Signs of Chronic Illness That Appear on the Skin, Nails, and Feet
Jakarta - Examinations such as X-rays, MRIs, or ultrasounds can indeed help doctors ascertain the condition of organs inside the body. However, these examinations are not always easy to perform. Besides the potentially high cost, patients also need to schedule appointments, and the results may not necessarily show an overall picture of their health. Interestingly, doctors can actually glean a number of clues about a person’s health simply by looking at visible parts of the body. The skin, hands, feet, and even nails, for instance, can show certain signs related to the body’s condition. Here are health clues that can be read through these four body parts, as reported by Prevention.
- Skin
Composed of water, protein, lipids, and minerals, the skin is the body’s largest organ and can reveal far more about you than just a sign that you have been in the sun too long. In fact, the skin can provide information about a person’s health in great detail.
Yellowish Skin: Potential liver function disorder.
Hard Patches (Yellow/Reddish/Brown): An early signal for doctors to check for indications of diabetes.
Facial Rash: A rash on the cheek area that crosses the bridge of the nose is often a classic sign of the autoimmune disease lupus.
- Hands
Changes in the structure, colour, or sensation in the hands reflect systemic conditions:
Weak Grip: A combination of a weakening grip and a slow walking pace can be an early indicator of heart failure.
Red Bumps/Blisters: Often triggered by an allergic reaction to nickel.
Tingling or Numbness: Can indicate carpal tunnel syndrome or an early warning symptom of a stroke.
Cold and Discoloured Fingers: A colour change to white, blue, or red in the fingers indicates Raynaud’s disease (narrowing of small blood vessels).
- Feet
Located furthest from the heart, the feet are a primary indicator of circulation and organ function:
Constantly Cold Feet: Indicates poor blood circulation, anaemia, or thyroid disorders.
Swelling: A signal of potential disease in the lymphatic system or the heart organ.
Burning/Tingling Sensation: Indicates nerve damage due to diabetes complications.
- Nails
The shape and texture of both fingernails and toenails hold profound health information:
Pitting or Lines (Nail Pitting): A symptom commonly found in psoriasis sufferers.
Spoon Nails (Koilonychia): A nail shape that is concave, resembling a small dish, indicates iron deficiency anaemia.
White Streaks: Closely related to thyroid problems, alopecia, dehydration, and vitamin deficiencies. Spoon-shaped nails (koilonychia)—a condition where normally convex nails become concave like a small dish—is a sign of iron deficiency anaemia. The presence of white streaks or lines on the nails can also be associated with thyroid disease, alopecia, dehydration, vitamin deficiency, and other conditions.