What’s myxedema?

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Myxedema is a difficult skin condition, which can progress to even more severe symptoms when people have hypothyroidism or low thyroid hormone levels. The condition is known by many other names including Graves’ dermopathy and when part of Graves’ it is associated with hyperthyroidism or very high thyroid levels. Usually the condition is due to hypothyroidism and thyroid levels must be markedly low for long periods of time. The condition may be more common with certain types of thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition that causes the body to treat thyroid hormones as foreign. Other causes of this condition may include removal of the thyroid, called a thyroidectomy,

Skin symptoms of myxedema are usually present in conjunction with other symptoms of low thyroid hormone levels, and both should be noted. With consistently low thyroid hormone levels, a person may have aches and pains, feel a severe sense of fatigue, have memory loss or confusion, and gain weight easily. In older people, the symptoms of hypothyroidism can be confused with diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Getting the right diagnosis is crucial, as ultimately not getting enough thyroid hormones can cause coma.

In this sense, myxedema can help make the diagnosis of hypothyroidism easier, but the symptoms can be difficult to bear. The skin may become thicker and rougher. It is usually drier and there may be water retention. The skin may also turn yellow or orange. Also, there are areas under the skin that have deposits of a material called “jelly” and these areas cause swelling of the skin. Occasionally the condition affects only the legs and can be described as partial, but more often it affects the whole body with marked swelling and roughness of the skin especially around the palms, knees, elbows and soles.

Myxedema can be compared to lymphedema, but there are several differences. Swelling is caused by both conditions, but in lymphedema, the swelling is asymmetrical and can be controlled but not cured. Regulating thyroid hormone levels can effectively cure myxedema, and all signs of the condition can disappear if hormone levels are correct. The other point of comparison used is that lymphedema can usually be ruled out if blood tests to check for thyroid stimulating hormone and actual levels of the hormone come back abnormal.

Treatment for myxedema involves supplementing with thyroid hormone. This usually causes the swelling to go away. When people have autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, they may require fairly constant blood monitoring to make sure thyroid hormone levels stay within normal limits.

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