The Effect of Experimental Hypothyroidism on the Skin of Adult Male Albino Rats and the Therapeutic Role of Topical Triiodothyronine

The study from 2015 investigated the impact of hypothyroidism on the skin of adult male albino rats and the potential therapeutic effects of topical triiodothyronine (T3). It involved 24 rats divided into a control group, two hypothyroid groups for 12 and 16 weeks, and a hypothyroid group treated with topical T3. The hypothyroid rats showed significant skin changes, including thinner epidermis, disorganized hair follicles, decreased cell proliferation, and reduced collagen fibers. Treatment with topical T3 led to improvements in skin histology, suggesting that T3 can reverse the adverse effects of hypothyroidism on the skin. The study concluded that hypothyroidism detrimentally affects skin structure and function, but topical T3 may serve as an effective therapy. Specific numbers regarding the improvement were not provided in the summary.