Exploring the Thyroid-Skin Connection: Concepts, Questions, and Clinical Relevance

In the 2010 article, the authors explored the "thyroid-skin connection," revealing that thyroid function impacts skin health, with both hypo- and hyperthyroid states potentially causing hair loss and other skin changes. They found that thyrotropin (TSH) receptors are present in human skin, indicating a direct effect of TSH on the skin, and suggested that the skin might also produce hormones that influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. The possibility that autoantibodies stimulating TSH-R could affect skin in autoimmune thyroid disease was discussed, as well as the expression of thyroid-specific genes in the skin and the potential production of TSH and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) by the skin. These findings suggest a complex interaction between thyroid function and skin health, with potential implications for autoimmune thyroid disease. Additionally, the document mentions the role of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) in keratinocyte differentiation, indicating its involvement in cell signaling and cytoskeleton organization.