Your Skin Is Sending You Warnings – What You Should Know

Did you know our nails and hair are made of skin cells, too? No wonder skin is the largest organ in our body. And It's often the first to show signs of internal skin conditions. What's up with that? From devastating date night acne breakouts to sudden eczema flares, our skin can provide clues about what's going on beneath the surface. And we will be your Sherlock Holmes today!

What Does Your Skin Condition Say About You?

Our skin is a big and complex organ that reflects our overall health. Kind of like the goth teen who is watching Interview with the Vampire for the plot. When our bodies are functioning optimally, our skin tends to be clear and radiant. Imagine a Fair & Lovely ad, but the CGI is totally au natural.

However, when we're experiencing internal imbalances or health issues, our skin can become irritated, dry, or prone to breakouts. This is our very first clue. Our skin reacts, and it reacts fast.

There have been so many instances on the internet where people confessed to having been randomly asked to check out a discoloured patch of skin or mole, and it turned out to be cancer or allergy. So do not tread lightly when given such warnings. They're as real as Lestat's abs, which were very crucial to the plot.

Acne is a common skin condition that affects people of all ages. We say all ages because, yes, it can haunt us anytime it so pleases. While there are many factors that can cause skin breakouts, here are some of the most common causes: Hormonal fluctuations, particularly during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, can trigger acne breakouts.

Acne can be hereditary, meaning it's more likely to occur in families with a history of acne.

High levels of stress can exacerbate acne and other skin conditions. A breakdown and breakout, all in one day!

1. Certain foods like dairy products, food with high glycemic load, oily and processed foods can also cause acne breakouts.

2. Some medications like lithium, which treats certain mood disorders, or corticosteroids and other hormonal treatments, can cause acne as a side effect.

3. Bacteria on the skin can contribute to acne breakouts. Wash your hands, and don't touch your face, folks!

Acne is on one end, and Eczema is on the opposite. It is a chronic skin condition characterised by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. It can also affect people of all ages, but it is most common in children. The exact causes of Eczema are not yet fully understood, but it could be a combination of factors like:

• Genetics: Eczema is more common in people with a family history of allergies or asthma. Atopic dermatitis, which is synonymous with atopic Eczema, was proven in a 2020 study to have high heritability.

• Allergens: Exposure to allergens like dust mites, pollen, and pet dander can trigger eczema flares.

• Irritants: Contact with skin irritants, such as harsh soaps, detergents, and fabrics, can also trigger Eczema. Heed the warning on the label and handle with care!

• Dry skin: Being moisturised and in your lane actually has health benefits, who would've thought? Of course, regular dry skin is vastly different from Eczema with its relapsing inflammatory skin lesions.

• Stress: It's quite a common trigger among most skin conditions and can exacerbate eczema symptoms as well.

Fluctuations in the hormones not only cause skin-related issues but also other internal health conditions. So, it's great that most hormonal fluctuations present through different skin conditions. For example, hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and menopause can cause changes in skin pigmentation and texture.

In the same way, imbalances in hormones like testosterone and oestrogen can also cause acne breakouts and other skin problems. And surprise, surprise, high oestrogen levels are associated with the prevalence and/or risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal people since these cancer cells "motivate" more to be produced.

Certain nutritional deficiencies can cause skin problems. For example, a deficiency in vitamin D can lead to dry, scaly skin. While a deficiency in zinc can cause acne. A deficiency in iron can cause pale skin and non-scarring hair loss.

Allergies and Skin Reactions

Allergies, much like every internal health condition we've seen so far, present through a variety of skin reactions, including:

• Hives or Urticaria: Raised, itchy bumps on the skin caused by an immune response that produces natural chemicals like Histamine.

• Eczema: Eczema is a chronic skin condition causing inflammation, itching, redness, and dryness, often triggered by allergies or irritants.

• Contact dermatitis: A skin rash caused by contact with an allergen or irritant.

Most allergic skin reactions can be controlled through antihistamines and by staying far away from your allergen.

Does Sunscreen Really Help?

When discussing skin, we can't skip the Holy Grail - Sunscreen. It is essential for protecting our skin from the Sun's UV rays. These rays can cause premature ageing and skin cancer. Yes, UV radiation has been proven as a human carcinogen that can cause basal and squamous cell carcinoma. Both of which are treatable, if caught early.

The other more important symptom to look out for is sunburn, which can cause melanoma, a far more dangerous form of skin cancer. So it's better to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 + and reapply it every two hours while you're out and about.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, while less than 1% are affected here in India. This is specifically due to the fact that we've got eumelanin. It's a brown-black pigment that acts as a protector against UV radiation. It's still better to take precautions against a cancer that's very much preventable as it's an accumulation of UV exposure present only in adults and not a sudden onset.

There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

• Basal cell carcinoma is the most common and usually appears as a raised, pearly bump on the skin.

• Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type and appears as a red, scaly patch on the skin.

• Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, as we said earlier. It can appear as a mole that changes in size, shape, or colour.

Pro tip: If you see a black horizontal line in your nail, visit the doctor ASAP.

If you take anything from this blog, it must be this: Our skin reflects our overall health. We can protect ourselves better by paying attention to it and addressing any underlying health issues or skin conditions. Even if it's a meme to ask about the suspicious mole or rash to your pre-med cousin, do it. Because when your skin leaves your breadcrumbs, all you have to do is follow the trail.