Orange tint to skin?

[Thyroiditis86]

I have an orange tint to my skin and I read last night this can be caused by thyroid problems. Does anyone else have or know about this? Weird question I know...

[ITYFIALMCTT]

There are several possible reasons for an orange tint to the skin (e.g., jaundice, maybe familial haemochromatosis, too much carrot juice) - that's no help to you but it's something with several possible explanations.

[milkwoman]

Not a weird question. For the longest time I had an orange tint to my skin - most noticeable on the palms of my hands. No doctor could figure out why.

Since being properly medicated for hypothyroidism, the orange tint has gone away. Coincidence? I suppose I will never really know for sure but it seems fairly obvious to me that thyroid deficiency was the cause.

For what it's worth, my blood results never showed I was HypoT. But I had all the symptoms (fatigue, brain fog, heat/cold intolerance, joint pain, loss of outer third eyebrows, etc). I finally saw a private endo (I'm in the US) who didn't care about the blood results and treated me based upon my symptoms. I am forever thankful.

[Thyroiditis86 in reply to milkwoman]

Thank you so much for this. What medication are you on now? x

[milkwoman in reply to Thyroiditis86]

I take Levo (Tirosint), 109 mcg/day. Just started also adding in slo-release compounded Thyroid Extract (T3).

Started out with 8.5mg, then 9.5, and now up to 10. Endo and I are trying to find my "sweet spot" and this is the way to do it.

[Thyroiditis86 in reply to milkwoman]

Are these available to order online anywhere?

[milkwoman in reply to Thyroiditis86]

I don't think so. I get mine via prescription from my private endo (I'm in the US).

[helvella Administrator]

Thyroiditis86 ,

One possibility is carotenemia (also called hypercarotenamia, carotenosis).

Overview

Carotenemia is a clinical condition characterized by yellow pigmentation of the skin (xanthoderma) and increased beta-carotene levels in the blood.

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Diseases, including hypothyroidism, [5] diabetes mellitus, [6] hepatic disorders, anorexia nervosa, and renal diseases, may also give rise to carotenemia.

emedicine.medscape.com/arti...

Fair sized Wiki article:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carot...

It is suggested that it occurs because the conversion of betacarotene (the orange of carrots) into vitamin A is impaired when hypothyroid. The colour effect is usually dismissed. But there can be an issue of having insufficient vitamin A. (Many foods and supplements claim vitamin A when they actually supply betacarotene. Not much use if you cannot convert it!) However, excess vitamin A is very much to be avoided.

Added:

Your question is possibly a classic for someone to search for an answer. GPs cannot supply this sort of information in the ten minute appointment at diagnosis. There is good quality information out there. It possibly avoids the need for another appointment - or at least allows you to prepare for one.

Hopefully, it also reassures you that it is quite common, and often has little impact.

Unfortunately, it could also end up reducing the number of people presenting to their GPs with yellow skin - because they have already found out what they need to know! So it might look to have reduced in incidence if anyone compiles figures.

Having just responded on the thread linked below, I felt the need to point this out to any GPs reading!

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[milkwoman in reply to helvella]

I've never had it explained like this to me before! Enlightening! Why don't more endo's and GP's know this?!

[Thyroiditis86 in reply to helvella]

Most 'good for you' foods contain vitamin A. So frustrating. Do you know of any low vitamin A foods that are gluten/grain free? Do you follow a low Vit-A diet?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Thyroiditis86]

Thyroiditis86,

I think I didn't express myself very clearly.

Most vitamin A in food is actually in the form of betacarotene and is no problem at all.

I was meaning, be careful if you decide that you might be low in vitamin A and therefore decide to take a vitamin A supplement that contains "pre-formed" vitamin A. That is when "excess vitamin A" could be a problem. Or possibly lots of liver!

This link (sorry, it is a USA link) has quite a bit of information:

ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/V...

[Thyroiditis86 in reply to helvella]

Thank you. I think it is me who misunderstood! I do eat a lot of orange butternut squash and orange sweet potato- would that be excessive vitamin a? X

[helvella Administrator in reply to Thyroiditis86]

It could be high betacarotene - but that wouldn't be expected to cause excess "real" vitamin A.

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕

[Thyroiditis86 in reply to helvella]

Im going to lay off and see how it goes. I guess waxy and pale without the orange tint will have to do! x

[Quokka]

My skin turned yellow before my underactive thyroid gland was diagnosed. I was even given a liver scan to check I didn't have jaundice or the after effects of amoebic dysentery. It cleared up when I started thyroid treatment.

[Thyroiditis86 in reply to Quokka]

What medication are you on now Quokka?

[Quokka]

75mcg levothyroxine, 20mcg liothyronine

[Thyroiditis86 in reply to Quokka]

Do you mind me asking what your bloods were like when tested for hypothyroidism? Which endocrinologist do you see?

[Thyroiditis86 in reply to Quokka]

Do you mind me asking what your bloods were like when tested for hypothyroidism? Which endocrinologist do you see

[Quokka]

I was diagnosed 33 years ago so I'm afraid the records are long gone. I haven't seen an endo for 15 years and she's gone too.

[Sabine_es]

I had exactly the same, orange hands especially. Then one endo explained to me the reason for it - beeing hypo and problems with A vitamin metabollism. Since on the right dose of hormones the yellowish skin is gone

[Thyroiditis86 in reply to Sabine_es]

Reassuring to hear. Which hormones do you now take? Do you mind me asking who your endo is?

[Sabine_es]

It was and endo in Belgium, long time ago... I take T4/T3 synthetic combo, as this works best for me