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Skin Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

The Mayo Clinic says hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a condition that causes your thyroid gland to produce an insufficient supply of certain fundamental hormones. Hypothyroidism disturbs the natural balance of chemical reactions in your body. In the early stages it rarely causes any symptoms, but left untreated it may cause obvious skin-related problems and debilitating conditions such as joint pain and heart disease. Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed with relative ease and successfully treated.

  1. Causes & Risk Factors

    • Your thyroid is shaped like a small butterfly and is located in your neck, just under your Adam's apple. Women over age 50 are most likely to suffer from hypothyroidism, although anyone can develop the condition.

      You are at a greater risk of hypothyroidism if you have a close relative (parent, sibling, grandparent) with an autoimmune disease, or if you have received radiation to your upper chest or neck or been treated with radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications (propylthiouracil/PTU) and methimazole (MMI, Tapazole).

    Skin Symptoms

    • Hypothyroidism may have a number of effects on your skin. The Mayo Clinic says some patients have an overall pale appearance. Sometimes facial skin will be become puffy, and this may extend to the neck and upper arms. This swelling is due to the accumulation of fluids in the tissues of the face.

      The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) says that in later stages of hypothyroidism skin may become dry and itchy. Sometimes a yellowing of the skin may occur.

    Skin Symptoms in Newborns

    • Infants and children are not immune to hypothyroidism. Newborns with hypothyroidism may have a yellowing of the skin and of the whites of the eyes (jaundice) and have a puffy appearance to the face. An oversized, protruding tongue is another sign of hypothyroidism in infants.

    Miscellaneous Symptoms

    • There are numerous other symptoms related to hypothyroidism. They include a swelling of the thyroid gland (goiter), rapid heart rate and palpitations, constipation, unexplained weight loss and sleep disturbances.

      Other signs may include hoarseness, pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints, weak muscles and brittle hair and fingernails.

    Diagnosis

    • Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms. A blood test can measure the level of TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and possibly the level of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. A low thyroxine level and high level of TSH point to an underactive thyroid.

    Treatment

    • Conventional treatment for hypothyroidism requires the daily oral intake of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid).

      Levothyroxine restores proper hormone levels and moves your body back into a normal operating mode. Treatment with levothyroxine usually must continue for life althugh your dosage may fluctuate.

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