Dry skin on hands

[Hillman51]

Does anyone with underactive thyroid get peeling skin on their palms and fingers ?

[Caroline888]

Hi Hillman51

My skin on my palms does not peel but it does itch terribly. The only thing that helps is hand cream so I do think it must be down to dry skin.

Have you tried E45? You could also try wearing cotton gloves over handcream at night.

Hope it improves soon.

All the best

Caroline

[Hillman51 in reply to Caroline888]

Hi Caroline888.... yes I,ve tried e45, even the dermatitis one.... they can be fine for weeks ,then I suddenly get a small dry skin circle that starts to peel, and that’s it !! Wonder there’s any skin left on my hands !! ... thankyou for your reply 😊

[Caroline888 in reply to Hillman51]

Sorry I’ve not been much help. Can’t believe it’s not connected though. As soon as I wash my hands they itch! I put handcream on and the itch subsides completely. The itch is so severe I bite my palms to relieve it but the cream stops the itch until the next time I wash my hands. I don’t think I’m allergic to the soap as I’ve tried many different brands. I really do think it’s down to dry skin.

All the best anyway

Caroline

[Hillman51 in reply to Caroline888]

And to you.... thankyou.

[Goldengirl01 in reply to Caroline888]

Have you tried unperfumed soap

[Caroline888 in reply to Goldengirl01]

I have! Thanks though for the suggestion. It’s not a constant problem but is tiresome nonetheless😟

[Kimmie4 in reply to Hillman51]

Possibly psoriasis, worth getting it checked out by a dermatologist.

[Hillman51 in reply to Kimmie4]

Hi Kimmie4 ... no it’s not psoriasis...

[janeroar in reply to Caroline888]

Try Lotil cream. It’s an old fashioned cream but only thing that’s worked for my dry cracking fingertips.

[Caroline888 in reply to janeroar]

Thanks😊. Will try that.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies?

Gluten intolerance is extremely common with Hashimoto's

Skin peeling could be related to gluten

[Hillman51 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi slowdragon.... I don,t know, was diagnosed with underactive thyroid 2 years ago, and I just get this problem every now and then.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hillman51]

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Is it always the same brand of Levothyroxine?

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies if not been tested

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood 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)

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 primary 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 .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

If you have Hashimoto's, then gluten intolerance is common

[Hillman51 in reply to SlowDragon]

Only 25mg, that’s all I,ve ever had , even after blood tests...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hillman51]

How do you feel?

Standard starter dose is 50mcg Levothyroxine (unless over 60 years old)

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

Do you have results you can add?

Do you get blood test as advised.....early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test

Low vitamins are extremely common when under medicated

Suggest you get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing, privately if GP isn't helpful

Very important to test BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies too

Levothyroxine should always be taken on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and more effective taken at bedtime

All medication at least two hours away from Levo. Some like HRT, PPI's, magnesium, iron or vitamin D, at least four hours away

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.

Add results if you have them

Or come back with new post once you get results

[BadHare]

This happened when I had to ration NDT, as well as a lot of other unpleasant side effects.

I experienced cracked heels & several other skin issues prior to starting thyroid medication. T3 only doesn’t help prevent the problems so I assume it’s the extra hormones in NDT that work for me.

[HashiFedUp]

Dry skin is another symptom of under active thyroid unfortunately. The best thing I’ve tried - and I tried them all at varying expense - is sudacream! When I had my son I used it on myself (dry hands and lips) and it was amazing : )

[Gingernut44 in reply to HashiFedUp]

That's a good tip. I've also used cracked heel cream on my hands which helps in the winter with nasty chaps (not the male variety 😊)

[Hillman51 in reply to HashiFedUp]

Thankyou HashiFedUp... I will try it ..😊

[mountainice]

I have not been diagnosed officially with hypothyroidism though this forum tells me I should me and yes, I have had my hands peel completely once two or 3 years ago and since then get small circles that begin with a small circle and peels, just like Hillman51 , sometimes worse than others. My hands don't itch, but can look dry occasionally, but I use handcream every day.

[Hillman51 in reply to mountainice]

Hi mountain ice... yes that is exactly what happens to me.... don,t really know if it’s thyroid related or not...😊

[mountainice in reply to Hillman51]

I don't either. Trouble is, at 71, symptoms and thingsthat go on come and go, hard to know what is what.

[Hillman51 in reply to mountainice]

Snap... I am 71 too ..😊

[stiltzski in reply to Hillman51]

I have exactly the same thing! Thought it was washing-up liquid, but now beginning to wonder..I am on NDT (Nature Throid).

[Carlosdoug]

Do you use ibuprofen? I had the circles then the peeling, was diagnosed as side effect of ibuprofen. It cleared completely when I stopped using it, though it took about six months. I hope this may help.

[Hillman51 in reply to Carlosdoug]

Hi Carlosdoug.... no I very rarely take ibrobrufen, usually paracetamols if I need any painkillers... 😊

[mountainice in reply to Carlosdoug]

No, I don't take it, hardly ever. It us hard to figure out what causes things.

[gingerthecat]

Hi, yes, especially on the fingertips. I have been underactive for 20 years, but noticed it more recently. May have something to do with the cold weather! But the experts on here will tell you.

