But oddly, people tend to point their fingers at things like aging when it comes to less attractive things, like hair loss, unsightly nails and skin problems, according to Health.com.

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In fact, these flaws can actually be signaling underlying health issues, says integrative medicine specialist Molly M. Roberts, M.D., of the Institute for Health & Healing, in San Francisco, and president of the American Holistic Medical Association.

“It’ll start by whispering, then it’ll start talking, and, if you don’t pay attention, it’ll start yelling and shouting, and then you’ve got an illness,” she says.

Here are just a few of the noticeable signs of potential health problems beneath your skin’s surface.

Hair Loss
The Problem: Thyroid disorder

Pregnancy, stress, disease, medications and changes in hormones all can contribute to hair loss.  But among women in particular, dry, thinning hair may be a sign of an underactive or overactive thyroid. A simple blood test can check whether the body is making normal amounts of thyroid hormone.

Cracked Lips
The Problem: Sjögren’s syndrome

Severely cracked, dry lips may be a reaction to medication, an occupational hazard (if you’re a brass musician), or a symptom of allergy, infection or other conditions. Cracking at the corners of the mouth may also be a symptom of Sjögren’s (pronounced SHOW-grens) syndrome, an immune system disorder. Sjögren’s causes dry eyes and dry mouth, as well as joint pain and dry skin. As many as 4 million Americans — mostly women — have this condition.

Dark Skin Patches.
The Problem: Diabetes/Cancer

How to break the news

Unlike sexually transmitted diseases, psoriasis is not contagious. But as with STDs, most people want to explain psoriasis to people they’re dating so that they’re prepared when they see it and understand they can’t catch it. That’s tricky, because you may fear that telling the truth is a one-way ticket to rejection.

The common question people ask is, will my condition be the deal-breaker? If it is, it’s a sign that the relationship wasn’t meant to be. In that way, the disease serves almost as a litmus test for future mates by separating the good from the bad right out of the gate.

If clothing covers your lesions, you have a little more time to broach the topic. Here’s how to do it when you’re ready.

Psoriasis, a disease affecting nearly 5 million U.S. adults, has a significant physical and emotional impact on sufferers.

A recent study of moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients found that over 50 percent say the disease has a severe impact on their self-confidence, relationships, workplace, and social life. Psoriasis can be emotionally and physically taxing on people, but there are new treatments that can work quickly and provide continuous control of symptoms to help people improve their self-esteem and relationships, and get back to living normal lives.

Psoriasis is a disease whose main symptom is gray or silvery flaky patches on the skin which are red and inflamed underneath when scratched. In the United States, it affects 2 to 2.6 percent of the population, or between 5.8 and 7.5 million people. Commonly affected areas include the scalp, elbows, knees, navel, and groin. Psoriasis is autoimmune in origin, and is not contagious. Around a quarter of people with psoriasis also suffer from psoriatic arthritis, which is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in its effects.

Types of Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis

Skin lesions are red at the base and covered by silvery scales.

Guttate psoriasis

Small, drop-shaped lesions appear on the trunk, limbs, and scalp. Guttate psoriasis is most often triggered by upper respiratory infections (for example, a sore throat caused by streptococcal bacteria).

The symptoms of psoriasis differ from one person to another but usually include:

• Red skin patches with silvery scales
• Small, scaling spots
• Dry, cracked skin
• Itching, burning and soreness
• Thickened, pitted/ridged nails
• Swollen, stiff joints

Other likely symptoms are:

• Genital lesions (in males)
• Joint pain or ache (psoriatic arthritis)
• Nail alterations (including yellow-brown spots, dents on the nail surface and dislocation of the nail from the base. Psoriasis may also cause psoriatic arthritis (inflammation of the joints).

Current treatments available

Psoriasis can be managed with a multitude of treatments. But, what works for one patient may have no effect upon another. These include local treatments with emollients (a liquid or cream used to render the skin soft), cortisone cream, as well as systemic treatments like cyclosporine and acitretin.

During the preliminary stages of this ailment, topical treatments with medicated ointments or creams may be used. In more severe or advanced cases, treatments like UVA light therapy, Psoralen plus UVA light, retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) like Accutane, Soriatane, etc. may be required.

While it’s not a life-threatening condition, nail psoriasis can affect your quality of life, since it may cause you discomfort and affect your self-esteem, and it may also put you at greater risk of developing psoriatic arthritis. Although it cannot be cured, nail psoriasis can be helped with treatment.

Nail psoriasis occurs because psoriasis affects the process of nail formation. People who have nail psoriasis usually have psoriasis on other parts of their body, such as the skin and joints. Rarely does someone have only psoriasis of the nails.

