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COMMON SKIN ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THYROID DISEASE

COMMON SKIN ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THYROID DISEASE

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck. While small in size, the thyroid gland has enormous impact on your health and well-being. It regulates all aspects of your metabolism, from hair growth and nutrient absorption to body temperature and heart rate. Abnormal functioning of the thyroid causes numerous health problems.

Hyperthyroidism

An overactive thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. When that happens, your metabolism kicks into overdrive, and you may experience weight loss, an irregular or rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations, nervousness or anxiety, tremors, sweating, heat sensitivity, menstrual changes, fatigue and difficulty sleeping.

Additionally, hyperthyroidism can cause the following skin issues:

  • Flushing (usually on the face and hands)
  • Warm, moist skin
  • Soft, velvety or smooth skin
  • Thin skin
  • Excessive sweating of the palms of hands and soles of feet
  • Goiter

Some people with hyperthyroidism develop a rare skin rash called pretibial myxedema (thyroid dermopathy). The rash is characterized by red, swollen skin and commonly appears on the shins and tops of feet.

Hypothyroidism

An underactive thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. When that happens, your metabolism begins to slow down, and you may experience weight gain, fatigue, a slow heart rate, muscle weakness, muscle and joint aches and pains, cold sensitivity, constipation, hoarseness, menstrual changes and depression.

Additionally, hypothyroidism can cause the following skin issues:

  • Puffiness
  • Skin splitting with a paving-stone appearance (eczema craquelé)
  • Very dry, coarse skin
  • Pale skin
  • Yellow discoloration on the palms of hands and soles of feet (carotenemia)
  • Cold peripheries (hands, feet)
  • Poor wound healing
  • Goiter

Severely advanced hypothyroidism is also referred to as myxedema. Myxedema is characterized by skin changes that cause thickening and swelling in the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, hands and feet.

Nail and Hair Problems

Along with skin problems, thyroid disease also causes several hair and nail problems. The following signs are common:

  • Thin, brittle hair
  • Loss of hair on the outer edge of eyebrows
  • Hair loss
  • Dry, itchy scalp
  • Thick, brittle nails
  • Nails that peel, crumble or break easily
  • Nails that lift off the nailbed
  • Curved nails and swollen fingertips
  • When hyperthyroidism   is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms.

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR COMMON SKIN ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THYROID DISEASE

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world.Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism is concerned there are many effective medicines are available in Homoeopathy, but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient, considering the mental and physical symptoms.

Calcarea Carbonica ---- Calcarea carb is suitable to fat, flabby , fair persons,  who are always chilly and cannot tolerate cold air. Excessive sweating on head is a leading symptom for its use in hypothyroid patients.  Craving for boiled eggs, desire for indigestible things like chalk, pencils, lime, and aversion to  fats.  Over worked and exhausted. Forgetful , confused, misplaces and expresses himself wrongly. Woman with hypothyroidism have too early, too profuse and too long menses  with vertigo, toothache and cold damp feet . Constipation. The first part of the stool is hard and is followed by soft stool.

Sepia Officinalis----Sepia is adapted to irritable, very weak persons , have yellow saddle across nose , faint very easily from least exertion and on exposure to excessive cold temperature. They are angry , sensitive very irritable , easily offended and miserable. They have an indifferent behavior towards family members who were earlier very much loved. Craving for acid things and pickles.  In women with hypothyroidism the menses appear too early and profuse with sharp clutching pain. Along with this a feeling of dragging or bearing down sensation as if everything would escape through the vagina , must cross limbs to prevent protrusion or press against vulva . Uterus weak. Loss of sex drive and sexual disorders due to hypothyroidism. Hair falls out , especially at menopause because of hypothyroidism. Constipation. Very hard and large stools, cannot strain with great tenesmus. Severe pain during the passing of stool that continues for long time after the stool.

Lycopodium Clavatum -----Lycopodium is suited to persons having gastric disturbances with hypothyroidism. Digestion is weak. Excessive accumulation of gas and bloating  in abdomen, after taking food. Eating ever little creates fullness. The complaints are mainly worse from 4-8 p.m. Craving for sweets. Lycopodium person prefers hot drink and hot food. Lycopodium is adapted to irritable angry persons who cannot bear little contradiction. They have low sex drive due hypothyroidism. Hair falls, becomes gray early.

