Health Conditions Your Dermatologist Can Detect Just From Looking At Your Skin

The texture and coloration of your skin can signal bigger things going on inside your body. Here's what to look out for.

Ever wondered what a dermatologist can determine about your health just by looking at your skin? Symptoms like changes in skin texture or discoloration can sometimes be connected with more serious health concerns.

“A person’s skin texture is a telltale sign of good or bad skin health,” which can also send signals about your overall health, said Dr. Jeremy Brauer, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatology surgeon based in New York. Brauer said that it’s important for dermatologists to get a full history when first seeing a patient, including medical and surgical history and any medications that the patient takes.

HuffPost spoke to a cosmetic surgeon as well as board-certified dermatologists to learn exactly what they can notice and what signs you should look out for. If you come across any cause for concern, it’s important to see your dermatologist and not self-diagnose.

What they can tell from your skin’s thickness: Thickened or swollen skin may be a sign of diabetes. This usually appears on the fingers, hands and feet, and it’s also common for these areas to have reduced pain and sensation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this is called digital sclerosis and is caused by high blood sugar levels.

What they can tell from open sores and wounds: The slow healing of wounds and frequent infections may also be a sign of diabetes, said Dr. Ariel Ostad, a cosmetic surgeon. This is due to a longer inflammatory phase for wounds in people with diabetes, which delays healing and increases the chance of developing chronic wounds, among other issues.