Thyroid & skin?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-14-2004
Thyroid & skin?
5
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 6:16am
I am wondering if my recent problem with breaking out could have to do with my recently diagnosed low thyroid levels? Is this possible? I am 38 and thought the battle with zits was well behind me!!

:)

marcellait

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 8:40am
HI there.

I have the same exact problem. My tsh is low - I was diagnosed with Graves disease.

My skin has breaking out terribly. I dont know if it's from all of my sweating and me touching my face or if it's something else. I was told I had PCOS which causes acne, but the doc said that may just be a symptom of my overactive thyroid making my ovaries produce so many eggs and then not finishing the job!

I just hope it clears up once I get my thyroid straightened out!

Let me know if you find anything that works!

April

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 9:35am
Hi:

(April, that's interesting about the ovaries theory!)

I have rosacea ('adult' acne) and I swear it clears up for a few days about a week after any increase in my Levothroid. It comes back with a vengance along with the other symptoms when I'm needing my dose increased. They don't really know what causes Rosacea; but haven't we all heard that acne is linked to "hormones"?

I'm convinced there is a link... but haven't ever found any evidence. The best suggestion I heard was that hypo was causing my skin to be overly dry which can aggrivate rosacea.... Does hyper cause skin to be extra oily?

Good luck!

Dee.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 10:05am
Mine hasn't been oily, more dry.

I figured if it isn't my ovaries that its the sweat maybe making it oily? or dirty from me wiping the sweat? Before I could get away with not washing my face at night, but now if I don't...it's a mess (like it is now, I've been lazy) I think I am a mess right now! lol I need to dye my hair too but too afraid b/c of it falling out already!

My hair is naturally dark blonde, but I usually dye it medium blonde. So between the "roots" and acne - ugh. Thyroids suck.

April

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 10:06am
Hi and welcome - acne is yet another symptom of hypothyroidism so you're right! I would imagine, though, that being on thyroid hormone replacement at the right dose and over time, will help clear it. The closer you come to normal TSH level of between 1.0 and 2.0, the more all of your symptoms will clear, not just your acne. Hope this helps! Cathy :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 10:40am
I have to agree with you on the whole thyroid issue!! LOL! I dye my hair every 6 weeks or so and have throughout this whole thing. I don't see any more hair loss because of it, though it does affect how dry it is. I just use a deep conditioner everyday. I also use Clean & Clear for my face. It has salicylic (sp?) acid, which is good for clearing up acne and preventing it. Not washing off my makeup used to be one of my major sins! :) But now that I'm older, I figure I need all the "boosts" I can get so I do it every night. You know what's better than nothing, though? Those moist cleanser towels from Dove and Olay - you can just wipe one of those across your face and be done with it. It's not as good as washing but it's better than not doing anything. Then you follow it up with Clean & Clear and you're good to go. LOL!! To bed!! :) Cathy