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What your skin says about your health

Our external body communicates much about our internal health. It can provide health information through our hair, nails, eyes, and skin. When we get older, we can also start developing issues with our hormones. Not surprisingly, our skin can give us some insight into potential thyroid problems. Below are some skin symptoms associated with thyroid issues.

  1. Abnormally dry and itchy skin.
  2. Pale and very cold skin.
  3. Flushed, warm, sweaty skin (mostly associated with hyperthyroidism).
  4. Dry scalp and hair.
  5. Unexplained bruising.
  6. Skin discolorations, such as ivory, yellow, and patches of darkened skin in skin folds.
  7. Wounds that have a hard time healing.
  8. Swelling of the eyes, face, and hands.

These above abnormalities can be symptoms of thyroid or other health issues.  For example, yellow skin can be a sign of liver problems. Dark velvety patches can also be a sign of pre-diabetes. If you see any abnormalities on your skin, speak with your doctor to see if there are health issues that need to be addressed.

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