From rashes to discolouration: 7 skin changes dermatologists link to potential heart disease risks

Skin is not merely a cosmetic surface but an indicator of several underlying health conditions, which are often overlooked.

Your skin is not merely a cosmetic surface; it can reveal warning signs of heart disease you cannot afford to ignore. In conversation with HT Lifestyle, Dr Satish Bhatia, board certified dermatologist and cosmetologist at the Indian Cancer Society, Mumbai, shared warning signs that indicate heart disease.

1. Swelling in your feet and lower legs
Swelling indicates that your heart isn’t working properly. Many heart diseases cause fluid buildup in your feet and lower legs, and can extend as far as the upper legs and groin. Medically, it is termed as Edema.

2. Waxy growths on eyelids
If you see yellowish-orange growths on your skin, it indicates cholesterol deposition under your skin. These painless deposits can appear in many areas, including the hollows of your eyes or the backs of your lower legs.

3. Nails curve downward, and the ends of your fingers are swollen
For many people, these signs are harmless. But, they can also indicate a heart infection, heart disease, or lung problem, usually in heavy smokers or tobacco chewers.

4. Red or purple lines under nails
Most people who see these lines under their nails have injured the nail in some way. If you cannot remember injuring your nail, see your doctor. These lines can be a sign of Endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart).

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