Symptoms of nail psoriasis vary but may include:

• Discoloration of the nail to yellow-brown

• Pitting (holes) in the surface of the nails

• Horizontal lines across the nails

• White patches on the nails

• Thickening of the nails

• Nails that separate from the nail bed

Treatment Options

Your treatment will depend on the type of nail psoriasis you have and how severe it is. If you have psoriasis that affects other parts of your body, the treatments your doctor recommends to alleviate those symptoms may also help your nail psoriasis.

Other options for nail psoriasis include:

Doctors believe some foods may worsen symptoms or trigger flare-ups, and some foods that could actually serve as psoriasis treatments to help your body better respond to the disease. But not much scientific proof is available to back up any of these theories.

Here are some foods suspected of being able to influence psoriasis for the better and for the worse.

Foods That May Worsen Symptoms

You may want to consider eliminating or reducing these foods in your diet:

•    Wheat gluten and yeast. Some of the strongest scientific evidence linking psoriasis to diet involves the role of gluten in the disease. Recent studies have found a potential association between celiac disease and psoriasis.
•    The evidence surrounding gluten intolerance has led many to suspect that yeast intolerance also might play a factor in psoriasis, particularly the type of yeast known as candida. While research has linked candida infection with a worsening of psoriasis symptoms, there have been no studies that directly suggest that yeast intolerance plays a role in psoriasis.
•    Alcohol. Another well-known trigger for psoriasis is alcohol, which tends to dilate the blood vessels.
•    Fatty red meat and dairy. Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease, so it makes sense to avoid foods that prompt an inflammatory response. Fatty red meats are known to increase inflammation, as are whole milk and other high-fat dairy products.

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic (long-lasting) skin disease of
scaling and inflammation that affects 2 to 2.6 percent of the United
States population, or between 5.8 and 7.5 million people. Although the
disease occurs in all age groups, it primarily affects adults. It
appears about equally in males and females. Psoriasis occurs when skin
cells quickly rise from their origin below the surface of the skin and
pile up on the surface before they have a chance to mature. Usually this
movement (also called turnover) takes about a month, but in psoriasis
it may occur in only a few days. In its typical form, psoriasis results
in patches of thick, red (inflamed) skin covered with silvery scales.
These patches, which are sometimes referred to as plaques, usually itch
or feel sore. They most often occur on the elbows, knees, other parts of
the legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the feet, but
they can occur on skin anywhere on the body.

The disease may also affect the fingernails, the
toenails, and the soft tissues of the genitals and inside the mouth.
While it is not unusual for the skin around affected joints to crack,
approximately 1 million people with psoriasis experience joint
inflammation that produces symptoms of arthritis. This condition is
called psoriatic arthritis.

- How Does Psoriasis Affect Quality of Life?
- What Causes Psoriasis?
- How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed?
- How Is Psoriasis Treated?
- What Are Some Promising Areas of Psoriasis Research?
- Where Can People Find More Information About Psoriasis?

How Does Psoriasis Affect Quality of Life?

Individuals with psoriasis may experience
significant physical discomfort and some disability. Itching and pain
can interfere with basic functions, such as self-care, walking, and
sleep. Plaques on hands and feet can prevent individuals from working at
certain occupations, playing some sports, and caring for family members
or a home. The frequency of medical care is costly and can interfere
with an employment or school schedule. People with moderate to severe
psoriasis may feel self-conscious about their appearance and have a poor
self-image that stems from fear of public rejection and psychosexual
concerns. Psychological distress can lead to significant depression and
social isolation.

What Causes Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a skin disorder driven by the immune
system, especially involving a type of white blood cell called a T cell.
Normally, T cells help protect the body against infection and disease.
In the case of psoriasis, T cells are put into action by mistake and
become so active that they trigger other immune responses, which lead to
inflammation and to rapid turnover of skin cells. In about one-third of
the cases, there is a family history of psoriasis. Researchers have
studied a large number of families affected by psoriasis and identified
genes linked to the disease. (Genes govern every bodily function and
determine the inherited traits passed from parent to child.) People with
psoriasis may notice that there are times when their skin worsens, then
improves. Conditions that may cause flareups include infections,
stress, and changes in climate that dry the skin. Also, certain
medicines, including lithium and betablockers, which are prescribed for
high blood pressure, may trigger an outbreak or worsen the disease.

How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed?

