Potential Therapeutic Uses of Thyroid Hormone

The document from 2008 discusses the potential of thyroid hormone as a treatment for various skin conditions, including disorders of keratinization, alopecia, wound healing, xerosis, and chronic idiopathic urticaria. It highlights the presence of thyroid hormone receptors in skin tissues and the hormone's direct action on these tissues. Animal studies have shown that topical thyroid hormone can stimulate epidermal proliferation, dermal thickening, and hair growth, while in humans, it has been used to accelerate wound healing and treat xerosis. The authors argue that the therapeutic potential of thyroid hormone for skin pathology is significant and calls for more research. They also mention a conflict of interest, as one author holds a patent for the use of topical thyroid hormone in treating xerosis.