Women's Health: 10 Self Checks to Do Before Breakfast

April 13, 2011— -- Your Nails

If you see dark lines on the nail beds

Texas-sized moles aren't the only red flags for skin cancer--the disease can also develop under your nails. Yellowish, brown, or black stripes are a sign of cell damage, possibly from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, says Ariel Ostad, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. With early detection and treatment, though, about 95 percent of cases are curable, so have your dermatologist take a second look.

If you see bright white stripes

Everyone gets white spots on their nails from time to time (usually it's a sign that you banged your finger in a drawer), but if you see long horizontal bands of discoloration on the nail's surface and you've been feeling fatigued lately, it could be bad news for your kidneys. "These bands can be a signal that the kidneys aren't able to filter out protein from your urine," Ostad says. That means your body is losing protein faster than you can shovel in filet mignon--and that can lead to kidney failure. Visit your doctor ASAP for a urine test.

Your Armpits

If you see a patch of rough, dark skin

Unless you've been going overboard with the self-tanner, you could have diabetes, says Michael Smith, M.D., WebMD's chief medical editor. Excess insulin in your bloodstream can cause skin cells to multiply abnormally fast, leading to a buildup of tissue and melanin. This makes the skin look darker and feel thicker. "It most commonly occurs in the armpits, neck, or groin," Smith says. A simple blood test can determine whether you have the disease, which affects about 24 million Americans--nearly a quarter of whom are undiagnosed.

Your Eyelids, Knees, And Elbows

If you see small, soft lumps that look white or waxy

The good news: It's not a zit. The bad news: These are small deposits of cholesterol, Smith says. Unfortunately, "by the time they appear, your cholesterol levels are probably sky high; this is a serious risk factor for heart disease." Yet reducing your numbers by just 10 percent slashes that risk by as much as a third. See your doctor for a cholesterol check, and ask her about lifestyle changes or prescription drugs that can get your levels down.

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