Occasionally, doctors may find it difficult to diagnose
psoriasis, because it often looks like other skin diseases. It may be
necessary to confirm a diagnosis by examining a small skin sample under a
microscope. There are several forms of psoriasis. Some of these
include:

- Plaque psoriasis–Skin lesions are red at the base and covered by silvery scales.
-
Guttate psoriasis–Small, drop-shaped lesions appear on the trunk,
limbs, and scalp. Guttate psoriasis is most often triggered by upper
respiratory infections (for example, a sore throat caused by
streptococcal bacteria).
- Pustular psoriasis–Blisters of
noninfectious pus appear on the skin. Attacks of pustular psoriasis may
be triggered by medications, infections, stress, or exposure to certain
chemicals.
- Inverse psoriasis–Smooth, red patches occur in the
folds of the skin near the genitals, under the breasts, or in the
armpits. The symptoms may be worsened by friction and sweating.
-
Erythrodermic psoriasis–Widespread reddening and scaling of the skin
may be a reaction to severe sunburn or to taking corticosteroids
(cortisone) or other medications. It can also be caused by a prolonged
period of increased activity of psoriasis that is poorly controlled.
- Psoriatic arthritis–Joint inflammation that produces symptoms of arthritis in patients who have or will develop psoriasis.

How is Psoriasis Treated?

Doctors generally treat psoriasis in steps based on the
severity of the disease, size of the areas involved, type of psoriasis,
and the patient’s response to initial treatments. This is sometimes
called the “1-2-3″ approach. In step 1, medicines are applied to the
skin (topical treatment). Step 2 uses light treatments (phototherapy).
Step 3 involves taking medicines by mouth or injection that treat the
whole immune system (called systemic therapy).

Over time, affected skin can become resistant to
treatment, especially when topical corticosteroids are used. Also, a
treatment that works very well in one person may have little effect in
another. Thus, doctors often use a trial-and-error approach to find a
treatment that works, and they may switch treatments periodically (for
example, every 12 to 24 months) if a treatment does not work or if
adverse reactions occur.

Topical Treatment

Treatments applied directly to the skin may improve its
condition. Doctors find that some patients respond well to ointment or
cream forms of corticosteroids, vitamin D3, retinoids, coal tar, or
anthralin. Bath solutions and moisturizers may be soothing, but they are
seldom strong enough to improve the condition of the skin. Therefore,
they usually are combined with stronger remedies.

- Corticosteroids–These drugs reduce inflammation and
the turnover of skin cells, and they suppress the immune system.
Available in different strengths, topical corticosteroids (cortisone)
are usually applied to the skin twice a day. Short-term treatment is
often effective in improving, but not completely eliminating, psoriasis.
Long-term use or overuse of highly potent (strong) corticosteroids can
cause thinning of the skin, internal side effects, and resistance to the
treatment’s benefits. If less than 10 percent of the skin is involved,
some doctors will prescribe a high-potency corticosteroid ointment.
High-potency corticosteroids may also be prescribed for plaques that
don’t improve with other treatment, particularly those on the hands or
feet. In situations where the objective of treatment is comfort,
medium-potency corticosteroids may be prescribed for the broader skin
areas of the torso or limbs. Low-potency preparations are used on
delicate skin areas. (Note: Brand names for the different strengths of
corticosteroids are too numerous to list in this booklet.)
- Calcipotriene–This drug

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes scaling and swelling. Skin
cells grow deep in the skin and slowly rise to the surface. This process is
called cell turnover, and it takes about a month. With psoriasis, it can happen
in just a few days because the cells rise too fast and pile up on the surface.

Most psoriasis causes patches of thick, red skin with silvery
scales. These patches can itch or feel sore. They are often found on the elbows,
knees, other parts of the legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the
feet. But they can show up other places such as fingernails, toenails, genitals,
and inside the mouth.

Who Gets Psoriasis?

Anyone can get psoriasis, but it occurs more often in adults.
Sometimes there is a family history of psoriasis. Certain genes have been linked
to the disease. Men and women get psoriasis at about the same rate.

What Causes Psoriasis?

Psoriasis begins in the immune system, mainly with a type of white
blood cell called a T cell. T cells help protect the body against infection and
disease. With psoriasis, T cells are put into action by mistake. They become so
active that they set off other immune responses. This leads to swelling and fast
turnover of skin cells. People with psoriasis may notice that sometimes the skin
gets better and sometimes it gets worse. Things that can cause the skin to get
worse include:

See the signs and seek relief from
psoriasis, a common condition affecting the skin and often the nails. According
to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful:

What You Need To Know:

The Abbott Laboratories drug Humira (adalimumab) has been given expanded
approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to slow structural joint
damage in people with psoriatic arthritis. The condition affects people who have
skin psoriasis.

Humira was initially
approved for overall treatment of psoriatic arthritis in October 2005. It’s also
been sanctioned to treat moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, and an
inflammatory disease of the spine called ankylosing
spondylitis.

Psoriatic arthritis
combines symptoms of arthritis — including joint pain and inflammation — with
those of psoriasis, including painful red lesions on the skin. Clinical testing
on 313 people who hadn’t responded to NSAID therapy found that people given
Humira had significantly less joint damage than study participants who took a
non-medicinal placebo, Abbott said in a statement.

People who took Humira also demonstrated increased ability to perform
daily functions such as getting dressed, walking, and climbing stairs, the
company said.