10 Things Your Skin Says About Your Health

By Paula Spencer, Caring.com senior editorIf skin were merely a sausage casing for the rest of you, it wouldnt be nearly so useful. An organ itself (your bodys largest in terms of both weight and surface area), skin protects against invasive bacteria, regulates body temperature, and picks up information from the stimulation of touch, pressure, pain, heat, and cold. Little wonder, then, that when theres something wrong with you on the inside, your skin sometimes sends up the first warning flare.Diabetes, for example, is generally a silent disease, but it can lead to distinct changes to the skin. So the skin may in fact be the first indicator of whats happening, notes dermatologist Amy Newburger, MD, of Scarsdale, New York, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology.Heres the skinny on ten dermatologic oddities worth watching for in yourself or someone you love.1. Red flag: Yellowish skin, orange palms and soles
What it means: The cartoonish skin hues of carotenemia can be the unfunny result of an underactive thyroid gland hypothyroidism which causes increased levels of beta-carotene in the blood. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant, found in fruits and vegetables, that normally gets processed by the thyroid. When theres a thyroid problem, the gland doesnt metabolize the vitamins as quickly, so beta-carotene accumulates. You can also get Technicolor skin due to beta-carotene buildup thanks to a diet heavy on carrots, carrot juice, sweet potatoes, and squash.More clues: The skin of someone with hypothyroidism also tends to be dry and cold, and sometimes more pale than yellowed. Feeling tired, sluggish, weak, or achy are the main symptoms, along with possible unexplained weight gain. Women over 50 most often develop hypothyroidism.What to do: Carotenemia caused by a skewed diet isnt serious and resolves itself when a broader range of foods is consumed. Hypothyroidism, however, is a medical c! ondition that can lead to such complications as heart problems, so a combination of skin changes plus fatigue warrants attention from a doctor.Next: Hives, dark lines, veins

10 Things Your Skin Says About Your Health originally appeared on Caring.com.

  • <
  • 1 of 4
  • >


Popular posts from this blog

Get Married, Live Longer?

Image
Written by Jessica Cruel for YourTango.com New research shows that getting married could lengthen your life for up to 17 years .A study published in The American Journal Of Epidemiology reveals that single men have a 32 percent higher chance of death than married men across a lifetime. That means they could die eight to 17 years before the average married man of loneliness? Single women fare a bit better: They have a 23 percent (or about seven to 15 years) lower life expectancy compared to their married peers. This data is based on 90 studies of around 500 million people compiled over the last 60 years by researchers at the University of Louisville: No small feat. Younger singles face greater chances of early death. The risk of death for 30 to 39-year-old singles was 128 percent higher than for married people of the same age. On the other hand, 70-year-old singles only had a 16 percent higher risk of death. Perhaps its because theyve survived a single youth and emerged unscathed. These...
Keep reading

Red Wine Reduced Breast Cancer Cells

Italian researchers from the University of Calabria say they demonstrated how a key ingredient in red wine inhibits the proliferation of human breast cancer cells . Resveratrol is the ingredient they say might be useful in the treatment of breast cancer, in addition to primary therapies. In their experiment resveratrol was applied to different cells and compared to cells that received no treatment. The cells receiving resveratrol showed a decrease in growth. A large reduction in estrogen receptor levels was believed to be related to the inhibition of the breast cancer cells. Their research study was published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies forExperimental Biology. These findings are exciting, but in no way does it mean that should people go out and start using red wine or resveratrol supplements as a treatment for breast cancer, said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief. (Source: ScienceDaily.com ) He said the research is more about the potential of resverat...
Keep reading

Spiritual Quantum Physics and Insanity

Image
Spiritual Quantum Physics and Insanity Spiritual Quantum Physics and Insanity Tea And Meditation: The Basis Of A Healthy Lifestyle Illegal Meat Imports Carry Viruses, Threaten Health How You Can Learn the Secrets of Mind Power How To Read Minds Death of a Loved One Raises Heart Attack Risk, Study Shows No More Blues: Postnatal Yoga for Anxiety Free New Moms Life as a Conscious Practice The Secret Benefits Of Mind Control Tricks Early Morning Spiritual Consciousness Inspiration - 1/13/2012 How to Reduce Stress Using Breath Awareness Spiritual Wellness - Mediation and Prayer Creates a Healthy Life Stress Relief Via Yoga Relaxation Techniques April’s STD Consciousness Month Open Doorways for STD Testing A way with words Meditation as a Health and Spiritual Exercise How To Achieve Power To The Subconscious Mind Taking A Look At Mind Power Psychic Meditation Learn How Reiki Can Help You Reduce Your Stress How...
Keep reading