"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

Your skin is a mirror of your health – that's what you're saying.

15% of our body is skin.. It is the biggest and most visible organ of the human body.

Yet the skin's many functions are sometimes neglected. It's a sunscreen, a shield from germs, a reservoir of. Vitamin D And a way of tightly regulating our body temperature.

Being probably the most visible of our organs, the skin also gives us a view of the body tissues it protects. So don't consider your skin as merely aesthetic—consider it as a mirrored image of your health. Disorders of the intestines, blood, hormones and even the guts might be seen first in the shape of rashes on the skin.

Here are some to search for.

Bullseye

Ticks are pesky creatures that nobody would wish to return home from a rustic run with.

But while the vast majority of tick bites Won't make you sick.in the event you see it, it's a rash that ought to go to your doctor.

Erythema migrans, a rash named for its ability to spread rapidly across the skin, is a typical symptom. Lyme disease, a potentially serious bacterial disease. This rash creates a classic goal pattern, like a bullseye on a dartboard.

Be vigilant for a number of weeks after the bite to ascertain that these spots don't appear – especially in the event you notice a red bump that wasn't there before or if you’ve gotten to remove a tick out of your skin. You also needs to look ahead to other associated symptoms of Lyme disease – comparable to a fluctuating temperature, muscle and joint pain, and headaches.

The condition is treated with antibiotics, which may prevent long-term complications, including symptoms of chronic fatigue.

Purpura

Some spots are given a Colorful names Purpura is one such example. The name of this rash is derived from a mollusk that was used to make a purple dye.

Purpura refers to a rash of small purple or red dots. This is as a result of pooling of blood within the deeper layer of the skin (dermis). When pressed with a finger – or higher yet, against a glass – it refuses to blanch.

Purpura indicates an issue with either the partitions of the small blood vessels that feed the skin or the blood inside them. This might be attributable to a scarcity of platelets, the small pieces of cells that allow blood to clot – perhaps from bone marrow failure, or an autoimmune condition where the body turns itself on and attacks its own cells. Attacks.

At worst, purpura can indicate a life-threatening condition. Septicemiawhere the infection has spread into the bloodstream – perhaps through the lungs, kidneys and even the skin.

Skin spiders

A rash might also occur on the skin. Recognizable forms.

A spider umbilicus represents an issue throughout the skin's arteries (small arteries that offer blood to the skin). Arteries open and shut to regulate heat loss from the body surface. But sometimes they’ll get caught within the open – and a spider-like pattern will appear.

These spider veins indicate problems with the arteries.
Eugenia Scheidt/Shutterstock

The open artery is the spider's body, and even the tiny capillaries that shoot out in all directions are threadlike legs. Crush the body under a finger and the entire thing will disappear, as your touch temporarily stops the flow of blood.

Often, these are benign and never linked to any particular condition – especially in the event you only have one or two. However, greater than three suggest high circulation levels The hormone estrogen, often as a result of liver disease or hormonal changes seen in pregnancy. Treat the underlying cause, and spider mites often go away over time — although they might persist or reappear later.

Black velvet

Changes within the folds of your skin (normally across the armpits or neck) – especially if it thickens and feels velvety to the touch – may suggest a condition called Acanthosis nigricans. This “black velvet” skin appearance is more commonly seen in dark skins.

Usually, related to condition Disorders of metabolism – i.e. type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome. If any of those conditions are successfully treated, the rash may go away. In rare cases, this will also be an indication Stomach cancerwhich mustn’t be considered in patients with few or no significant signs of metabolic disease (obesity and hypertension).

Butterfly spots

Heart disease can even show up on the skin.

Cardiac valves play a vital role in properly directing blood through the guts and stopping backflow. The valve between the chambers on the left side of the guts (the mitral valve – so called due to its resemblance to a bishop's hat, or pea) can sometimes develop into narrow, causing heart failure. The body's natural response is to preserve the basal volume of blood, cutting off flow to the skin.

The net effect can produce raised purple blotches across the cheeks and bridge of the nose, much like the spread wings of a butterfly. We call it mitral face Which, depending on the extent of injury to the guts and great vessels, may persist despite treatment.

It is essential to care for your skin. It's consistently talking to you, and any changes in its texture, color or recent markings or patterns may indicate something is happening beneath the surface.