Livitigo and thevothyroxin?

[Allybee1977]

Hi, I was diagnosed with hoshimotos about a month ago and was given Levothyroxin.

A few years back I noticed mild vitiligo on my hands, which at the time I put down to ill-informed use of cortisone cream which I’d been applying too liberally following a rash/infection.

However, following the recent good weather my tan has highlighted the pigment loss on my hands and there’s a really subtle patch on my forehead. I now know that vitiligo, like hoshimotos, is an auto-immune condition.

Since taking the levothyroxin I feel a lot better, but I’m worried that the drug could be promoting my vitiligo. Is this likely? I feel it’s just coincidence as the sun has highlighted the condition, but if it is the levothyroxin I’ll have to seek alternative treatment as I don’t want the vitiligo to get any worse. At the moment people don’t notice it and in winter it’s undetectable, but if it spreads any further (especially on my face) I’d be worried. Any advice appreciated!

[PiggySue]

I also have vitiligo, and have used hydrocortisone cream for dermatitis. The two can go together, as can vitiligo with low cortisol. I would suggest showing the vitiligo to the doctor and asking about a 9am cortisol blood test. If your cortisol is low at that time then the GP should get a specialist to refer you for a Short Synacthen Test, to see how your adrenals are doing. How the results are interpreted can be a bit of a minefield (just like with TSH), so if you do get the test then post results on here and someone can tell you where to get more help if you need it.

Good luck

[Allybee1977 in reply to PiggySue]

Thanks, that's interesting - so are you saying the livitigo could still be related to the cortisone use? I guess I assumed that whatever auto-immune condition I have that has attacked my thyroid was responsible for the livitigo. It's all pretty new to me - it seems like a lot of small health niggles are all coming to a head as soon as I've hit 40!

[greygoose]

Vitiligo is autoimmune, isn't it?

Levo isn't a drug, it's a thyroid hormone, replacing the hormone your thyroid can no-longer make enough of to keep you well, due to your Hashi's. I rather doubt it will have any effect on your vitiligo.

[Allybee1977 in reply to greygoose]

I believe so, and I assumed that whatever caused my auto immune system to attack my thyroid was responsible for the vitiligo. Perhaps the two aren't linked, I just guessed they might be.

[greygoose in reply to Allybee1977]

Every different autoimmune disease has its own type of antibody. Hashi's antibodies are TPO and Tg. I don't know what the vitiligo antibody is called, but it will be different. But, once you have one autoimmune disease, the odds are you will develop others. They tend to hunt in packs!