From ‘sugarface’ to stress and silent killer – the 9 things your skin can tell you about your health
WE ALL deal with breakouts, dryness or dull skin from time to time.
Often our first instinct will be to address the problem by buying a new skincare product and hoping it works.
But your skin may actually be alerting you to deep-rooted issues regarding your general health or diet.
So before slathering creams on that lingering spot, it's worth thinking some simple lifestyle changes you could make to soothe your skin.
The key is being able to spot the signs your skin is giving you.
Skin doctor and cosmetic formulator at , Dr Vanita Rattan, and chartered chemist and Founder of , Bruce Green, spoke to Sun Health about how to do that and what your skin could be telling you about your health.
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1. Breakouts could mean you're eating too much sugar
Acne can be caused by a number of things: hormonal fluctuations, medications, stress and genetics.
But if you're getting frequent breakouts on your skin, this might also be sign of dietary issues, according to Dr Vanita.
"When you eat plenty of sugary, processed foods such as white bread, sweets, fizzy drinks and fried food, your body responds by releasing more insulin to regulate your blood sugar levels," she explained.
"This spike in insulin can trigger inflammation throughout your body, including your skin.
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"Insulin triggers the production of sebum, an oily substance that can clog the pores when overproduced. When pores become swollen with sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells, it can exacerbate skin conditions including acne."
If you always seem to be dealing with zits, it's worth analysing your diet and seeing if you can cut your sugar intake.
It's also a good idea to reach for low glycaemic index foods - these are ingredients that are broken down more slowly by your body, causing a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels.
Opt for more lentils and beans, green vegetables, whole grains and fruits.
Dr Vanita also advised you use a gentle face wash containing acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide to unclog your pores and prevent spots popping up.
Meanwhile, Bruce warned too much sugar can have other unpleasant consequences on your skin.
He said the sweet stuff is "a skin ageing accelerator". It depletes your skin collagen levels, "leaving your skin dehydrated and puffy, as well as accelerating the signs of ageing and skin sagging", the chemist said.
"If you have an existing skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, eating sugar can cause flare-ups, irritating the skin and exacerbating symptoms," he went on, while also leaving you with dark spots, dark circles and duller skin.
"It takes a lot of water consumption to get rid of excess sugar," he said.
With the NHS suggesting you eat no more than 30g - about 7 sugar cubes - a day, Bruce said "cutting out sugar where possible will create a noticeable difference to your skin's appearance in as little as a week, although truer results will take three months".
He also advised staying away from artificial sweeteners.
"The name says it all: ‘Artificial’,” he added.
2. Dry skin could be a sign you have diabetes
If you're dealing with dry skin, it could be a sign of diabetes, according to Bruce.
He explained: "Diabetes often affects the skin due to high blood sugar levels.
"If your skin is drier than usual and you have diabetes, it could be contributing to the cause of this effect on your skin."
Aside from dry skin, Bruce said people with diabetes might also suffer from other conditions, such as:
- diabetic dermopathy - red or brown patches on the skins that tend to be harmless
- necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum - a rare skin condition in where lesions develop on the lower part of the legs
- diabetic blisters - blisters suddenly appearing on the skin of the hands, feet, legs and forearms, which resemble those from a serious burn
- eruptive xanthomatosis - yellow, pink, brown or skin coloured bumps that may be itchy or painful
"Diabetes can dry out your skin and cause itchiness and as a result, may mean you get injured more easily, are more likely to get an infection and it can take longer for wounds to heal," Bruce added.
He advised you keep an eye on any dry or red spots on your skin and speak to healthcare professional about persistent dry skin.
"If your skin problems worsen over time, see a doctor immediately," the chemist stressed.
3. Hair loss could be a sign of a protein deficiency
It might not occur to you to think of your scalp as skin.
But Dr Vanita said this is an "often neglected area of the skin, scalp, which is essential for healthy hair growth", so it's worth showing it the same love and care that you would to your face.
If you're noticing that your hair is thinning out, this could be your body telling you that it's low in protein, the skin doctor said.
"Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body needed for your hair, skin, nails, joints, and bones," but we lose one per cent of it yearly as we get older and stop producing as much, she explained.
Dr Vanita went on: "After menopause, we lose 30 per cent collagen in the first five years. So, you see a drastic increase in fine lines, thinning skin, bruising easier and our hair starts to fall out quicker."
Insufficient protein can also lead to weakened hair follicles, making our locks thinner over time.
Some high collagen foods include bone broth, organ meats or chicken cartilage, which don't tend to feature heavily in our diets.
Dr Vanita suggested taking a collagen supplement daily from the age of 21 to help mitigate that - she suggested you opt for 8g per serving of Type 1 Hydrolysed Marine Collagen.
4. Rough, bumpy texture could be a sign of ‘chicken skin’
Do you have bumpy and rough bits on your arms, thighs, cheeks or bum?
Then you might have a common condition that affects about 40 per cent of adults, according to the .
It's called keratosis pilaris - or chicken skin.
The roughened texture and redness is caused by by dead skin cells and hard keratin plugging your hair follicles - that's why you'll only see it in spots where hair grows, Dr Vanita said.
