What is your face telling you?
As a health detective, I take in all the information I can get about you. Your face is a wealth of information! That is one reason I highly encourage you to wash your face before we have a session in person or online via webcam.
If you are curious what I see, read on.
Let’s take it from the top…
HAIR
Low iron, low thyroid, low iodine, and/or low EFAs (ALA and LA fatty acids) can make hair dry.
If head and body hair are thin or sparser than usual, it may be the thyroid.
Losing your hair could also be a sign of the autoimmune condition alopecia areata.
A red, scaly rash and hair loss could mean low Biotin (B7) levels
Loss of hair from the head, falling out quickly, is often caused by low iron, or thyroid problems. Check iron levels. If you drop below 40 on a ferritin test, that’s very likely to make your hair fall out. You may need to get your numbers above 80for the hair to grow back in well.
Hair that has greyed rapidly is a sign of certain genetic SNPs and of hydrogen peroxide produced from stress
Hair falling out can be a sign of stress or recent pregnancy
Brittle hair can be a sign of malabsorption or deficiency in selenium or iron or fatty acids
Hair that breaks before it can grow out may be a sign of a need for more silicon and healthier collagen
Thick, stretchy/bouncy hair may mean good collagen/connective tissue health, adequate protein, adequate silica, vitamin C, iron, selenium, and iodine
Shiny hair that is not greasy may mean adequate intake and balance of healthy fats
Dry hair can be a sign of low vitamin C
Dull, brittle, and loose hair can be a sign of protein malnutrition
Hair that has suddenly gone curly can mean damage / illness
Dandruff can be dry skin, sensitivity to hair products; and skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis or eczema. The overgrowth of a yeast-like fungus can also cause dandruff.
UPPER FACE
Receding hairline can be traction alopecia, hormone changes like at menopause or high bad testosterone
Cystic acne near the hairline can indicate an allergic response to hair products
Hollow, deflated temples can be a sign of cancer, serious illness or muscle wasting
Extensive skin wrinkling can indicate low vitamin K2, and omega 3 deficiency
11’s between the brows or numerous deep furrows and wrinkles may mean a higher risk of cardiovascular disease
EYELIDS and EYEBROWS
Shrinking, thinning eyebrows, especially on the outer third, or right on the inside, is a common sign of low thyroid or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Losing your eyelashes or eyebrows could be a sign of the autoimmune condition alopecia areata
Drooping lids might mean myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune condition
Soft yellow spots, particularly on the eyelids are usually cholesterol-filled lesions called xanthelasmata. These may show a higher risk of heart disease. A 2011 Danish study of nearly 13,000 patients found that about 4 percent had the spots and that those patients were nearly 70 percent more likely to develop hardening of the arteries and almost 50 percent more likely to have a heart attack over the next few decades than patients without them.
A lupm on the lid, if you have oily skin tendencies, may be a blocked oil duct
A drooping eyelid or side to your face might be one of the first signs of stroke, or or brain or neural issues
EYES
Bleeding retinas can be a sign of leukemia or diabetes
Burst blood vessels in the eyes can be from a sudden flare of high blood pressure
Kinky, twisted vessels in the retina can mean an impending stroke
Bulging eyes may be a sign of hyperthyroidism (high thyroid)
Different sized pupils (Horner’s syndrome) can indicate a neck or brain issue, like an aneurysm
Yellow where the whites of your eyes should be could mean hepatitis, liver, gallbladder or pancreas trouble
A white ring around the iris can mean high cholesterol
A dark ring around the eye can indicate lung problems
Dry eyes can be connected to Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus, or Shogren’s syndrome, or an EFA deficiency
Gritty, granular crystals or “sand” in the eyes can be a sign of oxalate dumping
UNDER EYES
Dark under-eyes can be a sign of anemia or low iron, celiac disease or allergies. The purple-blue hue can be water or un-oxygenated blood under the surface of thin skin there.
Puffy, tired-looking eyes with luggage under them could be a red flag for chronic allergies, which dilate blood vessels and cause them to leak, or a reaction to makeup
Sunken eyes, loss of orbital fat pads can mean undernourishment, anorexia, or dehydration
Puffy eyes can also be a sign of low iodine.
Puffy or swollen under-eyes can mean depression (crying), or hormonal shifts
Puffy under-eyes can mean kidney disease / low albumin levels.
