Skin Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Skin cancer is frequently the first disease that comes to mind when we talk about serious skin issues. The good news is skin cancer is often successfully treated if it’s caught in the early stages. That’s why doctors recommend you do a full body skin check once a month to look for new spots or ones that have changed. Skin cancer isn’t always obvious, but contact your doctor if you notice:

• An irregularly shaped lesion that is brown, red, white or blue/black

• A mole that is asymmetrical, has changed shape or size, has an irregular border, changes color, or is larger than the size of a pea

• A lesion that is itchy or painful

• A flat, crusted lesion

Many conditions can produce reactions in the skin, from allergies to atopic dermatitis (eczema) to HIV infection. Common triggers for a sensitive skin reaction include heat, cold, stress, sun exposure, pollution, wind, chemicals, and fragrances like those in your lotion or laundry detergent. If you notice recurring sensitive skin, rashes or dryness, see your doctor to determine the cause.

This rash across the nose and cheeks is a telltale sign of lupus, an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks the organs and other body tissues. If you notice this rash, speak with your doctor, especially if you have other lupus symptoms, such as joint pain, photosensitivity (rashes when exposed to the sun), fever, dry eyes, and headaches.

This can be an indicator or complication of diabetes, resulting from high or fluctuating blood glucose levels. You may also notice fungal infections, as well as tan or brown areas on the neck, under your arms, or inside the creases of your elbows and knees. See your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms so you can be evaluated for diabetes or discuss changes to your diabetes treatment.

If your skin has a bluish or purplish color, it can indicate a problem with circulation, meaning not enough oxygen-rich blood is reaching your skin. This can be the result of a heart or lung disease and should be evaluated by a doctor. If you or anyone else is blue in the face or lips, this is a medical emergency, particularly if it’s accompanied by difficulty breathing or chest pain. Call 911 if you see these sudden symptoms.

Jaundice in adults, yellowing of the skin, is most commonly associated with liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis, and as well as liver damage. This can result from excessive alcohol consumption, gallstones, pancreatic cancer, and some medications, such as overdoses of acetaminophen, as well as penicillin, anabolic steroids, and others. If you notice the whites of your eyes becoming yellow or your skin looking sallow and yellow, speak to your doctor as soon as possible so you can be tested for possible causes.

Psoriasis occurs when your body produces too many new skin cells before the older cells have sloughed off, causing raised, red, scaly and itchy patches. It can be mild or severe. But sometimes psoriasis is associated with psoriatic arthritis. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include pain in the joints, either on one side only or all over, swelling in the joints, and back and foot pain. If you have psoriasis and begin experiencing unexplained joint or back pain, speak with your doctor to see if it is psoriatic arthritis.