In the age of body positivity and “love myself” movements, many people, especially women, have grown to accept their flaws, from unruly frizzy hair down to stubby toes. Thanks to that, more women are becoming confident, and beauty standards have diversified.
Indeed, it’s absurd to expect that women can be perfect, so many celebrities have stripped themselves off the filter to show that they, too, deal with acne, textured skin, body hair, and muffin tops. As a result, their followers realized that their own imperfections are normal, and therefore aren’t ashamed of.
But just because our flaws don’t make us any less beautiful means that we should be neglecting them. Acne? You may need to change your skincare routine or diet. Misaligned teeth? Braces will make your life so much better. Fixing our flaws doesn’t make us body-shamers; it simply means that we love ourselves so much, so we strive to look and feel our best.
Besides, certain imperfections could indicate a health problem, and that’s something we shouldn’t ignore. That said, here are the four flaws that may need medical attention:
1. Unhealthy Hair
Have you ever noticed that politicians, company executives, and other VIPs tend to have grey hair despite their relatively young ages? Unless it’s only in their genes, the reason behind it is high-stress levels. If you’re also juggling multiple responsibilities at once, chances are you have grey hair, too, albeit not as pronounced.
Oxidative stress, the specific type of stress linked to grey hair, can affect our pigment-producing cells. Hence, if you’re still too young to be in the process of ageing yet, ask your parents how old they were when their hairs started greying. If all evidence suggests that your hair is greying prematurely, you may need to de-stress.
What if your hair is just too brittle? Stress also plays a role in that. In rare cases, brittle hair could be a sign of Cushing syndrome, a condition caused by excessive cortisol, which is the body’s primary stress hormone. Depending on its severity, treatment may even involve chemotherapy.
What about thin hair? That could be hereditary, too, but if not, then it’s a possible sign of a thyroid problem. If you’re also constantly tired, with your joints aching, weight gaining, and face puffing, it’s recommended that you book a doctor’s appointment to get your thyroid tested.
2. Chipped, Brittle, or Discoloured Fingernails
Nail health is most often a sign of a nutrient deficiency or digestion problem, as per Dr. Sara Norris, an LA-based naturopathic doctor. If your nails are brittle, which means that they’re rough and split too often, it most likely means that you repeatedly dry and wet them. But if you do neither, then it could be a symptom of hypothyroidism or iron deficiency.
Soft and weak nails, or those that bend and snap too easily, usually indicate vitamin deficiency, so take multivitamins to fix them.
Ridges, or the odd horizontal or vertical waves on your nails, may mean iron deficiency anaemia or a kidney problem. See a doctor at once when your nails have this flaw.
If your nails are yellowing, that might be a reaction from nail polish. But it could also indicate a vitamin deficiency, so multivitamins are the cure as well.
3. Acne
Aside from clogged pores and hormonal imbalances, our internal organs may also have something to do with our acne. If they crowd your forehead, it potentially means that you’re sleep-deprived and dehydrated. Swap caffeinated and processed drinks for water, and sleep at least seven hours every night to fix it.
On your T-zone, acne is often triggered by gastrointestinal imbalances and or food allergens. If you love spicy food, dairy, and red meat, this is sad news for you because you have to cut down on those and eat more leafy greens instead.
4. Crooked and/or Painful Teeth
Crooked teeth can affect our speech, chewing, and overall oral health. Not to mention tamper with our self-confidence, too. Hence, entrust them to an orthodontist. After a while, your smile will improve tenfold, and so will your oral health.
If you don’t have crooked teeth but instead deal with toothache often, there are a couple of possible reasons for that, including a cavity. Get it treated immediately because waiting too long will worsen the pain and potentially require a root canal treatment.
As you can see, nothing in these imperfections insinuates that you’re less beautiful. But if you have them treated and improved, nonetheless, you’d definitely feel better and healthier, and thus more confident in your skin. Embrace your flaws, but don’t let them thwart your health.
