Cutaneous Manifestations in Thyroid Disorders
April 2017
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Studysummary This study found that specific and nonspecific skin changes can serve as important indicators for diagnosing thyroid diseases, even in patients who appear clinically normal.
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The 2017 study "Cutaneous Manifestations in Thyroid Disorders" by Uma Maheswari, S, conducted at Madras Medical College and RGGH, Chennai, examined the skin changes associated with thyroid disorders. The one-year observational study included 105 patients, with a female to male ratio of 9:1 and ages ranging from 13 to 70 years. The study found that 72.6% of the patients had hypothyroidism and 27.3% had hyperthyroidism. The most common skin findings in hypothyroidism were xerosis (90.8%), myxedematous changes (52.6%), and telogen effluvium (51.3%). In hyperthyroidism, the most common skin features were warm skin (82.1%), soft smooth skin (64.5%), and hyperhidrosis (64.3%). Associated skin diseases in thyroid patients included urticaria (9.5%), vitiligo (8.5%), alopecia areata (6.6%), and connective tissue disorders (6.6%). The study concluded that these skin findings can be valuable in predicting thyroid diseases.
