Did you know that your skin is a messenger? Although it might be on the surface, skin health is a reflection of what is happening internally – for better and for worse. So if your skin has been playing up lately, let’s look at some of the messages it might have for you.

What Is Your Skin Telling You About Your Health?

Adult breakouts

Remember how relieved you were when you hit your 20s and your teen blemishes faded away? Well unfortunately, adults are not immune to breakouts. So if your skin has been as rebellious as a teenager, it’s time to pay attention.

The most likely culprit behind adult acne? Hormone imbalances. When your hormones are thrown off, your skin produces more sebum (oil) and you’re more prone to inflammation.

This could be a diagnosed hormone imbalance such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), perimenopause, or just a general imbalance caused by factors such as stress and low nutrition.

Pale skin

Noticed that your skin is paler compared to usual? Unless you’ve given up the fake tan or gone from sunbaking to staying inside, this is an important skin sign to watch out for.

The most common reason for pale skin? Anaemia – which may be caused by iron deficiency and/or B12 deficiency. Around 15% of women experience anaemia, and it often goes undiagnosed.

Another potential cause is hypothyroidism. Around 10% of women are estimated to be affected, but the risk increases with age. Hypothyroidism is also underdiagnosed, so the rate may be even higher than we realise. It also comes with symptoms including weight gain, intolerance to cold, fatigue and brain fog.

Dry skin

Another common symptom for skin, particularly as you age, is dry skin. Some of this is unavoidable – older skin has fewer oil and sweat glands, which can leave you more prone to dryness rather than oily skin.

But there are also factors that can prematurely age (and dry) your skin, including:

• Excess sun exposure

• Smoking

• Stress

• Dehydration

• Low omega 3 intake

Another factor to consider? An underactive thyroid. Nearly 3/4 of people with hypothyroidism report dry skin as a symptom. This is because the process of skin turnover slows down, leading to the accumulation of dry, flaky skin on the surface.

Wrinkles, fine lines and age spots

These might be obvious symptoms of ageing – but if you notice that your skin ages faster than you do, it’s a message from the body.

Premature ageing is a common concern these days. It can include skin signs such as wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and dull skin. But you could also see other signs such as:

• Weight gain

• Low energy levels

• Brain fog

• Body aches & pains

• Reduced muscle mass

It also comes with an increased risk of chronic disease – think type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and even cancer.

We know there are 3 big drivers behind premature ageing, which I cover in more detail here. To keep it simple – inflammation is the big baddie behind it all, and we are living in a world that makes a state of inflammation our default. If you want to learn more about why your skin is ageing and how you can hit the brakes, make sure you give this article a read.

Dark circles under the eyes

As you age, you become more prone to dark circles under the eyes. But there are other controllable factors at play, including sleep, stress, hydration and even lymphatic drainage. It could also indicate that you’re suffering from allergies or intolerances of some kind.

It’s important to note that there is a genetic component to dark circles under the eyes. This can be due to bone structure and pigment production. But that doesn’t mean you can’t reduce the appearance by working on your skin health & hydration!