Can your bikini line forecast your fertility?

Discolored fingernails have slightly blue nail beds
What it might mean: Yellow nails with blue beds can point to diabetes, which impairs blood flow to fingers. “Any woman can have high blood sugar and not notice she has other diabetes symptoms,” Dr. Johnston says.

Your next step: Get pricked to find out if your fasting blood sugar is 126 or above (considered diabetic). Losing weight can often drop numbers back into a healthy range, minus the meds, Gidus says. She suggests following a low-sugar, lowfat diet that contains at least 25 grams of fiber daily. And get at least 150 minutes of brisk exercise a week, Dr. Johnston adds.

Blushed cheeks when you’re not flustered
What it might mean: Frequent facial flushing that resembles a sunburn is a first sign of rosacea, a common skin disorder that might be due to an allergy to skin mites, Dr. Derick says.

Your next step: Your dermatologist may prescribe an anti-inflammatory or antibiotic cream; avoid triggers like caffeine and the sun.

Bluish digits
What it might mean: If it’s chilly out or you are tense, blueberry-hued fingers and toes may signal Raynaud’s disease, a condition in which blood vessels in extremities narrow in response to cold or physical stress. This reaction limits blood flow to those areas, causing skin to turn blue and feel cold.

Your next step; Your physician can diagnose Raynaud’s based on your symptoms alone. If it is Raynaud’s, the best solution is to stay warm, Dr. Johnston says. During summer months, that might mean keeping your air conditioner on low, donning mittens before digging around in the freezer for those chicken cutlets and using insulated glasses for chilled drinks. Also, take steps to keep your circulation healthy: Avoid cigarettes and caffeine, both of which narrow blood vessels; stay away from vasoconstricting meds such as decongestants; and hit the gym regularly.

Dark under-eye circles
What it might mean: Unless you partied into the wee hours last night, those under-eye circles could suggest your allergies are acting up. Allergens can inflame the sinuses and compress nearby blood vessels, causing blood to pool beneath the eyes. “We call the resulting darkness allergic shiners,” Dr. Derick says.

Your next step: Pop an antihistamine. Circles still there? Ask your dermatologist about an anti-inflammatory cream such as Elidel.

More must-checks
If your breast skin looks thick, pitted, red, bruised or swollen, or if it itches or feels warm, you could have inflammatory breast cancer, a lump-free, fast-spreading version. See your physician immediately.

Scope out your mouth and tongue for white or red spots. Problems like canker sores and pizza burns go away, but if a spot stays for two weeks, it could be oral cancer. Visit your dentist ASAP for a biopsy.

Skin cancer can crop up in some surprising places: One, it may appear as a black, vertical streak on a fingernail, or two, as a freckle where the sun don’t shine. Inspect your body thoroughly — use a hand mirror if necessary. If you see anything odd, call your doc today.

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