Your kidneys perform the most vital functions, which are primarily focused on maintaining the body’s internal balance-including filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood, regulating blood pressure, maintaining mineral and electrolyte balance, and producing hormones.
However, if you have kidney disease, you will not see too many warning signs, but as the condition progresses, you may develop a few on your face and neck.
Five important symptoms that show up on your face and neck, even though they are not exclusive to the condition, include:
Swelling on the face
Puffy face or swelling is one of the earliest signs of kidney disease, which mostly happens due to the accumulation of fluid when the organs stop functioning properly. Commonly known as nephrotic syndrome, it happens when there is excessive protein in your urine because of a kidney problem.
This also leads to sudden weight gain. Doctors say that while most of the time, nephrotic syndrome goes away with medicine, sometimes it can lead to further deterioration if ignored, and the swelling can progress to other body areas like the feet and ankles.
Pale skin tone
Once you spot paleness in your face and neck, it can be a sign of kidney issues.
Doctors say that when your kidneys stop functioning properly, they are not able to remove waste and toxins from the blood effectively. This leads to a buildup of these substances, which causes discolouration of the skin, including a pale or greyish hue, and other subsequent changes like yellowish or darkened skin.
According to experts, if your kidney disease becomes more advanced, you may also notice changes in your nail colour, which begin to look half white and half red, pale, or have white bands running across them.
Itchy, red spots around the neck
If your kidney disease has reached an advanced stage, you may notice red spots that become itchy around your neck. This condition, known as uremic pruritus, or CKD-associated pruritus, is mostly caused by a buildup of waste products in the blood that irritates the skin.
According to experts, a few other skin problems associated with kidney disease include dryness, rashes, and even blisters – all over your neck and face. Kidney disease affects your skin’s ability to retain moisture, leading to dryness and irritation, which thereby exacerbates itching.
Dark undereye circles
Dark circles can make your whole face appear tired and sad. According to studies, kidney problems contribute to these dark circles, as the weakened organs lead to a lack of vitality and dryness in the skin under the eyes.
Doctors say that when your kidneys are not functioning properly, they may not be able to effectively filter waste and excess fluid from the body. It then causes fluid retention and waste accumulation – making the skin around your eyes swell and darken, resulting in dark circles.
Neck vein distention
The jugular Vein Distention, or JVD – also known as the bulging of neck veins – is one of the most visible signs of kidney disease, especially when it happens due to fluid overload or heart problems caused by kidney issues.
Kidney disease leads to fluid retention – thereby increasing pressure in blood vessels and causing the veins in the neck to become more prominent. Doctors say it is often a sign of increased central venous pressure, which reflects how well the heart is pumping blood and how much blood is returning to it.