Cosmetic Issues That Reveal Underlying Health Problems

It is not common to find a connection between beauty and health, but it has always been there in some form or the other. External beauty of our body is how our skin, hair, nails, and face present an appealing effect to the world. Beauty issues are not always a result of erroneous cosmetic use or not caring enough of your external personality. A constant beauty problem like acne and hair fall can be an indirect indication of an underlying health problem, which needs to be addressed. Our body has certain external signaling mechanisms in place, which indicate health problems via changes in skin, hair, and body weight. It is important to understand those occurring changes and act accordingly to cure the causal health issue. Here are some common beauty issues that are due to an inner health concern.

Acne: Acne and pimples are very common among adolescents and adults, usually due to oil and dirt. Sometimes, a new cosmetic product or using an unclean face towel may result in breakouts on your face. But observing severe acne can be a result of hormonal imbalance, gastritis, and stress.

Acne on the Chin: If you see regular breakouts on the chin, then something might be going wrong with hormone levels in your body. Menstrual imbalance, pregnancy or any other hormonal change in the body can be revealed through acne on chins. Stress and working under pressure can also result in raging stress hormones that cause acne on face. Consult a gynecologist to confirm any such health problems.

Acne on Forehead: Pimples and rashes on the forehead can be irritating and painful. A major reason behind these breakouts is improper digestion. Alcohol, unbalanced diet, oily and spicy food can cause malfunctioning of the digestive system affecting the working of liver and kidneys. This leads to acne on the forehead. Include fruits and fibers in your diet for healthy digestion. If you see continuous acne on your face, then it is worth a mention to your doctor on the next visit.

Excessive facial hair: Some women have thick facial hair on the cheeks, upper and lower lips, this is normal and not harmful. While sudden, abnormal hair growth on the face can be a warning sign of a more important health problem. In polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which causes excess production of male hormones and androgens in women, excessive hair growth on the jawline can be seen in this condition. Stress, genetic factors, and weight gain are the main causes of PCOS. A gynecologist can recommend oral hormones or birth control pills to maintain regular menstrual cycles and control raging androgens.

Hair Loss and Balding: Hair loss is a normal phenomenon occurring to most of us. It is troublesome only when one observes severe hair fall, thinning and patterned balding. This could be a symptom of many health problems such as extreme stress, medications for high blood pressure, malnutrition, hormonal changes, and genetic factors. Chronic diseases like diabetes and immune disorders like Lupus disease can also be the underlying culprits in thinning and shedding of hair. Factors such as stress could result in hair falls may even occur months after exposure to stress.

Patterned baldness, such as male pattern baldness, is a characteristic symptom in people with PCOS. These symptoms should not be mistaken for normal hair loss and must be seen by a doctor as soon as possible. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and herbal hair care products can help heal this problem.

Weak, Pale Nails: Weak, wrinkled, pale or spotted nails are a sign of poor health. Watching your diet is important if you notice your nails are rippling and breaking off frequently. Anemia may be the reason behind this. One must not overlook this symptom and should consult a doctor.

Nails are usually pale pink, but sudden discoloration and paleness of the nails can be concerning. Also, if you see white spots on your nails, you may have leukonychia caused by a deficiency of certain vitamins, such as vitamins A and E, or of important nutrients, such as iron and zinc.

If other symptoms are observed on the nails, such as erythema, nail depressions, and abnormal lines, it may be the result of chronic diseases such as kidney disease, psoriasis, and genetic diseases. If you observe any of these uncanny signs, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Dark circles: Staying up late or working long hours on a laptop is the cause of dark circles. But even after getting enough sleep, if dark circles are observed, it could be due to sleep apnea or a sleep disorder. Fatigue, chronic disease, allergies, genetics, pigmentation irregularities, or sun exposure can also cause dark circles.

Patchy and Dry Skin: Painful and scaly, dry patches on the skin for a long time can be a sign of a precancerous lesion known as Actinic keratosis. When left untreated, this could turn into squamous carcinoma that can be dangerous. One must consult a doctor if this phenomenon persists. Changes in skin color and pigmentation are also symptoms of skin diseases like dermatitis and eczema. Pale, yellowish skin can be a result of lack of sleep, improper diet, and stress. Sometimes, high blood pressure could cause sudden wrinkles on face and hands.

These changes in the face, skin and hair are a direct reflection of poor health. Therefore, it is important to see a doctor as early as possible to make sure everything is in order.