TrendingVideosIndia
Opinions | CommentEditorialsThe MiddleLetters to the EditorReflections
Sports
State | Himachal PradeshPunjabJammu & KashmirHaryanaChhattisgarhMadhya PradeshRajasthanUttarakhandUttar Pradesh
City | ChandigarhAmritsarJalandharLudhianaDelhiPatialaBathindaShaharnama
World | United StatesPakistan
Diaspora
Features | Time CapsuleSpectrumIn-DepthTravelFood
EntertainmentIPL 2025
Business | My MoneyAutoZone
UPSC | Exam ScheduleExam Mentor
Advertisement

Why skin changes demand attention

Modern science and the ever-evolving tools of examination have brought about a revolutionary change in how we understand, diagnose and tackle disease. However, in earlier times, expert physicians could diagnose disorders by merely examining the pulse and its characteristics...
Severe acne on face can be a symptom of an ovarian disease like polycystic ovarian disorder. istock
Advertisement
Modern science and the ever-evolving tools of examination have brought about a revolutionary change in how we understand, diagnose and tackle disease. However, in earlier times, expert physicians could diagnose disorders by merely examining the pulse and its characteristics — pulse rate, rhythm, volume and force. Likewise, a qualified dermatologist, too, can detect or predict undiagnosed and hidden internal organ disorders by careful examination of skin, hair and nails.
While a detailed skin examination is necessary to diagnose skin disorders, dermatologists can also detect obscure internal diseases through a thorough skin examination. Skin is the body’s largest and outermost organ system and even small changes on the skin can serve as markers of thyroid, liver and kidney disorders, diabetes, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis (an inflammatory disease in which the immune system overreacts), blood disorders, polycystic ovarian disorders, AIDS and even certain cancers.
Nail discoloration such as when most of the nail becomes opaque and white can be a sign of a liver disorder.
For example, if a patient is suffering from symptoms like cough, loss of appetite, weight loss or gain, abdominal pain, passing of blood in urine or stools, etc, and is undergoing many blood, radiological/pathological investigations, taking various medications and still not responding and/or there is no conclusive diagnosis, in many such cases, even minor skin changes can serve as diagnostic markers.
Recently, I had a 50-year-old female patient from Himachal Pradesh who, apart from having chronic cough and loss of weight, had a skin rash on her hands and feet. A peculiar rim of lichenoid purple hue around the rash was indicative of an internal malignancy. She was then diagnosed with a lung disorder. Another male patient (40) had nodules at the back that were indicative of blood cancer — acute myeloid leukaemia.
Unexplained severe itching can be a marker of an underlying medical issue
Skin findings precede the onset of symptoms referable to the underlying neoplasm (an abnormal mass of tissue) by several months in certain cases, thus providing an essential clinical and diagnostic clue for the search of hidden neoplasm.
Sudden appearance of numerous wart-like lesions over neck, chest and trunk with or without pruritus could sometimes indicate hidden cancer of other internal organs. Non-healing skin ulcerations or sores, especially over leg and pelvic area, bullous skin lesions (large blisters filled with clear fluid) in the elderly, tightening and binding down of skin, loss of elasticity and thickening of palms and soles with velvety or honeycombed appearance warrant immediate diagnosis.
Changes in the skin condition thus demand a comprehensive search for suspected internal disorders as an early diagnosis is of paramount importance.
SKIN MARKERS that can indicate various disorders
Diabetes
Thyroid disorders
Liver diseases
Kidney disorders
Cancers
— The writer is head, dermatology,  National Skin Hospital, Panchkula
Advertisement
Show comments
Advertisement