10 Skin Warning Signs You Should Never Ignore

Do you have armpits? Don’t ignore them!

Heed the signs:

Without further ado, they are:

1. Acanthosis nigricans: dark, velvety brown skin thickening on the neck, underarms, backs of the hands, or sides of the face can signal insulin resistance, prediabetes, or PMOS. The good news, however, is that despite common concerns of such, sudden widespread onset is rarely associated with cancer.
2. Unexplained bruising: bruises appearing without remembered injury may be linked to platelet disorders, clotting disorders, vitamin deficiencies, liver disease, certain cancers, or medications such as blood thinners and corticosteroids; bruising accompanied by nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or large purple patches is especially concerning and merits medical attention.
3. Yellowing of the skin or eyes: jaundice can indicate liver disease, bile duct obstruction, or increased breakdown of red blood cells; yellowing often appears under the tongue and inside the mouth before becoming obvious elsewhere. It’s worth knowing that unlike harmless carotene-related skin discoloration (i.e. you drank a lot of carrot juice and turned orange), jaundice also affects the eyes and mouth.
4. Severe itching without a rash: persistent whole-body itching lasting more than six weeks with no visible rash can be associated with liver disease, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, iron deficiency, or cancers such as Hodgkin lymphoma. Itching triggered by showering is another warning sign.
5. Thick, waxy, or tight skin: swollen, shiny, waxy skin on the shins may occur with Graves’ disease, while skin tightening on the fingers may suggest diabetes or Scleroderma, particularly when hand mobility becomes restricted.
6. Butterfly rash on the face: a rash across the cheeks and nose that spares the folds beside the nose famously may indicate systemic lupus erythematosus, especially if it worsens with sun exposure and is accompanied by fatigue or joint pain.
7. Dark streaks under the nails: a new dark band in a single nail, particularly one that widens, contains multiple colors, or extends onto the surrounding skin, can be a warning sign of melanoma and should be evaluated for such.
8. Sudden hair shedding: rapid diffuse hair loss, known as telogen effluvium, often occurs about three months after a physical stressor and may be associated with thyroid disease, iron deficiency, infection, surgery, trauma, nutritional deficiencies, pregnancy, or rapid weight loss.
9. Non-healing wounds or recurrent infections: cuts, scrapes, or ulcers that remain open for more than four weeks generally suggest poor circulation, vascular disease, diabetes, or impaired immune function.
10. Yellow, thick, or crumbly nails: commonly caused by a fungal infection, but when accompanied by respiratory symptoms and leg swelling, they may indicate bigger problems and should be checked out.

For more on all of this plus visual illustrations, enjoy:

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Take care!