Our skin is our largest organ, and it’s constantly giving us clues about our overall health. Sometimes, these clues are subtle, and other times, they’re more obvious. Ignoring certain skin changes can mean missing important signals your body is sending. Let’s talk about five skin changes you shouldn’t brush off, and what they might be telling you.
1. Persistent Dryness or Itching
We all get dry skin now and then, especially in dry weather. But if your skin is constantly dry, flaky, or itchy, it could be more than just a seasonal thing. It might be a sign of:
- Dietary Deficiencies: Deficiencies in essential fatty acids and vitamins, particularly vitamin D and A, can contribute to chronic xerosis (dry skin).1,2
- Stress: Psychological stress can worsen inflammatory skin conditions like atopic dermatitis, leading to increased pruritus (itching) and impaired skin barrier function.3
- Underlying Medical Conditions: Persistent xerosis can be indicative of systemic diseases like chronic kidney disease, hypothyroidism, and even certain malignancies.4
- Environmental Factors: Exposure to pollutants, low humidity, and harsh detergents can significantly impact skin barrier function, leading to dryness and irritation.5
- SDOH (Social Determinants of Health): Limited access to clean water, nutritious food, and adequate housing in underserved communities can worsen skin health, contributing to chronic dryness and increased susceptibility to infections.6
2. Sudden Changes in Moles
Moles are common, but any sudden changes in their size, shape, or color should be taken seriously. This could be a warning sign of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer.7
- Sun Exposure: Ultraviolet radiation is a primary risk factor for melanoma development, especially in individuals with fair skin.8
- Genetic Predisposition: Individuals with a family history of melanoma or certain genetic mutations are at increased risk.
- Lack of Access to Healthcare: Disparities in access to dermatological care can lead to delayed melanoma diagnosis in communities of color, resulting in poorer outcomes.8
3. Persistent Redness or Rashes
We all get a red spot or rash now and then, but when it sticks around, it could be more than just a simple allergy. There are several reasons why your skin might be persistently red, itchy, or bumpy. Here are a few things to keep in mind, and some conditions we’re currently researching:
- Autoimmune Conditions: Sometimes, your body’s defense system attacks healthy skin. Conditions like Lupus, Rosacea, and Psoriasis can cause ongoing (chronic) redness and inflamed patches, or lesions.9
- Infections: Skin rashes can also be a sign of infections, like Lyme disease, fungal infections, or viral rashes.
- Allergies to Food: Some people have skin reactions to certain foods that don’t go away, leading to long-lasting eczema or dermatitis.
- Stress and Skin (Psychodernatology): Did you know stress can affect your skin? Your body has its own defense system. When it’s stressed, it releases certain chemicals. These chemicals, called inflammatory mediators, can make your skin more red, itchy, and irritated, and that’s why hives and eczema flare up.3,10
- Prurigo Nodularis: This condition causes intensely itchy, firm bumps on the skin. We’re currently studying new ways to help people with prurigo nodularis.
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS): HS causes painful lumps under the skin, often in areas like the armpits and groin. We’re also working on research for hidradenitis suppurativa.
If you’re dealing with persistent skin problems, it’s important to talk to a doctor. Getting the right diagnosis is the first step to finding relief.
4. Yellowing of the Skin (Jaundice)
Yellowing of the skin and eyes, known as jaundice, is a serious sign that your liver isn’t functioning properly.11
- Liver Disease: Your liver helps clean your blood. When it’s not working right, from things like infections (hepatitis), scarring (cirrhosis), or even cancer, a yellow substance called bilirubin can build up. That’s why your skin or eyes might turn yellow.
- Gallbladder Problems: Gallstones or growths can block the tubes that carry bile from your gallbladder. This blockage can also cause that yellowing.
- Certain Medications: Some medicines, like certain antibiotics, can also hurt your liver and cause this yellowing.
- Access to Healthcare: If you don’t get help for these problems quickly, they can become much more serious, even life-threatening. Sometimes, people don’t get the care they need because of where they live or other reasons, and that’s not fair.
5. Changes in Skin Texture or Thickness
Thickening or hardening of the skin can be a sign of:
- Scleroderma: Systemic sclerosis can cause cutaneous fibrosis, leading to skin thickening and tightening.12
- Diabetes: These skin conditions (diabetic dermopathy and acanthosis nigricans) are signs that your body is struggling with insulin resistance and high blood sugar, medically known as hyperglycemia.12
- Nutritional deficiencies: Zinc and essential fatty acid deficiencies can affect skin barrier integrity and lead to changes in skin texture.
- Environmental toxins: Chronic exposure to heavy metals and certain chemicals can cause skin thickening, also known as hyperkeratosis, and other textural changes.
What to Do
If you notice any of these skin changes, don’t ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor or a dermatologist as soon as possible. Early detection and treatment can make a big difference.
Why This Matters for Everyone
Skin health is affected by more than just what we put on our skin. Factors like diet, stress, environmental exposures, and access to healthcare play a huge role. For underrepresented communities, these factors can be even more pronounced. Understanding these connections helps us advocate for better health for everyone.
References
- Polcz, M. E., & Barbul, A. (2019). The Role of Vitamin A in Wound Healing. Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 34(5), 695–700. https://doi.org/10.1002/ncp.10376
- Bocheva, G., Slominski, R. M., & Slominski, A. T. (2021). The Impact of Vitamin D on Skin Aging. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(16), 9097. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22169097
- Arndt, J., Smith, N., & Tausk, F. (2008). Stress and atopic dermatitis. Current allergy and asthma reports, 8(4), 312–317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-008-0050-6
- Rajagopalan, M., Saraswat, A., Godse, K., Shankar, D. S., Kandhari, S., Shenoi, S. D., Tahiliani, S., & Zawar, V. V. (2017). Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Pruritus: An Expert Consensus Review. Indian journal of dermatology, 62(1), 7–17. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5154.198036
- Bocheva, G., Slominski, R. M., & Slominski, A. T. (2023). Environmental Air Pollutants Affecting Skin Functions with Systemic Implications. International journal of molecular sciences, 24(13), 10502. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241310502
- Braveman, P., & Gottlieb, L. (2014). The social determinants of health: it’s time to consider the causes of the causes. Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974), 129 Suppl 2(Suppl 2), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/00333549141291S206
- Ivert, Lina U., Dal, Henrik, Rodvall, Ylva, Lindelöf, Bernt, Analysis of the Stockholm Public Health Cohort: Exploring How Ultraviolet Radiation and Other Factors Associate with Skin Cancer, Journal of Skin Cancer, 2024, 7142055, 10 pages, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/7142055
- Bradford P. T. (2009). Skin cancer in skin of color. Dermatology nursing, 21(4), 170–178.
- Patel, P., & Werth, V. (2002). Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a review. Dermatologic clinics, 20(3), 373–v. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0733-8635(02)00016-5
- Patel, P., & Werth, V. (2002). Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a review. Dermatologic clinics, 20(3), 373–v. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0733-8635(02)00016-5
- O’Grady JG, Schalm SW, Williams R. Acute liver failure: redefining the syndromes [published correction appears in Lancet 1993 Oct 16;342(8877):1000]. Lancet. 1993;342(8866):273-275. doi:10.1016/0140-6736(93)91818-7
- Young MJ, Boulton AJ, MacLeod AF, Williams DR, Sonksen PH. A multicentre study of the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the United Kingdom hospital clinic population. Diabetologia. 1993;36(2):150-154. doi:10.1007/BF00400697