FACE and CHEEKS
Part of the face won’t move? Could mean stroke or Bell’s Palsy
A sallow, pale, deflated skin texture can be a sign of serious illness
An overly red face or broken capillaries can be a sign of hypertension or histamine intolerance
Acne and a mix of oily and dry skin indicates a poor diet, possibly lacking EFAs, zinc and vitamin A
Long hair growing from ears and nose may mean frequent exposure to dust particles
A pale face could be a sign of anemia
Brown or grey blotches on the face are melasma, usually from a pregnancy or hormone surge
Red or white acne-like bumps on your cheeks could mean you are low in essential fatty acids (ALA and LA, found in flax oil) or/and vitamins A and D
Pale or bluish lips or inside the mouth or lower eyelids, instead of pink, could indicate heart or lung disease, or anemia.
Certain infections can trigger facial rashes.
A butterfly-shaped rash across the cheekbones and over the bridge of the nose can be a sign of Lupus.
A change in complexion to a more yellow tone could indicate liver disease, or may indicate that you are eating too many carrots / carotenes!
SKIN
Dry, flaky, scaly, cracked, bruised, or bleeding skin can mean protein malnutrition
Dry skin can be a sign of low omega fatty acids, poor fat absorption, low vitamin A, or low iron
Skin rashes can be signs of malabsorption or deficiency in selenium
Glowing, shiny, plump, radiant skin is often a sign of high estrogen.
Red spots, and/ or bad skin can be a sign of low vitamin C
Dry, flaky skin could be a sign of dehydration or a more serious problem that affects sweat gland function, such as hypothyroidism.
Drawn, dry, patchy, dull and thin skin is often related to low estrogen
OUTSIDE YOUR MOUTH
Peri-oral dermatitis (a rash around the mouth), eczema, psoriasis and rosacea often indicate some greater immune system imbalance.
Pucker lines around your lips can be a sign of past or present smoking
Cracks at the sides of the mouth often reveal a B vitamin deficiency, but can be iron, zinc, B vitamins like niacin (B3), riboflavin (B2), and B12, or even protein
Cracked lips might mean dehydration, EFA deficiency, or a reaction to steroids
INSIDE YOUR MOUTH
Swollen, red gums may be a sign of heart disease.
Sore or bleeding gums or bad skin can be a sign of low vitamin C
Mouth ulcers and cankers can be signs of Crohn’s disease or Celiac.
Discoloured teeth can be sign of malabsorption or deficiency in selenium
Bleeding, receding, dry gums, dry mouth, and wiggly teeth are all typical oral symptoms of patients with diabetes.
A white tongue can mean oral thrush/Candida yeast
A red tongue can mean B-12 or folate deficiency
JAW and NECK
Acne along the jawline can be a sign of hormonal imbalance, especially cystic acne
Unwanted hair, particularly along the jawline, chin, and upper lip, could be a symptom of PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome.
Skin tags, such as on the neck, are a common warning sign of diabetes and blood sugar imbalance.
A thick neck with small jaw and receding chin are all more likely to have sleep apnea, a disorder in which your breathing repeatedly stops while you sleep
A lump in the throat of swollen neck could be swollen lymph nodes or a thyroid problem
A swollen neck or dry, flaky skin can be signs of low iodine
Good posture means a happy life, slouching may indicate poor self esteem
Poking neck posture often means long hours of sitting
Alopecia areata can cause patches in a beard
ELSEWHERE ON BODY
Wrinkles where the sun doesn’t hit can mean cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis risk
Clusters of red bumps on the upper arms could indicate celiac disease or gluten sensitivity
Red or white acne-like bumps on arms, thighs, or bum could mean you are low in essential fatty acids (ALA and LA, found in flax oil) or/and vitamins A and D
Little red spots called cherry angiomas may be s sign of toxic bromine exposure
Moles, especially ones with irregular borders, can be a sign of melanoma.
Liver spots can be a sign of blood sugar imbalances/surges
Skin rashes and brittle nails can be signs of malabsorption or deficiency in selenium
Ridged, cracked, spoon-shaped, or pale nails can mean protein malnutrition
What a list, eh?
And that’s not even everything! At a physical exam, we can learn a lot more from your temperature, blood pressure, weight, demeanour, gait, body composition, nails, feet, posture, and many more signs, but there are some that are easy to check and give your nutritionist information about you.
I also gives you an idea if there is anything you should look into more closely.
Now go wash your face, get a mirror, and have fun!
xox
Dana
