Pale skin and hypothyroidism

[Batty1]

Morning everyone

I'm curious if pale skin can be caused by hypothyroidism ? I ask because Im so pale inspite of sitting in the sun, normally I'm a medium color even without the sun sitting now I look like a vampire dark hair and pale. I had complete blood testing done and it says all is well im not anemic (I'm menopausal) and I've noticed small pin point blood spots on my lower legs if I stand or walk too much (I have Psoriatic Arthritis ) so lots of leg pains and thyroidectomy 2.6 yrs ago.

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Leg pain often low vitamin D...extremely common when hypothyroid

As you have psoriasis and Graves are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Gluten intolerance is extremely common with thyroid disease

Many with psoriasis say it helps too

You need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet




(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

healthcentral.com/article/t...

[Batty1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi slowdragon. I have never had Graves I had thyroid removed for cancer. I don't drink milk products and Im so pale I'm scary looking and I do supplement Vit d. I will see about seeing gastro doc since I had so many stomach issues.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Batty1]

Should test vitamin D twice yearly when supplementing

NHS postal kit £29

vitamindtest.org.uk

Aiming for vitamin D around 80nmol as minimum and around 100nmol may be better

Important to test B12 and folate too

What were most recent TSH, FT3 and FT4

[Laundretta]

Hi

I stopped tanning much over the last few years, and it turned out I was hypothyroid. Now I’m reasonably well medicated, I have tanned this spring with minimal sun exposure just as I used to. Might just be a coincidence, but I did wonder the same just the other day.