Recognizing and Understanding that Skin Changes can Be Health Warnings

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The skin, being the largest organ in the human body, is often overlooked when it comes to observing and understanding changes that occur in it. In Nigeria, for example, many people focus on trying to lighten their skin, but not necessarily on monitoring changes in their skin. However, physicians pay close attention to the skin and evaluate any alterations that may occur, as these changes can sometimes provide valuable diagnostic insights.

While some skin changes may be benign variations and not indicative of a specific disease, they can still be used as differential indicators during medical assessments. It is crucial that if you notice any changes in your skin, you promptly seek advice from a medical practitioner or visit a hospital for proper evaluation. Now, let's examine some skin changes and their possible indications


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We usually bruise our body at one point or the other, but if the skin has excessive bruising which occurs easily, with with internal bleeding leading to a change in the skin color, then it might be a blood clotting problem. This is because bruising is one of the major signs for hemophilia blood clotting problem. Although other test will be done by the physician to confirm what exactly has gone wrong, Hemophilia is a likely possibility.

Another changes in skin that we do not give attention to is the healing of wounds on skin. As a child I usually play a lot, and when I had injuries, I do not bother looking at how long it took for the injury to heal up, I just knew it was going to happen and didn't pay much attention to it. That's just how most people are, but if you notice an un-healing wound for a very long time, especially on the face, then it is possibly skin cancer usually Basal cell carcinoma.


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The face is one of the quickest places to heal on the body and it faces the sun directly, so if a wound is taking forever to heal up, then there is a problem. I am not saying that you should assume that all wounds that do not heal is a sign of skin cancer, I am just stating some possibilities that you do not look at but doctors do when examining your skin. Still on skin cancer, having numerous moles in the skin can be a sign of being at a high risk of Melanoma. When the melanocyte gather in clusters excessively, then it can have a correlation with melanoma.


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Another skin change that isn't taken seriously is having hair growth in unusual places as a woman. While some women can have little hairs in their jaws and some other places, having lots of hair in unusual place is a sign of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). If females start to have hair appear in their upper lip, chest, and back, which are very unusual places, then it can be as a result of excess testosterone which is as a result of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Testosterone can cause vellus hair to become thick terminal hair.

Rash is common in children but as an adult, if your skin have a bullseye shaped rash (Erythema Migrans Rash), possibly as a result of a migration or change location to areas which are bushy or have Ticks, then this can be as a result of Lyme Disease. Rashes can be a sign for different diseases and infections, such as when people have them on their face and have light sensitivity, then it might be as a result of increases inflammation of the skin which is often associated with lupus.


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That said, what if I told you that darkening in the fold of the skin of the neck, groins, and armpit can be a sign of Diabetes. This is as a result of Acanthosis Nigricans which is an insulin related disorder can cause the skin to change its look and become thicker, and dark.

If you see a doctor performing the Capillary Refill test, where they add pressure to the nail to see if the whitening resolves in seconds, they are testing for Shock. If the whitening doesn't resolve in seconds, then the patient is at a risk of going into shock as a result of circulatory problem.


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Still on the skin but this time close to the eyes. If there is a yellow growth close to the eyelid or on the eyelid, it can be a sign of too much consumption of cholesterol which leads to Xanthelasma. This growth is benign and not cancerous but it can serve as a marker for other cholesterol related diseases.

The skin is a vital organ, and it is essential to take note of any changes that occur. If you notice any alterations in your skin, it is advisable to seek prompt medical attention from a physician to ensure early detection and appropriate management if needed.

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