Sometimes, you can judge a book by its cover. Take our skin, for instance. The most extensive organ of the human body is one of the first things doctors examine for telltale signs of an underlying disease.
A butterfly rash on the face suggests one might have rosacea, contact dermatitis, or lupus, while a dark neck or armpits is a symptom of diabetes. Jaundice is the term for yellowish skin caused by an excess of bilirubin in your blood. It’s a sign that something may be wrong with your liver, gall bladder, or pancreas.
Bruises and rashes are common skin conditions that are generally harmless and temporary. But when are they signs of something more serious? The country’s leading health institute, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph), through its Section of Hematology, enumerates these conditions, their possible causes and when to see a doctor.
n BRUISE. “A bruise occurs when a blow or impact to our body breaks the small blood vessels or capillaries near the surface of our skin, causing blood to leak out and appear as a black-and-blue mark,” says Rosalio Torres, MD, section chief of Hematology. “This eventually disappears as the blood is reabsorbed by the body.” Women are more prone to bruising than men, as are the elderly, as the fatty layer that cushions their blood vessels thins as they age.
Bruises are also caused by: certain medications such as aspirin, blood thinners, anti-platelet agents, and even some antibiotics and herbal supplements affect your blood’s ability to clot; vigorous exercise, which can cause microscopic tears in blood vessels; Von Willebrand Disease and Hemophilia, rare disorders (Von Willebrand disease for women and hemophilia for men) characterized by a lack of sufficient blood-clotting proteins or clotting factors.
JAUNDICE. This is the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, may also be an indicator of a blood disease.
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY. A lack of vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin B-12 may result in bruising, he says. Consult your doctor if you show other symptoms of vitamin K deficiency like bleeding gums, blood in your stool, profuse menstrual flow, and excessive bleeding from a wound.
DIABETES. “Diabetes per se does not cause bruising, but it slows down the healing of wounds and bruises,” Torres explains. See your health practitioner if the bruise is accompanied by other classic symptoms of diabetes: insatiable thirst and hunger, frequent urination, sudden weight loss, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, and blurred vision.
THROMBOPHILIA. “When your body produces too much clotting elements, you tend to form blood clots easily. This increases your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis [a blood clot in the vein of your leg] or pulmonary embolism [a blocked blood vessel in the lungs],” says Torres. Blood thinners are prescribed to patients with thrombophilia, and this makes them bruise easily.
Bruises normally go away on their own, he adds. But if a bruise doesn’t improve in two weeks, doesn’t disappear after three to four weeks, or if it is accompanied by some swelling and pain, see your doctor immediately.
RASHES. According to Torres, “A rash is a noticeable change in the texture and color of the skin. It’s an irritation that is usually red and can be dry, scaly, bumpy, itchy, or slightly elevated.”
A number of conditions manifest in the form of rashes—from a simple diaper rash to fungal infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot and viral infections like chicken pox and measles, and more serious disorders like lupus erythematosus.
“Hives are the most common type of rash, affecting one out of five people,” he says. “They appear suddenly and are often triggered by a specific allergen.
Though irritating, hives are relieved once the allergen is identified and removed, or after you take an antihistamine. “See a doctor if the rash develops all over your body, is accompanied by a fever, begins to blister, and is painful,” says Torres.
If bruises or rashes have become a concern for you, don’t delay and consult with your doctor. With the skin being the most extensive organ of the body, and indicator of possible underlying illnesses, it deserves your attention and care.
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