• Toxoplasma gondii parasite
• sarcoidosis
• chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, e.g. :
• Crohn's disease
• ulcerative colitis
• connective tissue diseases:
• systemic lupus erythematosus
• systemic scleroderma
• inflammatory vascular diseases

In addition, erythema nodosum can be caused by drugs (e.g. sulfonamides,antibiotics, salicylates, gestagens).

Erythema nodosum sometimes also accompanies some physiological conditions, e.g. pregnancy or a decrease in immunity as a result of a long-term unhygienic lifestyle.

Seborrheic warts

Seborrheic warts (senile warts) are not related to the HPV virus, so they are not contagious. The reason for their appearance is primarily age (over 35), genetic predisposition, and most likely excessive sunbathing. A massive rash of seborrhoeic warts or the enlargement of the existing ones may indicate a developing neoplasm (Leser-Trelat syndrome) - most often it accompanies neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract, less often lung cancer, leukemias and lymphomas.

Excessive hair growth

Excessive body hair is hirsutism. The cause of excessive hair can be:

• androgen-producing ovarian tumors
• polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein-Leventhal)
• androgen-producing adrenal cortex tumors
• Cushing's syndrome
• adrenogenital syndrome
• obesity with type 2 diabetes
• acromegaly
• hypothyroidism
• certain medications (testosterone, anabolics, glucocorticosteroids, ACTH, anti-inflammatory drugs)

When hair appears on the nape of the neck, around the navel and shoulder blades, it is associated with long-lasting diabetes.

Skin erythema

Erythema can be caused by emotions or overheating, local skin irritation, e.g. by clothes or the sun, and it can also be associated with allergies. If, apart from skin reddening, there are:

• joint pain
• fever
• swelling of the conjunctiva and limbs

and on the skin, apart from the erythema, there are changes such as:

• rash
• blisters
• tumors

You must see a doctor. Such an erythema requires treatment.

Erythema on palms and soles suggests cirrhosis of the liver. On the face - if it appears suddenly - indicates overactivity of blood vessels, if it remains constant and has a butterfly shape, it may indicate lupus erythematosus.

alopecia

The cause of baldness can be:

• hormonal disorders (hyperandrogenism in women)
• genetic determinants (androgenetic alopecia in men)
• flat follicular lichen
• tinea
• lupus erythematosus
• sarcoidosis
• scleroderma
• balding folliculitis
• cancer
• PCOS
• hypothyroidism
• weight loss
• anemia withdue to iron deficiency
• mental and physical stress

In addition, alopecia can be a side effect of taking medications (including anticoagulants, drugs for high blood pressure, amphetamines, antidepressants). It also happens in the course of infectious diseases and poisoning with heavy metals.

Urticaria on the skin

Urticaria is usually one of the ways an allergy manifests itself. The appearance of itchy blisters is usually a symptom of an allergic reaction, e.g. to food, dust, certain medications (e.g. penicillin, aspirin). It also happens that allergens come from inside the body - e.g. in the case of infectious foci (e.g. caries, chronic tonsillitis, inflammation of the genital tract), as well as parasitic and fungal diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (tapeworm, human roundworm). There are also cases of over-reactivity to one's own hormones, e.g. progesterone.

Wybroczyny

Petechiae are small red or purple spots on the body (they can be distinguished from a rash by pressure on them - if they do not turn pale, they are petechiae). They inform about coagulation disorders and liver diseases.

Sudden spreading of them may also appear in cases of generalized bacterial infections, e.g. sepsis. They can also appear when drugs that reduce blood clotting are given.

Edema

Puffiness may appear under the eyes, legs or the whole body. They are most often accompanied by:

• kidney diseases (nephritis, nephrotic syndrome)
• heart disease
• hyperthyroidism
• protein malabsorption
• food allergies
• thrombosis

May be caused by taking certain medications:

• hormonal (corticosteroids, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone)
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• for high blood pressure (especially calcium channel blockers)

Edema can also accompany premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or pregnancy.

Skin rash

Rash occurs in many diseases, and in order to make a diagnosis, the doctor sometimes has to be very faint. If it is vesicular, accompanied by a burning and "rushing" skin pain, occurs on one side of the body, face or buttocks, it may be a sign of shingles. If, on the other hand, there are dark red or purple lumps on the skin, severe headache, neck stiffness, high fever and photophobia, it could be a sign of meningitis.

Brown spots on the skin

They have the form of freckles or age spots (lentil spots). They appear on the face and hands, and appear with age and afteroverexposure to the sun.

May be increased under the influence of corticosteroids. Brown scaly patches - usually on the torso - are the beginning of Tinea versicolor (a superficial yeast infection of the skin) and then turn white.

White spots on the skin

Local skin discoloration, usually found on the backs of the hands, face, neck and genital area, does not cause any discomfort. The disappearance of the dye is probably caused by an autoimmune disorder, including:

• hypothyroidism
• Graves' disease
• pernicious anemia

Dry skin

The reason for dehydration may be exposing the skin to rapid temperature changes, wind, being in air-conditioned rooms, excessive peeling, stress, as well as improper care that damaged the skin's lipid layer.

Dry skin can also accompany diseases of the thyroid gland. It is worth doing a thyroid hormone test.

Drink at least 1.5 liters of water every day. Take in potassium as it regulates cellular balance and skin hydration. Use cosmetics with lipids, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and B vitamins.

Thick, prone to cracking heels

The most common reason is vitamin A deficiency and care errors. But we can inherit a tendency to such problems from our ancestors. They quite often accompany hypothyroidism - then excessive drying and keratinization of the skin also occurs on the hands.

Start with proper care. At night, lubricate your feet with creams or ointments containing urea, which perfectly moisturize the skin and soften keratinized epidermis. Once a month, go to a therapeutic pedicure so that the specialist removes excess epidermis with a special grinder. Use a foot rake two or three times a week.

Discoloration

Female hormones are the main cause of discoloration called melasma or chloasma. Estrogen and progesterone stimulate the production of melanin when the skin comes in contact with the sun's rays. Brownish spots are then visible on the skin. The occurrence of such discoloration may also be a symptom of some autoimmune or gastric diseases associated with malabsorption and metabolism or vitamin C deficiency.

Protect yourself from solar radiation. In summer, wear a hat or cap that covers your face. Lubricate your face and hands with creams with a high UV filter throughout the year.

Red cheeks and nose

If strong redness-like blushes appear after drinking ithot tea or alcohol, it may herald rosacea. Over time, the red spots form a characteristic pattern, resembling a butterfly with outstretched wings. As the condition progresses, the complexion becomes uneven, lumpy and very red.

Burning and cracking mouth corners

When the corners of the mouth often sting or cracking, it is a signal that there is not enough vitamin B, iron and zinc in the body. Do not underestimate these symptoms, because deficiencies can lead to visual disturbances and nervous disorders.

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