Natural Health October 2017

NATURAL & Beauty
Butterfly Rash
A butterfly rash across the face
is often the first sign of lupus. But
don't jump to conclusions. "It could
be rosacea, it could be contact
dermatitis. Unfortunately, sometimes
it is a sign of lupus," says University
of Miami dermatologist Paolo
Romanelli, MD. Only further tests
can tell if it's really lupus.
Leg Plaque: Red on Edge,
Gold in Center
Doctors call it necrobiosis lipoidica
diabeticorum. As the name suggests,
it's a distinctive sign of diabetes,
but it is rare. It can first appear as
a dull, reddish colored patch but
then become shinier with a distinct
border. Sometimes the affected skin
may crack and become itchy
or painful.
Itchy, Violet Bumps on
Wrist
Lichen planus is a rash made up of
reddish-purple, flat-topped bumps
that may itch like crazy. It usually
appears on the wrists or ankles, but
may be in the mouth or on the lower
back, neck, legs, and genitals. The
cause isn't known, but if you have
it, you may need to get liver tests. It
could be linked to having hepatitis
C.
Velvet Plaques
Velvety plaques in the neck and/
or armpit suggest diabetes. This
condition – acanthosis nigricans –
could be benign or be caused by
obesity. But it is very often a sign of
diabetes. In rare cases acanthosis
nigricans occurring in other places,
such the hands or lips, may indicate
an internal cancer.
Leg Plaque: Red on Edge,
Gold in Center
Doctors call it necrobiosis lipoidica
diabeticorum. As the name suggests,
it's a distinctive sign of diabetes,
but it is rare. It can first appear as
a dull, reddish colored patch but
then become shinier with a distinct
border. Sometimes the affected skin
may crack and become itchy
or painful.
Tripe Palms
Tripe palms describes a skin
condition in which the skin of the
palm becomes thick and velvetywhite
with pronounced folds in
the lines of the hand. The skin
resembles boiled tripe. About 90%
of cases can be linked to cancer.
If only the palms are involved, it
may likely be lung cancer. If tripe
palms is accompanied by acanthosis
nigricans, it's more likely
stomach cancer.
'Wooden' Hands and Feet
First described in 1997,
nephrogenic systemic fibrosis starts
as a brown discoloration and
indentation of the lower arms and
legs. Very soon, the hands and
feet become brown and like wood.
Sometimes there's also a small
yellow spot in the eye. Researchers
only recently found that the dye
used during MRI exams triggers
this condition in some people with
kidney disease.
Scaly Rash on Buttocks,
Red Tongue
Fortunately, necrolytic migratory
erythema is pretty rare. It's a red,
scaly rash, sometimes with small
erosions of the skin, more often
seen in elderly people. It tends to
start in the fold of the buttocks or
palms but can be elsewhere on the
body. A bright red, painful tongue
is common. The condition usually
signals a pancreatic tumor, usually
a glucogonoma.
Not All Skin Conditions Scary
Most skin problems do not indicate that anything else is wrong with you. For example,
granuloma annulare is raised, reddish or flesh-colored bumps forming ring patterns that
can be found on the hands and feet. They usually go away within two years and don't mean
anything is wrong with you. If it is more widespread, then it may last longer.
Natural Health * October 2017 VOL 84
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