Outer Appearances
In almost all cases, hypothyroidism causes symptoms on the skin:
- Swellings: The swelling of the skin caused by hypothyroidism is called myxoedema. This edema differs from water retention in that no dents are left behind after pressing in.
- Cool and pale skin
- Cracks and dry, scaly spots
- Reduced sweating (hypohidrosis)
In rare cases, hypothyroidism also manifests itself in the patient’s eyes. The cause is often an inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland, which leads to a reduced production of thyroid hormones, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
In addition, hyperthyroidism in the context of an inflammation of the thyroid gland (Graves’ disease) can also lead to numerous symptoms in the eyes. The majority of patients report a tendency towards dark and sometimes very strong dark circles around the eyes. These occur not only in cases of increased fatigue but also in everyday life.
In addition, the eyelids may also be swollen and raised. Patients often complain of watery eyes, a burning sensation in the eyes, increased light sensitivity and a foreign body sensation. In addition, the eyes often appear slightly protruding from the eye socket (so-called exophthalmos) and consequently, eyelid closure is sometimes only possible to a limited extent.
Due to disorders of the eye muscles, patients may also experience double vision and other visual disorders. Hair loss is another common symptom of hypothyroidism. Thyroid diseases are one of the most common causes of hair loss in Germany.
It is important to note that both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to hair loss. While mild forms of hypothyroidism often only lead to brittle and very dry hair, more severe forms of hypothyroidism also cause massive hair loss (loss of significantly more than 100 hairs per day). In addition, the scalp appears dry and rough.
Other body hairs can also be affected by an underactive thyroid (e.g. eyebrows). About every second patient with a manifest hypothyroidism is affected by hair loss. Frequently, the hair loss develops insidiously and remains undetected for a long time.
An iodine deficiency can lead to an underfunction of the thyroid gland. The body tries to compensate for the reduced production of thyroid hormones (T3/T4) by stimulating the growth of the thyroid gland. This results in an increasing enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is called goiter (goiter).
This can be the size of a tennis ball and can be treated by substituting iodine in the case of a causal iodine deficiency. In rare cases, surgical removal of the goiter may also be necessary. Detailed information can be found here: Goiter (Struma)