De-hydrated skin.

[Slosh]

Can low thyroid function cause de-hydration. I'm on 100mcg Levo.

No matter how much water I drink my skin constantly looks dry and de-hydrated. I am also on Prednisolobe for an auto immune disease.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

When I was undermedicated my skin was dry, it was worse on my legs and when I removed my trousers there was a shower of dry skin, it looked like dandruff!

What are your current results for TSH, FT4 and FT3?

[Slosh in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks - my doc never does T3 or FT3 - I need thyroid tests and have a GP appt. soon. But as for the two above tests I will have to have them fine privately.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Slosh]

Many members have to do private tests to get the full picture when they can't get them done by their GP. Even when the GP requests them, it's the lab who makes the decision to do them, often they wont be done if TSH is in range.

Medichecks and Blue Horizon have a range of thyroid test bundles which can be done by fingerprick or venous blood draw if preferred (at extra cost). Make sure you do TSH, FT4 and FT3 though, don't leave out FT3 and don't do FT3 on it's own. You might want to go for the full thyroid/vitamin bundle if you don't know your current nutrient levels.

Medichecks Thyroid Check ULTRAVIT medichecks.com/thyroid-func... Currently on offer with £20 off but if it goes back to normal price you can use code THYROIDUK for a 10% discount on any test not on special offer.

or

Blue Horizon Thyroid Check PLUS ELEVEN bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

[Slosh in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your reply - will look into that.

[m7-cola in reply to SeasideSusie]

Same with me.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.

So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Magnesium flakes in the bath are good for dry skin. Can also help improve low magnesium levels, very common when hypothyroid

What's vitamin supplements do you currently take?

When were vitamin levels last tested?

Frequently we need to supplement some, or all of these regularly to maintain good levels

[Slosh in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

[MaisieGray]

As I understand it, dry skin's association with hypothyroidism isn't due to you being inadequately hydrated (although separately, you might be, of course). Skin manifestations of thyroid dysfunction, including "just" dry skin, are due variously, to the direct action of thyroid hormone on skin tissues, skin manifestations of direct thyroid hormone action on non-skin tissues, and autoimmune skin disease associated with thyroid dysfunction of autoimmune etiology. It's a multi-faceted subject that goes far beyond hydration, so being optimally medicated is the main route to addressing it, but keeping hydrated is of course, important for general health.

[JumpJiving]

And there are completely unrelated, possible causes too. For me, eating/drinking anything with even a trace of lactose in it results in my eyes, my nasal passages, and my skin all drying up within 12-24 hours, to the extent that my skin will start flaking off. Having a trace for multiple days in a row leaves me looking like a belisha beacon as so much skin falls off. Because of the delay in reaction, my reaction does not show up on skin-prick tests. Hydration level (in terms of how much water etc that I drink) also makes no difference for me. It took an exclusion diet to finally identify the cause. I'm not saying that this is what is affecting you, but it is possible that if it's not thyroid related, you could have a sensitivity to something that you are exposed to.

[Slosh in reply to JumpJiving]

Oh wow - really. Thank you.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to JumpJiving]

And many hypothyroid patients, especially if Hashimoto's are, or become, lactose intolerant

[Baobabs in reply to SlowDragon]

Fantastic advice from everyone!

[Slosh in reply to Baobabs]

Yes