Ten skin signs of heart disease

Did you know that your skin can give many important clues to medical problems that exist or may develop inside your body? Today, we will look at some of the signs in the skin that may be associated with heart disease on the inside:

1 Clubbing is a swelling of the tips of the fingers and toes that may resemble a drumstick. It can be caused by some types of congenital heart disease in babies, infection of the lining of the heart (infective endocarditis), as well as some lung and gastrointestinal disorders.

2 Reddish or purplish spots in the eyes, inside the mouth and arms and hands, called petechiae, may be associated with infective endocarditis. Petechiae can also be present as a result of a number of other medical problems.

3 Splinter haemorrhages are red linear streaks under the nails that may also be seen in persons with infective endocarditis.

4 Infective endocarditis can cause small tender lumps lasting for hours to days in the finger or toe pads called Osler nodes. Small lumpy haemhorrhages in the palms and soles called Janeway lesions can also be seen in infective endocarditis.

5 A netlike appearance of bluish to red discolouration called Livedo reticualoris may occur as a result of a number of medical conditions, including infective endocarditis.

6 A bluish discolouration of the skin called cyanosis can be seen especially in the nail beds, lips, earlobes and cheeks. It can occur in a number of conditions, including congenital heart disease and congestive heart failure.

7 Oedema is a localised or generalised swelling of the body because of an increase in the amount of fluid. It can manifest as swelling of the feet and legs as well as the face, arms, hands and trunk. The increased fluid can be detected by an increase in body weight as well. It can be caused by congestive heart failure as well as diseases of the liver, kidney and other medical diseases.

8 Pallor or paleness of the skin and mucous membranes (e.g. inside the eyelid, nail beds) can be associated with anaemia and some heart disorders such as a bacterial endocarditis.

9 Baldness, thoracic (chest and upper back) hairiness, and diagonal earlobe crease have been found to be associated with an increased risk coronary atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in the heart's blood vessels) and heart attack in men younger than 60 years.

10 Xanthomas and xanthelasmas are yellowish-orange bumps that may occur as a result of increased lipids (fatty substances) in the body. They may also increase the risk of atherosclerosis. They may occur on the outer aspects of the arms, legs, finger tendons, joints of the hand, buttocks, creases of the palms, face, upper trunk, scars and eyelids.

These are some of the conditions in the skin that may signal an underlying heart problem. If you have noticed any of these skin signs, you should visit your doctor to check it out. It may be more than skin deep!

Dr Arusha Campbell-Chambers is a dermatologist and founder of Dermatology Solutions Skin Clinics & Medi-Spas; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com