Dr Oz: What Does Your Selfie Show About Your Health?
Dr Oz then switched gears to introduce a doctor who’s capable of looking at a person’s face and determining their health. Dr Sharon Moalem is passionate about genetics and explained that sometimes he has a hard time looking at people’s faces without wanting to diagnose them. He will often stop someone if he notices something that he feels they should know about. He joined the show to share some of his tips for recognizing health cues by looking at your own face.
Dr Oz suggested everyone to take a picture of themselves, so go ahead and snap a selfie! Everyone in the audience took a selfie before the show, and Dr Moalem pulled one woman from the audience in particular. He noticed that she had upper eyelashes that were extra-thick. She even had an extra row of eyelashes, which results from changes in a gene called Fox-C2. It typically also goes with another condition called lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome, which can cause swelling in the lower limbs.

Believe it or not, your selfie can actually have clues to important genetic mutations and potential health problems, but only if you look close enough. (110269355@N06 / Flickr)
Dr Oz: Genetic Variations & Your Health
If you have darker spots in the iris of your eye, the affected gene is NF1, and it can be an indication of neurofibromatosis. If you have a prominant bulge at the back of your skull, it could tell you a lot about your ancestry and the inter-mixing with neanderthals. If you have a small bump on the inside of the upper ear, it’s an entirely normal genetic variation.
Additionally, if you have a widow’s peak, it’s rarely associated with serious conditions. But it turns out that a widow’s peak is typically associated with a more beautiful face, because it’s typically paired with wider-set eyes. If you have a uni-brow, the only problem you’ll likely face is the need to pluck more!
Next, take a look at your nails. If you have a “spooned” nail it could be a sign of an iron deficiency. If that’s the case, attempt to get more iron-rich foods in your diet and have a conversation about it with your doctor.
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