Your Health From the Outside In

When it comes to your health, the outside of your body can give you clues to what’s going on inside of your body.

Be proactive about your health. That means know your body, be vigilant about self-examination of what is on the outside between medical check-ups so you can spot changes that may warrant advice from a medical professional.

The skin you’re in

Your skin is the largest organ of your body. There are parts that you look at daily—such as your face, chest, and your hands—but make it a point to use a mirror to examine your skin from head to toe. If you see something that concerns you, ask your doctor. Once you have assurance that your epidermis is healthy, you just need to watch for changes.

Not all changes to your skin signal cancer, but it is good to know what to look for. Here is an article from the American Cancer Society, How to Spot Skin Cancer . Though the article states what to “look” for, realize that does not mean exclusively depending on your eyes. Run your hands over your skin and feel for rough spots that have a sandpaper feel, or patches of skin with unusual changes. If those rough patches don’t go away, or they do and then recur, seek medical attention. Additionally, if raised spots appear for unknown reasons, especially if they bleed or hurt when touched, get them checked right away.

Heads up

One area that may be difficult to check is your scalp. At your next hair appointment, ask your barber or stylist to look for anything unusual. Then, at each subsequent appointment, ask if they see anything new. They see your head regularly and may see or feel changes to your scalp that you might not have noticed. Your hair may also give you clues about your health. Slow hair growth, or dull and brittle hair, may be a result of nutrient deficiencies.

Look down

On the flip side, an area of your body that may possibly only be seen by you, your nether regions, more specifically the pelvic area. If you experience fungal infections, especially in the groin, this might indicate diabetes. Further south, another possible sign of diabetes might be shiny, round lesions on the lower shins. One more thing to take note of on the lower legs, brown regions sometimes accompanied by hair loss, could mean narrowing of the blood vessels.

Check those nails, too

No doubt, pampering yourself with a manicure or pedicure will make you feel better, whatever kind of day you are having. Be sure to take a look at those nails before you cover them up. White nails, partial or completely white, could happen from a trauma, but it could also indicate anemia, nutrient deficiencies, heart, or kidney disease, or even poisoning. If the nail bed is white with dark edges, that may be a sign of hepatitis.

If the body isn’t receiving sufficient oxygen, the nails may seem to have a blue tint, and could signal emphysema or even heart disease. Ripples in your nails can be related to psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis. Cracked and peeling nails are often associated with thyroid disease. A dark line under the nails could be from an injury or infection but could also indicate skin cancer.

Most often, yellow nails mean a fungal infection is present and if it worsens your nail bed may retract, and your nails may thicken and potentially crumble. Though rare, yellow nails may also indicate a more serious condition such as thyroid disease, lung disease, diabetes, or psoriasis.

Drink water, eat well and be intentional about your skin, hair and nail health. It’s not all doom and gloom. Moreover, it’s about having the knowledge to take the very best care of yourself. Do your self-examinations on a routine basis, and keep track of any changes.

Contributing writer Denise Lum is a Health and Fitness Coach raising her family in Alameda. Contact her via CoachDenise@alamedapost.com or FitnessByDsign.com . Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Denise-Lum .

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