Some type of skin condition?

[Healthanxietyhater]

Sorry if not the right community but does anyone know what these patchy things on my back might be?

They come and go and are on different places on my body

[HLAB35]

Excess circulating ACTH can cause hyperpigmentation (excess melanin) so what you have could be a sign of Addison's Disease. Look it up and see a GP asap if other symptoms apply to you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts, you seem to have Hashimoto's but not be on any replacement thyroid hormones yet. Is that correct?

Are you on strictly gluten free diet? If not this could be linked to gluten

When were FULL Thyroid and vitamin levels last tested?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to regularly 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. 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

[shaws Administrator]

It could be vitiligo, another autoimmune condition.

medicinenet.com/vitiligo/ar...

[McPammy]

I agree with HLAB35. This could be pigmentation due to excessive ACTH trying to produce cortisol by your adrenals. I’d request a Cortisol and synacthen test. Also an ACTH test. Do you have strength issues or are you on steroids or been on steroids. As these can effect your adrenals which produces your own steroids to fight illness and fight an flight situations. Your adrenals are extremely important. Look up Addison’s disease.

Have you had your T3, T4 and TSH tested recently. For me T3 medication helped my low cortisol considerably.

[knitwitty]

If they come and go, they may be due to an allergic reaction, especially if they are itchy.

I thought Vitiligo usually produced white patches on your skin which contain no or very little pigment.

I'm not a medic by the way, but my son got a similar reaction to walking barefoot on a new carpet when he was a toddler and the doctor said it could be an allergy to the chemicals in the carpet.

[Aurealis]

Untreated hypothyroidism can cause a rash...

[Healthanxietyhater]

The doctor has confirmed it is pityriasis versicolour thank you all for your suggestions

[HLAB35 in reply to Healthanxietyhater]

That's interesting... new one to me as I am not a medic- just a very interested patient / relative of patients with autoimmune illness. Glad it's not Addison's then.

I know someone who had some pigmentation on their palms which turned out to be a fungal skin condition. Goldenseal is a really good all round anti-fungal ( I take it if I get athlete's foot), so it may help clear it alongside the topical treatment you get from your GP...

[MaisieGray in reply to Healthanxietyhater]

As the condition is fungal, has your GP prescribed an anti-fungal cream for it?

[Lynl]

Because they come “and go” is a good sign . Finding out what causes it may come from a dermatologist , their business is skin , and may be an easy fix . Keep in touch