Graphites -- Graphites is suited to obese persons who take on cold very easily. Mentally Graphites person is sad , weeps easily without any cause. Music makes her weep. Long standing constipation is a marked feature in hypothyroidism. Stool is large, knotty, united by mucus threads and passes with great difficulty. Flatulence. Cannot bear tight cloths around the waist. Abdomen distended, as from incarcerated flatus. Menses late, scanty, pale, irregular and painful. Woman have great aversion to sex.

Nux vomica ---Nux vomica is suited to very irritable persons, sensitive to all impressions. Cannot bear noises, odors and light. They are extremely temperamental in nature and get offended very easily. Nux vomica persons mainly suffer from gastric complaints due to hypothyroidism. Obstinate constipation. Constipation with frequent ineffectual desire or passing but small quantities at each attempt. Stool is incomplete and unsatisfactory. Desire for stimulants like alcoholic drinks and coffee, fatty food and spicy food. Menses too early, lasts too long, always irregular, black blood with fainting spells.

IODIUM—Iodium is one of the top remedies for hyperthyroidism with rapid metabolism. Iodium is suited to exceedingly thin, dark complexioned with enlarged lymphatic glands, has voracious appetite but gets thin. Emaciation, weight loss with great appetite. Hungry with much thirst. Better after eating. Eat every few hours. Get anxious or worried if he does not eat.  Better while eating or after eating. Great debility , the slightest effort induces perspiration, cannot talk, becomes out of breath going up stairs. Palpitations, worse least exertion. Feel always hot. Anxiety when quiet. Anxiety about present and depression, no reference to the future.

NATRUM MURIATICUM —Natrum muriaticum is another best remedy for hyperthyroidism , with mood changes. Depression. The person is depressed and introverted. Marked disposition to weep. Sad weeping mood , without cause, but consolation from other aggravates her troubles. Cannot cry in front of others. Great irritability. Natrum mur person cannot bear the heat of sun. Severe headache from  sunrise to sun set. Great emaciation, losing flesh while eating well, especially in neck.  Heart rate increased. Menses suppressed. Craving for salt and salty foods is characteristic to Natrum muriaticum.

LACHESIS —Lachesis is best for hyperthyroidism, where it is adapted to thin , slender and emaciated than to fleshy persons and those who have been changed both mentally and physically by their illness. Mentally the person is sad in the morning , no desire to mix with the world. They are nervous and excitable. Great loquacity, wants to talk all the time, frequently jumping from one subject to another, then sadness or repeats the same thing, one word often leads into another story. Great sensitiveness to touch. They cannot bear bed-clothes or night-dress to touch throat or abdomen. It is a great remedy women during their menopausal age with hot flushes and palpitations. Menses becomes too short too feeble. All symptoms are worse after sleep or the aggravation wakes him from sleep; sleeps into aggravation.

PHOSPHORUS —Phosphorus is adapted to tall slender persons of sanguine temperament, fair skin , delicate eye lashes, fine blond, or red hair, quick perceptions, and very sensitive in nature. Over sensitiveness of all the senses to external impressions, light, noise, odors, touch. Due to the hormonal imbalance hair falls out in clouds from the scalp ; hair falls out in bunches , baldness of single parts. The patient feels a weak, empty , all- gone sensation in head, chest, stomach and entire abdomen. They have a craving for cold and iced drinks, chocolate, candies, salt, acids and spicy foods. Patient suffering from disturbed bowel movements, especially diarrhea due to increase in thyroid hormones. Diarrhea with great weakness after stool.

PULSATILLA NIGRICANS --- Pulsatilla nigricans is adapted to indecisive , slow, mild, timid , emotional, and tearful persons. Weeps easily. Because of heat in body the person always seeks the open air, always feels better there , even though chilly. Thirstlessness is another leading symptom of Pulsatilla. Menses suppressed or scanty and delayed. Complaints are aggravated from rich foods, fats , pork, pastries, desserts and ice –cream.

SULPHUR 200—Sulphur is indicated for hyperthyroidism  with heat and bowel disturbances. Sensation of burning , especially on vertex and soles of feet, especially at night. Cold feet in daytime with burning soles at night. Wants to find a cool place for them, puts them out of bed to cool them off. Morning diarrhea is another symptom of Sulphur. Driving out of bed early in the morning, as if the bowels were too weak to retain their contents.

THYROIDINUM 1000—Thyroidinum may be considered as an intercurrent remedy