Symptoms of heart diseases: Watch out for these 12 signs on your skin

Changes in your skin could be your body’s early way of warning you about an underlying heart issue. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, early signs of heart disease can often appear on your skin and nails before other symptoms emerge. From subtle swelling to strange patterns or colour changes, learning what to look for can help catch hard issues early while they’re still manageable.

Here are 12 plus skin-related red flags that may be warning you about heart disease:

• Spot swelling in legs: Swollen feet and lower legs, also called oedema. These can indicate the heart isn’t pumping properly. When fluid backs up, skin stretches, and becomes shiny and puffy. The swelling may travel upwards towards the knee or groin. If you notice persistent puffiness, it’s wise to get your heart and kidneys checked.

• Blue or purple patches: Bluish skin, especially when your extremities feel warm, signals low oxygen due to blocked circulation. Known as cyanosis, it indicates that the blood is not adequately oxygenated. Fingers or toes that remain blue or purple require attention. Your heart or lungs might not deliver enough oxygen.

• Observe net-like modelling: A web-like blue-purple pattern (levido reticularis) often appears when cold, but should fade when warmed. If it lingers, it could hint at blocked arteries or cholesterol emboli. Persistent mottling demands medical review, as it may signal hidden blood vessel problems requiring urgent treatment.

• Spot yellowish waxy patches: Yellow-orange growths, xanthelesma on eyelids or xanthomas elsewhere, are cholesterol-laden deposits under the skin. They are painless but serious indicators of unhealthy lipid levels. Visiting your doctor for a cholesterol test can help reduce risk and may clear these deposits slowly.

• See sudden waxy bumps: Eruptive xanthomas are clusters of waxy, yellow-red bumps that appear quickly. They are linked to very high triglycerides, often associated with diabetes or severe lipid disorders. Treating the underlying cause is essential, so get medical advice rather than dismissing them as harmless skin blemishes.

• Spot curved nails and swelling: Finger and nail clubbing, where finger tips swell and nails curve downward, can signal chronic heart or lung disease. While it sometimes passes unremarked, persistent or recent changes require medical evaluation to rule out conditions like endocarditis or lung problems.

• Identify splinter-like nails: Think reddish brown streaks under the nails, splinter haemorrhages, which may result from minor injury, can also indicate heart infections or endocarditis. If they appear without explanation, and especially if a company by fever or tiredness, get promptly checked for underlying heart conditions.

• Feel nodules in skin: Smooth, wax-like lumps or nodules (amyloid nodules) can be signs of systemic amyloidosis, where abnormal proteins deposit in organs like the heart. These nodules serve as clues that warrant a thorough investigation, as a treated amyloidosis can seriously impair heart function.

• Spot painful fingertip lumps: Osler nodes are painful red lumps on fingers or toes, which may be tender and transient. These tiny lesions are associated with infected endocarditis (heart infection). Though they may resolve temporarily, treating the underlying infection promptly with antibiotics or surgery is crucial.

• Notice, painless foot spots: Janeway lesions are dark spots, usually on soles or palms, caused by tiny blood clots in the skin due to infective endocarditis. They are painless but persist for days. Spotting them should prompt cardiac and blood tests to treat the underlying infection.

• Watch out for rash with fever: Erythema marginatum, flat pink rings with a pale centre, often appears alongside fever and rheumatic fever, especially in children after a sore throat. While now rare in the UK, it remains common elsewhere. Early treatment of strep throat, throat prevents long-term heart damage. Be vigilant.

• Spot cracked, lips and rash: If a child develops a fever, rash, and dry cracked lips that sometimes bleed, Kawasaki disease may be the cause. This inflammation of blood vessels can stress the heart. Though it often resolves, medical attention ensures treatment prevents future hard complications.

• Watch other subtle clues: Greyish rings around the iris, a strawberry tongue, or unexplained discoloured patches can hint at heart or vessel problems. These subtle signs may be just cosmetic, or they may signal serious systemic disease. When in doubt, it’s safer to get a checkup. If you notice any of the above signs, visit a dermatologist immediately. Early detection may ensure easier treatment.