Your body can give you clues to even hidden health problems. Here are warning signs that can help your recognize underlying issues:

The hair down there is starting to grow in a square

What it might mean: If your pubic hair is growing on your thighs and up your belly, forming a more square “rug” shape than a triangular one, you may have polycystic ovary syndrome. Caused by excess male sex hormones, PCOS can spur body-hair growth and disrupt ovulation. “Some women with PCOS don’t realize something’s wrong until they have trouble conceiving,” says Katherine Johnston, M.D., instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Your next step: PCOS raises insulin levels and could eventually lead to diabetes and heart disease, so see your doctor to have your hormone levels tested. “I might put patients on a diabetes drug,” Dr. Johnston says. “It helps lower insulin, in turn balancing sex hormones and restoring regular ovulation and fertility.”

Nails turn white when you press on them

What it might mean: All nails blanch a bit when you apply pressure, but if yours stay white for up to a minute, you may be anemic and low on iron. “Many women, especially those with heavy periods, can become anemic without even knowing it,” Dr. Johnston says.

Your next step: Have your blood’s ferritin levels tested. You may need to eat more iron-rich foods such as salmon and spinach, but don’t take an iron supplement without your doc’s say-so.

Desert-dry lips

What it might mean: It’s either time to chug some water or take a closer look at your vitamin A intake. “I had a young woman who didn’t know that she was getting 20,000 international units of vitamin A every day — that’s four times the recommended daily value and approaching the toxic dose of 25,000 IU — from two different supplements,” says Carolyn Jacob, M.D., a dermatologist in Chicago. In healthy amounts, vitamin A is essential to skin-cell turnover, but too-high levels can sap moisture and, if you’re pregnant, cause birth defects. “It completely dried out my patient’s lips and skin,” Dr. Jacob explains.

Your next step: If you take supplements, check the labels to make certain you’re not taking in more than 5,000 IU daily; be sure to account for the vitamin A you get from natural sources such as eggs and fortified milk, too. Soon after you stop overdosing, your pucker should plump up again. And regardless, down plenty of water — especially if you work out. Remember, if you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.

Swollen fingers

What it might mean: Salty snacks and PMS are obvious bloat culprits, but if you shun the shaker, your period isn’t due for weeks and still your rings are tight, a sluggish thyroid may be to blame. This condition, called hypothyroidism, occurs when the gland underproduces the thyroid hormones needed to regulate metabolism, heart rate and more, says Rebecca Bahn, M.D., professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota.

Your next step: Don’t write off puffiness as inevitable, Dr. Bahn warns. “Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to heart disease, and if you’re even slightly hypo and get pregnant, it could affect the baby’s brain development.” A blood test can reveal if your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones; if so, your M.D. may prescribe synthetic hormone pills, likely for the rest of your life. Once you find the right dose, your metabolism (and fingers) should return to normal.

White patches in your mouth corners

What it might mean: You’ve developed a yeast infection. (Nope, it doesn’t occur only in your nether regions.) Anything that causes the corners of your mouth to crack — such as a B vitamin deficiency, which can damage your mouth’s mucous membranes, or even drooling during sleep — creates a warm, moist environment where yeast thrives, according to Amy Derick, M.D., a dermatologist in Barrington, Illinois.

Your next step: See your dermatologist or general practitioner, who can prescribe a topical antiyeast medication. In addition, make sure you’re getting enough B vitamins in your diet; you find them in whole grains and lean proteins. If the infection keeps coming back, try avoiding white breads and sweets. “Yeast feeds on refined flour and sugar, so cut back on them,” says Tara Gidus, R.D., a spokeswoman in Orlando, Florida, for the American Dietetic Association.

Yellow eyelid bumps

What it might mean: Your cholesterol is high. When in excess, this fat can collect on your upper lids, forming tiny deposits. And because fat is yellow, so are the spots — you won’t miss them, whatever your skin tone, Dr. Johnston says.

Your next step: Have a blood test. If your cholesterol is high — your total count is above 239, your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol surpasses 159 or your triglycerides are 200 or higher — eating more produce and whole grains, exercising 30 minutes a day and taking meds can help bring it down. Those lumps may shrink with your cholesterol count; a dermatologist can remove them by scalpel or laser.

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.

The skin on your neck is the thinnest on the body, making it more susceptible to wear and tear. But new treatments can help you say goodbye to turtlenecks.

It’s really not fair. Many of us have spent years carefully applying moisturizers, exfoliating – even getting facials to keep ahead of time’s mark on our faces — only to have the wear and tear on our necks give us away. (Who knew the skin on your neck is the thinnest on the body, making it more susceptible to damage?) As it turns out, some of the very anti-aging products you use on your face can help your neck look younger, too. Here are some of the newest in-office treatments that, although expensive, are proven to give your face a prettier pedestal. Follow this guide and say good-bye turtlenecks, hello V-necks!

