What Your Looks Say About Your Health part 2

Dark skin patches

A ring of dark skin at the back of the neck may look like it's crying out for a good scrubbing. But in reality, it may be acanthosis nigricans, a condition in which the skin appears darker and thicker—even velvety—along body creases.

People with insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity or, in rare cases, cancer, can develop these dark patches. Although not a definitive sign of diabetes, “It makes you think twice and do more workup,” says Heather Jones, a nurse practitioner at Oregon Health & Science University, in Portland, and a member of the Dermatology Nurses Association board of directors.

Body hair

Hair where you don't want it is embarrassing for sure, but it also can be a sign of more concerning health problems.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common cause of increased hair growth in women of childbearing age, can cause infertility and infrequent, irregular, or absent periods. More than 70% of women with PCOS have hirsutism, or excess hair growth, typically appearing on the face, chest, stomach, back, hands, or feet.

Butterfly rash

A rash is like a red flag. It's your body's way of saying that something is not right.

There are all kinds of rashes, of course, but one in particular stands out. It stretches across both cheeks in the shape of a butterfly and has a sunburn-like appearance. This rash is a classic symptom of lupus, an immune-system disorder that affects the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys.

Hair loss

Eek! What should you make of that glob of hair at the bottom of the shower? Pregnancy, stress, disease, medications, and changes in hormones all can contribute to hair loss.

Among women in particular, dry, thinning hair may be a sign of an underactive or overactive thyroid. A simple blood test can check whether the body is making normal amounts of thyroid hormone.

Cracked lips

Your lips can say a lot about your health. Severely cracked, dry lips may be a reaction to medication, an occupational hazard (if you're a brass musician), or a symptom of allergy, infection, or other conditions. Cracking at the corners of the mouth may be a symptom of Sjögren’s (pronounced SHOW-grens) syndrome, an immune system disorder. Sjögren’s causes dry eyes and dry mouth, as well as joint pain and dry skin. As many as 4 million Americans—mostly women—have this condition.

Moles

Sometimes a mole is just a harmless growth. Other moles signal the presence of skin cancer. Which ones mean trouble?

Look for growths that are asymmetrical, have an irregular border, vary in color, have a diameter larger than 6 millimeters (one-quarter inch), or are changing or evolving. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, may exhibit one or more of these features. People should tell their doctor if they notice any changes on their skin, advises the National Cancer Institute.

Yellow eyes

They're a window into your health, so when your eyes—specifically the whites of your eyes—turn yellow, there's reason to suspect trouble.

In adults, it can be a sign of liver disease, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis. It can also mean that the ducts that ferry bile away from the liver are blocked. Anyone with yellowing of the eyes should see their physician for further evaluation.

http://www.health.com