10 Things Your Looks Reveal about Your Health
Many people blame ageing and stress for their wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dark circles, cracked lips unsightly fingernails, and hair loss. But more often than not, all these symptoms indicate an underlying health problem that needs to be dealt with. Covering them up using makeup and other beauty products won’t really help.
Here are 10 physical signs that may signal more serious health issues:
Dry, Limp Hair & Hair Loss
Hair loss can be related to several things, including genetics.If you used to have thick, shiny and lustrous hair but now it’s getting thinner and limp, you first want to know what you have been doing lately. Swimming in chlorinated water or undergoing massive hair treatments can make your hair brittle and susceptible to damage. But if you have been taking good care of your hair yet you are losing more than the average, it could be a sign of an underactive thyroid, also called hypothyroidism. This serious condition comes with other symptoms like weight gain, cold feet and fatigue. If you suspect that hypothyroidism is the culprit, see your GP as soon as possible.
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are very much associated with ageing. But sometimes, these undesirable facial lines can be a symptom of osteoporosis. Surprised? Well, that’s according to a study by the Yale School of Medicine. The researchers theorised that because skin and bone share common tissue architecture, the physical attributes of skin in menopausal women may relate to their bone density and quality.
Dry Skin
Most of us experience dry skin from time to time. Sometimes it’s the weather, other times it’s an overly hot shower. However, dry skin could be a sign of serious health problems like diabetes and hypothyroidism which can leach moisture from the skin. Dehydration is another possible cause of dry skin. Atherosclerosis, or the narrowing of arteries, may lead to dry skin as well. This serious condition hinders blood flow to the extremities like hands and feet, depriving the skin of oxygen and nutrients needed to keep them healthy and hydrated.
Cracked Lips
Severely cracked lips may be a reaction to the bad weather, medication use, allergy, infection, and many other conditions. Sometimes, it is a symptom of Sjögren’s syndrome – an autoimmune disorder that mainly causes dry eyes and mouth. Sjögren’s syndrome is a relatively common condition, affecting 3-4 per cent of adults in the UK.
Oral Problems
Brittle teeth and gum problems are not just a result of poor hygiene. Often, they indicate serious issues affecting the heart and bones. Oral health has long been linked to cardiovascular health. In 2010, a study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that regular tooth brushing lowers the risk of heart disease. In this study, the researchers found that people who brushed less frequently are 70 per cent more likely to suffer and die from heart disease than those who brushed at least twice a day.
Facial Flush
Facial redness, which comes with acne-like skin sores, is a symptom of a chronic skin problem called rosacea. It is believed that facial flush in rosacea is caused by blood vessel enlargement.
Excessive Body Hair
Hair which grows in areas where they’re not supposed to grow is embarrassing, really. But they may indicate an underlying health problem. An example is the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which causes excessive hair growth in women at childbearing age. This condition may cause infertility, as well as irregular menstrual cycle.
Velvet Plaques
Technically called acanthosis nigricans, velvet plaques in the neck or armpit could be a symptom of diabetes or obesity, but if they occur in other areas like the lips and hands, they may indicate an internal cancer.
Pitted Nails
Nails that are pitted, deformed or discoloured, and nails that are very thick or separate from the nail bed, can point to many health problems. Nail problems are common in people with psoriasis, joint problem, and Reiter’s syndrome (a type of arthritis).
Swollen Feet
Do you always wear tight high-heeled shoes? Have you recently had an injury? All these could lead to swollen feet. Other conditions like pregnancy and obesity may also cause your ankles to balloon. But a more serious health problem that’s linked to swollen feet is heart failure. Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet is a classic symptom of weak heart.
Our physical appearance can say a lot of things about our health. Addressing these issues as soon as they occur can save us from the debilitating effects that other illnesses may bring.
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