Neck Nuisance: Dark Splotches

UV exposure overstimulates pigment-producing cells, causing blotchiness.

The fix: A bleaching cream that contains kojic acid or mushroom or licorice extract can lighten dark spots, but be patient: Results may take months. Use products made with hydroquinone cautiously; the fader can be irritating. “This area is drier and more sensitive because it contains fewer lubricating oil glands,” says Heidi Waldorf, MD, director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Anti-agers such as retinol or alpha hydroxy acid-based creams help to drive the lightening agents deeper into your skin, making them more effective. To reduce irritation, use them on your neck every third evening and slowly work up to nightly application.

A broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 worn daily can prevent more spots. For the best protection, look for one with avobenzone (aka Parsol 1789), Helioplex, or Mexoryl.

Neck nuisance: Wrinkles

Years of sunlight breaks down collagen fibers responsible for keeping skin youthful and firm.

The fix: Skin care products, including those containing retinol and peptides, can build collagen and smooth skin — even reducing the so-called tree-ring lines.

In-office options are considered the gold standard, says Ronald Moy, MD, a professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. One to consider: fractionated resurfacing, with lasers such as Fraxel and Affirm. They stimulate cell turnover and the production of fresh collagen by making thousands of microscopic wounds over 20 percent of your skin. Because the surrounding skin is left untouched, healing time is minimal. The slight redness it causes subsides within a few days. You’ll see significant improvement: Fine lines are often reduced by up to 50 percent after five or six monthly treatments at $500 a pop.

Neck Nuisance: Turkey Wattle

This fleshy flap of skin forms underneath your neck as a result of excess fat, loose skin, and weak muscles.

The fix: Liposuction performed under local anesthesia is a quick fix, says Yael Halaas, MD, a facial plastic surgeon in New York City. During the half-hour procedure, which costs around $2,500, small incisions are made behind the ears or below the chin; excess fat is vacuumed out via tiny suction tubes.

To reduce bruising and swelling, which can last up to 2 weeks, another option is ultrasound-assisted lipo, which employs sound waves that liquefy fat before it’s suctioned out. (With either treatment, you’ll need to wear a neck sling for 2 weeks to help skin re-drape properly.)

If you have excess skin, you may need to pair lipo with a neck lift to completely regain firmness. During the 1- to 2-hour procedure, which costs about $1,000 more, small incisions are made behind your ears or under your chin and then excess skin is trimmed, lifted, and sutured into place.

Neck Nuisance: Banding

These vertical cords appear when the platysma, the thin sheet of muscle that covers the neck, begins to stretch out of shape, says Halaas.

The fix: Botox injected directly into the platysma temporarily smooths the cords by relaxing the muscle. Each treatment costs about $500 and lasts approximately 4 months.

Surgery is a more permanent option. During a platysmaplasty, which runs about $4,000, the muscle is tightened and anchored through a small incision under the chin. Any post-op bruising and swelling should subside within a week. Then your age will be your secret to keep or reveal.

It’s a surprise finding. Psychiatrists from the Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital, who were studying perceptions of beauty, had expected women to spend more time than men cooing over pictures of extra-cute babies. Nope.

Instead, the small study being published Wednesday raises more questions than it can answer.

First the background: The McLean team already had studied men and women looking at photos of adults’ faces on a computer screen. They rated facial beauty, and could do various keystrokes to watch the photos longer. A keystroke count showed men put three times more effort into watching beautiful women as women put into watching handsome men.

Lead researcher Dr. Igor Elman wondered what else might motivate women. Enter the new baby study.

This time 13 men and 14 women were shown 80 photos of babies, 30 of whom had abnormal facial features such as a cleft palate, Down syndrome or crossed eyes. Participants rated each baby’s attractiveness on a scale of zero to 100, and used keystrokes to make the photo stay on the screen longer or disappear faster.

Women pressed the keys 2.5 times more than men to make photos of babies with the facial abnormalities disappear, researchers reported in PLoS One, a journal of the Public Library of Science. That’s even though they rated those babies no less attractive than the men had.

“They had this subliminal motivation to get rid of the faces,” said Elman, who questions whether “we’re designed by nature to invest all the resources into healthy-looking kids.”

Both genders spent equal time and effort looking at photos of the normal babies.

The study couldn’t explain the gender disparity. Elman noted that previous work has linked child abandonment and neglect to abnormal appearance, and even asked if the finding might challenge the concept of unconditional maternal love.

That’s too far-reaching a conclusion, cautioned Dr. Steven Grant of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which funded the study.

The work is part of broader research into how we normally form attachments and what can make those attachments go awry, work that tests if what people say matches what they do.

“Common sense would tell you one thing,” Grant said. “This doesn’t fit with common sense. It raises a question.”