It worsens in winter as dry skin is harder to exfoliate naturally, she added.
Dr Vanita went on: "To improve the appearance of ‘chicken skin’, take short warm baths using a oilatum shower gel and gently exfoliate afterwards with a body smoothing exfoliator.
"Ensure you use a body brightening oil and fatty moisturiser to lock in moisture after your bath, which will help keep the skin smooth."
5. Puffy eyelids could be a sign of allergies
If your eyelids are swollen or puffy, there's a high chance your body is alerting you to allergies, Dr Vanita said.
"Allergens like pollen, pet dander, or dust can trigger an allergic reaction, leading to the swelling of the eyelids and other symptoms such as itching, redness, and watery eyes.
"When accompanied by rashes, this can be a tell-tale sign of contact dermatitis which affects 3-4 per cent of the population," the skin doctor added.
This is a type of eczema triggered by contact with irritating substances that causes the skin to become itchy, blistered, dry and cracked, according to .
Dr Vanita said it can be caused by "exposure to irritants such as denatured alcohol, fragrance, and essential oils in your products".
She advised opting for skincare products that are ‘NAFE SAFE’ to avoid these kinds of reactions and wearing protective clothing when using cleaning products around the house.
"If your eyelids are especially swollen and irritated, consult with your doctor who can prescribe you max-strength antihistamines or refer you to other treatment options," she added.
6. Hyperpigmentation could be a sign of too much sun exposure
Noticing that your skin is looking uneven or developing dark spots and patches?
This is called hyperpigmentation and it's a visible sign of excessive sun exposure, according to Dr Vanita.
"When your skin is exposed for too long to the sun's harmful UV rays, it can stimulate the production of melanin, a pigment responsible for skin colour," the skin doctor explain.
Over time, your face will develop dark patches.
It can be avoided if you slather on SPF50 sun cream - even when the sun isn't blazing - and staying out of the sun's rays.
7. Stubborn dandruff could be a sign of seborrheic dermatitis
We've all had a dry, flaky scalp at some point or other.
But if you have yellow greasy scales with mounds on the scalp and irritation, or you see red or darker scaly patches on your ears, eyebrows, chest, and nostrils that are extremely itchy, you might have a common skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis.
Dr Vanita said: "Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis might actually be the same condition- but to different degrees.
"Both lead to duller, thinner, and more brittle hair which makes it harder to grow healthier hair as your scalp is inflamed."
If you're reaching for anti-dandruff shampoo to soothe your inflamed scalp, you might actually be making things worse, the skin doctor warned.
"Most anti-dandruff shampoos contain fragrance which can irritate sensitive scalp skin further," she said.
"Instead, opt for a fragrance free, anti-inflammatory, and anti-dandruff hair thickening shampoo to nourish your hair.
She added: "Exfoliating agents such as salicylic acid and coal tar can soften and improve the appearance of scaling, as well as anti-fungal hair masks with 5 per cent Ketoconazole."
8. A damaged skin barrier could be a sign of underlying stress
If you have a healthy skin barrier, it means you have a protective layer of ceramides lipids, cholesterol, and fatty acids that shield your skin from from irritating substances, allergens, and bacterial infections, Dr Vanita said.
This barrier also locks in moisture to give you a supple, youthful complexion.
But the skin doctor warned that stress can disrupt the production and balance of lipids that hydrate the skin, compromising the protective barrier.
Stress hormones like cortisol can also be released at the same time, which can lead to increased oil production in the skin's sebaceous glands and result in acne breakouts.
Dr Vanita warned: "As stress activates the body’s inflammatory response, this can damage the skin's structural components, including collagen and elastin, making it more prone to dryness and premature ageing too.
"Underlying stress can worsen any skin condition, but specifically those who suffer with eczema or psoriasis.
"When the barrier becomes compromised, you may notice increased dryness, sensitivity, inflammation, and increased susceptibility to infections."
This could cause a your skin to sting and burn when you apply skincare products, the skin doctor said.
You should avoid using harsh products like alkali soaps and physical scrubs, as they can strip moisture and cause microtears in your skin, she went on.
And any products with fragrance could make your skin more sensitive.
"Focus on prevention and repair by applying a minimum of SPF50+ to protect your skin from natural aggressors, such as the sun’s harmful UV radiation," Dr Vanita advised.
But she warned that regular moisturisers can sometimes be ineffective after your skin barrier has been damaged.
In this case, the skin doctor said you need to use fatty products to give your face its waxy protection back, recommending her Calm Balm fat stick to replenish fats lost.
9. Excessive sweating could be the sign of an overactive thyroid
Finally, if you notice you're sweating excessively even if it isn't hot out or you haven't been exercising, Dr Vanita said this could be a sign of an overactive thyroid.
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"This condition speeds up your metabolism and can cause sensitivity to heat and nervousness with those concerned about their body odour," she explained.
Though stronger anti-antiperspirants and avoiding tight fitting clothing might do the trick, Dr Vanita advised you speak to your GP if the problem persists so they can refer you to the right treatment.