Dr Smriti Naswa Singh, Consultant-Dermatologist & Fellow Pediatric Dermatology, Fortis Hospital, Mumbai talks about skin health and its indication of diseases.
Skin, the largest organ of our body, is the mirror and a reflection of what is going inside of you, in your body and your mind. Skin bears the brunt of:
- Weather changes
- Water temperatures
- Pollution
- Dust
- Sand
- Sea
- Air
A. Hormonal changes: There is an epidemic of hormonal imbalance around the world due to our drastically changed lifestyle.
- Acne is the most common problem in teenagers
- Hair Growth for females in areas beard, moustache and mid-riff
- Hereditary patterned baldness like side receding, thinning front and vertex hair on the scalp in not just males but also females.
B. Thick Dark Skin Patches: The thick dark skin with crisscross lines along the neck usually from rubbing of necklace/chain, accumulation of dirt, that doesn’t fade with scrubbing or rubbing or facials, underarms, sides of the eyes, inner thighs, knuckles, elbow folds, etc. is common in people. This is the first marker of Insulin Resistance; a very important causative feature of Metabolic syndrome which is also an indicator of diabetes, obesity and other lifestyle diseases.
C. Yellow coloured spots around eyelids: This is noted in those who have a deranged lipid profile which is one of the causes for high blood pressure and other cardiac diseases
E. Herpes Zoster/ Shingles: We all get Chicken Pox once in a lifetime, and its virus lies sleeping in our nerves for life. Once in lifetime, it comes out as Herpes Zoster along the area of nerve supply with painful fluid-filled vesicles on the skin. Herpes Zoster usually manifests when one’s immunity is low, usually at 60-70yrs of age.
F. Recurrent Infections: Continuous fungal infection, Candida (in genitals and body folds), recurrent painful boils needing antibiotic therapies can be first markers of Diabetes. More sugar in your skin causes bacteria, viruses, and fungi to grow rapidly.
G. Hair Fall: Itis commonly linked to nutritional deficiencies, Anemia, mental stress, disturbed sleep, or late-night sleeping (also leading to early graying of hair), vitamin or traces element deficiency, Thyroid etc.
See and observe the changes in your skin, it is an indication of the health of your body and mind.