Skin, the body’s largest organ, reflects your health status. Your dermatologist is the best person to tell you about your health without any major examination. With a solitary look at your skin, he/she can tell you about your diet, anxiety levels, and lifestyle. Whatever goes on in your body will be shown on your skin in one way or the other. So here are a few things your dermatologist notices about you.
Acne
This is the most common skin condition a dermatologist comes across in his/her patients. As you enter your doctor’s room, she or he will look for the presence of acne or rosacea on your skin. If you are unaware, rosacea is abnormal blood vessel growth in all layers of the skin and it is caused by internal problems within the body. Low thyroid, inflammation, or chronic sun exposure could lead to this condition. Blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, and nodules can be an after-effect of acne. And those dark spots on your skin tells your doctor about the acne that has healed recently.
Skin Texture
Dry, itchy or cracked skin is a strong indication that your skin is dehydrated. Without enough water to support it, your skin lacks its luster. The deep frown lines on your skin will force your doctor to suggest medications that can replace hydration to the skin. And the doctor can easily predict that you will soon come back seeking treatment for eczema. It is because dryness and itchiness are also symptoms of eczema, a chronic inflammatory skin condition. And your pimple breakouts on your chin and jawline could be a sign of hormonal imbalance. The prolonged stress may be a reason for this sudden hormonal imbalance.
Hair Quality
The quality of your hair can be a sign of underlying medical conditions. From your hair’s texture or thickness, your doctor will get an understanding of what’s going on in your body. Your gray hair may be a proof of trauma and stress in your life. Thin, dry hair may be associated with your thyroid disease. Your dermatologist may also recognize protein deficiency from your hair loss or thin hair. Thus, it hints at a lack of well-balanced diet. Also, your brittle hair may be a result of Cushing’s syndrome, which is caused by excess cortisol.
Brittle Nails
Your unpleasant nail symptoms can offer an important glimpse into your health. A lot of factors could contribute to your brittle nails. Frequent dish washing without gloves and overuse of nail polish remover are a few reasons for it. But, hypothyroidism may also cause it. So, your doctor will be alert when he/she sees your brittle nails. Well, if you are a chain smoker, it may lead to stains on your nails. The yellowish hue on fingernails will give a clear indication to the dermatologist about your smoking habits. And of course, the bitten-down nail is a testimony to your stress or boredom.
Skin Color
You may not be able to identify the subtle shade differences of your skin color. But being an expert, your dermatologist can understand the warning signs given by the skin discoloration. These color changes can be a sign of something going wrong in your body. Yellow skin color can indicate liver disease and bluish shade in your skin can be a sign of heart disease. If you experience darkening of creases in the skin, old scars, sun-exposed areas, and joints, it could be a warning sign of adrenal diseases, such as Addison’s disease. If you have diabetes, then bronzing of the skin indicates defects in your iron metabolism.