5 Things Your Skin Might Be Telling You About Your Health

Our skin is the largest of the many organs that make up our human body, covering the whole outside of it. Essentially, the skin is one of the most vital organs of our body.

Therefore, it is a necessity in terms of sustenance of life; with a thickness of two millimeters and six-pound weight, the human skin functions as a shielding barrier against anything outside the body, which include heat, light, injury, and disease.

The appearance of the skin provides us with an array of hints as to their age, health, and total well-being. However, according to Andrew Ordon, a plastic surgeon, said to a medical professional, a good look at the skin can be an initial step when it comes to diagnosing certain conditions and illnesses.

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Below are 5 of the many things your skin might be revealing about your health:

1. Acne and PCOS

PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a fairly typical health condition among women who are at the childbearing stage in life. It is a result of hormonal imbalance that leads to increased androgen levels in the body.

Such imbalance can result in the development of multiple benign ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual flow, and infertility.

Furthermore, the raised levels of androgen inherent in this condition can lead to changes in the appearance of a woman, said dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse.

Such changes may include weight gain, hair-thinning and appearance of male-pattern facial hair, and acne in the jawline and chin.

If you're experiencing irregular menstruation and notice your jawline and chin to have acne or hair growth, it is best to consult with your doctor. PCOS is manageable with diet and hormones, and many women can reverse its symptoms by doing so.

2. Dry Skin and Thyroid

While thyroid diagnosis cannot be made by merely looking at the skin, certain changes in this part of the body may suggest it is worthy of having your thyroid levels checked by a medical expert.

One indication is dry skin, which dermatologist Joshua Ziechner said can signify the low function of the thyroid. He added, "We know that low thyroid affects the function of the skin cell," which includes the ability to shield itself from the environment and keep hydration.

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3. Easy Bruising and Blood Disease

Bleeding, be it internally, also known as bruising, or externally following an injury, is just normal. However, Ziechner explained, if you've bled or bruised without any evident reason, it is possible that you're suffering from a blood disorder.

People who have a blood-clotting disorder, also known as hemophilia, may bleed excessively following an apparently small injury.

4. Yellowing Skin and Liver Disease

Ordon said changes in the skin are signs of an individual's general health and underlying disease. This is the reason it is essential to watch closely to such changes.

One of the more serious charges in the skin, in terms of a medical condition, according to the plastic surgeon, is "yellowing of the skin."

In clinical terms, this is also called "jaundice," and it can be observed not just on the skin but in the eyes' whit part and mucous membranes, too.

Experts say jaundice results from a "high level of bilirubin, a yellow-orange bile pigment," which the liver secretes. It is frequently linked to underlying conditions, particularly of the liver, which includes cirrhosis, hepatitis, and cancer.

5. Stretch Marks and Crushing's Syndrome

The crushing syndrome is a condition in which the body produces too much cortisol, a steroid hormone. This condition is rare, although when it occurs, it is typically resulting from a benign tumor on the pituitary gland. However, Crushing's syndrome can develop as well, after years of steroid drug use.

Even though the most protruding symptom of this disorder is weight gain, specifically around the upper back and midsection of the body, it can present too, with the fast development of multiple pink and, or purple stretch marks on some parts of the body like the abdomen, shoulders, and arms.

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