WHAT YOUR FACE SAYS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH
A Look in the Mirror
- You’re really familiar with the face staring back at you.
- A closer peek may show clues about your health, if you know what to look for.
Yellowish Skin and Eyes
- This is jaundice.
- It’s when you have too much of a waste product your body makes when it breaks down
red blood cells - It’s common & usually harmless in babies born before 38 weeks, because their livers
aren’t mature enough to work the way they should. - In adults, jaundice can mean more serious conditions, like viral infections (hepatitis, mononucleosis); problems with your liver, gallbladder, or pancreas; or alcohol abuse.
Yellow Spots on Your Eyelids
- These raised yellow bumps on and around your upper & lower eyelids are called
xanthelasmata. - They’re made of cholesterol & while you may not like the look of them, they’re not
dangerous or painful & usually can be taken off. - But they can be a sign that you’re more likely to get heart disease or have a heart attack,
so it’s a good idea to see your doctor for a physical.
Puffy Eyes
- The space below your eyes can fill with fluid, which can make them look swollen or puffy.
- Hot, humid weather can make your body hold on to more water, as can lack of sleep,
too much salty food & hormone changes. - It happens more often as you age because muscles that support your eyelids weaken.
- If your eyes are red & itchy, it may be an allergic reaction to food, pollen, makeup, fragrances, a cleanser, or an infection like pinkeye.
Mole
- These are spots or bumps, often dark in color.
- Most are nothing to worry about, but skin checks can help you spot cancer before it spreads.
- When it comes to moles, remember :
1. Asymmetrical: Is the shape different on each side?
2. Border: Is it jagged?
3. Color: Is it uneven?
4. Diameter: Is it larger than a pea?
5. Evolving: Has it changed in the past few weeks? - Talk to your doctor if you answered yes to any of these questions.
Sores
- Ones around your lips & mouth are most likely cold sores, which are caused by the type
1 herpes virus which isn’t the herpes virus that’s spread through sex. - Once you get the virus, it stays with you.
- Sores may break out when you’re sick, anxious, or overtired, or you’ve been out in the
sun too long. - They usually go away on their own, but if you have big or frequent outbreaks, your doctor may suggest medication.
Cracked Lips
- Everyone gets dry or cracked lips from time to time, especially in winter.
- Balms can help protect them & keep them moist.
- But sometimes, dry lips are a sign of a health issue, like dehydration when your body
doesn’t have enough water.
Butterfly Rash
- Most rashes aren’t serious & get better on their own, but this one is unusual.
- It covers both cheeks in the shape of a butterfly & it’s a common sign of lupus.
- That’s a disease that makes your immune system attack your own tissues & organs.
- You may also have fever, achy & stiff joints, & fingers that turn blue in the cold.
- See your doctor if you have an unexplained rash, especially if it comes along with
those other symptoms.
Hair in Unusual Places
- It could just be a hair growing where you don’t want it that can happen to men as they
get older around the ears & eyebrows & to women around the chin. - In younger women, facial hair can be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition
that can make it harder to get pregnant.
Hair Loss
- If you’re losing your eyelashes or eyebrows, along with patches of your hair, it can be a
sign of a condition called alopecia areata. - It happens when your immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles.
- There’s no way to prevent new patches, but talk with your doctor about medication that
might help your hair grow back.
Drooping Eyelid
- Doctors call it ptosis or blepharoptosis.
- It can happen in one or both eyes& in severe cases, your eyelid may block your vision.
- You may be born with it or get it over decades.
- It’s often harmless, but it can be a sign of problems with your brain, nerves, or eye socket.
- See your doctor if it happens in days or hours, or if you have double vision, weak muscles, trouble swallowing, or a bad headache because those can be signs of a stroke.
Can’t Move One Side of Your Face
- If you can’t move part of your body, get medical help right away but if you don't have
other symptoms it's probably Bells Palsy. - It happens when something, probably a virus, presses a nerve that controls muscles in your face or makes it swollen.
- It shows up over hours or days & usually weakens a side of your face.
- You also may have pain in your jaw & behind your ear.
- Usually, it's not serious & gets better in 3 to 6 months.
Facial Paralysis With Other Symptoms
-
A stroke happens when the blood flow is cut off to part of your brain because a blood
vessel bursts or gets blocked. - Get medical help right away if you notice any of these signs of one:
1. The lower part of your face is suddenly paralyzed.
2. You have numbness or weakness in your arms or legs.
3. Slurred speech.
4. Double vision.
5. Trouble swallowing
Melasma
- This causes gray-brown patches of skin on your face.
- Doctors don’t know exactly why it happens, but it can be triggered by things like pregnancy
or taking certain birth control pills. - In those cases, melasma often fades on its own after the baby is born or the woman stops taking the pills.
- In other cases, it can last for yearsm but medicines & other treatments, like chemical peels,
can help.
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Health Directory
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