Hyperthyroidism, a thyroid disease, can cause many symptoms, some of which appear on the face.
- Hyperthyroidism is linked to an overproduction of thyroid hormones.
- It can manifest itself through facial symptoms as well as others that are sometimes difficult to spot.
- Appropriate treatment helps regulate the production of thyroid hormones and avoid serious complications.
The thyroid is a gland located at the base by the neck. It is used to produce hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine, but it can secrete too much of them, which is called hyperthyroidism. This disease causes various symptoms, which are sometimes difficult to spot. L’Health Insurance listed them, but she specifies that “if the hyperthyroidism is beginning or not very severe, these symptoms are not all present and are less marked”. Some of them appear on the face.
Facial symptoms of hyperthyroidism
Hormones produced by the thyroid play a role in the functioning of the surface layer of the skin, the epidermis. In hyperthyroidism, changes in the appearance of the skin occur, such as shiny, warm, moist skin, itching, flushing of the face, rashes or hyperpigmentation.
Furthermore, Health Insurance emphasizes that hyperthyroidism can cause “abnormal protrusion of the eyes outside the orbits (called exophthalmos), associated with retraction of the eyelids giving a fixed gaze; it is present more or less markedly in Graves’ disease.. It is an autoimmune disease which causes the overproduction of thyroid hormones, it is the most common form of hyperthyroidism.
In addition to the face, certain areas of the body may be subject to a change in the appearance of the skin, including thickening of the front of the leg, called pre-tibial edema.
Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism can also cause other symptoms because hormones produced by the thyroid play a role in the functioning of most organs in the human body. Some of the most common include sudden weight loss, heart palpitations, shortness of breath during exercise, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, trouble sleeping, excessive sweating, and tenderness. increased by heat. Patients with hyperthyroidism may also experience digestive problems such as diarrhea and increased frequency of stools, decreased muscle volume, tremors in the hands or even irregular periods.
The consequences of hyperthyroidism
Untreated hyperthyroidism can have serious health consequences. It can lead to increased heart rate, high blood pressure, eye problems such as optic nerve damage, congestive heart failure and even thyrotoxic crisis, characterized by fever, palpitations, dehydration and weakness. and confusion. It is a potentially fatal complication requiring emergency hospitalization. Hyperthyroidism can also lead to osteoporosis or fertility problems.
Treatment for hyperthyroidism may include medications to regulate thyroid hormone production, medications to relieve symptoms, surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. The choice of treatment will depend on the severity of the hyperthyroidism and its cause.