[Hillman51 in reply to gingerthecat]

Hi gingerthecat... mine has been bad these past couple of days on the palms of my hands.... feel like a lizard !! 😊

[gingerthecat in reply to Hillman51]

Oh heck hope it clears up soon!😵

[juliamillen]

Try using Dove soap it doesn’t contain sodium laureate sulphate which is a common allergen

[Hillman51 in reply to juliamillen]

O.k ... thankyou 😊

[DeeFish71]

Not so much on my hands but on the palms, definitely. I went to the doctors about 2 years ago when this started up out of nowhere, horrible warty pus filled lumps which then burst under the skin into pinpricks and then dry and peel the skin. They said it was pomphylx, I have some Dermovate to use on when a flare up (which for me is every week to 10 days) but find it does not do at lot to help.

[Hillman51 in reply to DeeFish71]

Hi DeeFish71.... no I don,t get anything like that, it’s just circles of dry skin which just peels of .. 😊

[lucylocks in reply to DeeFish71]

Hi

see my reply to Hillman51 below, also see link

dermnetnz.org/topics/methyl...

you may find it interesting.

[tj61]

I have the exact same thing! It started a few months ago and comes and goes. It hadn't occurred to me that it could be thyroid related - I was assuming fungus or eczema. I use hand cream after hand washing, which seems to help.

[meme]

Could be contact dermatitis. I get it from using soaps in most toilets when I am out and about. Also some shampoos, I have a cupboard full of little used shampoo because they make my hands peel.

[Hillman51 in reply to meme]

Hi meme... I,m not sure , I never used to get it,only in the 2 years since being diagnosed with underactive thyroid, so I wonder if there is a connection...😊

[JCMK]

Hi Hillman51, I do. I get it on palms, fingers, back of hands and lower wrist. Seems to come in cycles. I can be fine for weeks then notice small patches starting. Also suffer from skin on hands and fingers cracking when it gets really bad. After a short period it calms down and heals and I am left with just the usual dry skin. At the moment I have very dry skin together with breaking nails. All but 3 have broken in the last week 🙁

[Hillman51 in reply to JCMK]

Hi JCMK .... it’s awful isn’t it... when I have got a bout of this , I hate having my hands on show with bits of skin hanging off them !! 🙁

[lucylocks]

Hi

I get this and my Doctor did say because I am hypothyroid it does make me more prone to dry skin.

Mine were really bad a couple of years ago, with the water filled pus filled lumps, like DeeFish71 gets. I saw a Dermatologist who said it was pomphylx and gave me steroid cream and a cream called Cetraben 3-in-1 Ointment to wash my hands in and use as a moisturiser as well.

It does help but, I have had a flare up these last few weeks but fortunately not as bad as before.

The Dermatologist did say there is a preservative in a lot of soap, creams and cosmetics that causes a lot of allergies in people, called Methylisothiazolinone,

See the link below.

dermnetnz.org/topics/methyl...

Hope this helps.

[AdrienneR]

Yes! I have had this on & off for 60 years. Try Aveeno moisturising cream.

[Sammie46]

Hi

No i dont but you could have dermatitis so try some E45 cream and watch what hand wash your using as it could be too harsh

[humanbean]

Does your skin look anything like this?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyshi...

I had dyshidrosis for many years, mostly on my hands. It had been diagnosed as eczema for decades and was treated with hydrocortisone steroid treatment.

I've managed to reduce it by about 98% compared to what it used to be. The things that I think helped were :

1) Having sufficient thyroid hormone, in particular T3.

2) Optimising my iron as well as I could.

3) Supplementing high-dose methylcobalamin (methylated version of Active B12).

4) Also supplementing fairly high-dose methylfolate (instead of folic acid).

I think the most helpful of the things I've listed were 3 and 4. My B12 was already quite high in range before I started the methylcobalamin and the methylfolate supplements, but I knew that B12 is not considered to be dangerous.. When I supplemented I pushed my B12 level way over the range. It actually made my problem worse for the first couple of months but then my skin cleared up - not just the dyshidrosis but also a tendency to have fairly frequent teenage-type spots, despite me being an old fogey. I have continued to supplement, and my hands have never been bad since. I currently take methylfolate 3 days a week, methylcobalamin 3 days a week, and have one day off both one day a week.

[Hillman51 in reply to humanbean]

Hi humanbean... no not really , I don,t get any blisters, just circles of dry skin that peel off like sunburn.....😊

[Biloxi]

Yes. My Dermatologist told me to use a lotion or cream containing salicylic acid, and it works for me! It exfoliates and hydrates the skin, leaving it healthy

[Clarrisa]

My skin in general was itchy, particularly my hands. I tested my B vitamins & found my B-2 (Riboflavin) was low. I am now supplementing for it & no longer experience itching. I mention it because I have read (live in states) that a B-2 deficiency is not that uncommon, & that this can lead to dry skin.

[Astra14]

Only when I am due to come on my period, I feel my hands then become dryer than normal

[stiltzski]

I do hope you find a solution. If so, do post. Mine sounds just like yours and it would be great to find something that really helps.

[Happy7]

My dermatologist told me it was a food allergy/digestive issue. After microbiome/digestive tests by stool sample, I found out my histamine level was really high and I was gluten and dairy sensitive. I eliminated gluten, dairy and avoided high histamine foods, and miraculously the dry spots and itching stopped. I also had it at the bottom of my left foot. I also recommend you heal your gut with organic bone broth, it’s high in collagen and heals your gut. Digestive enzymes also helped, as you probably know, people with under active thyroid have low acid and slow digestion, which can cause your histamine levels to be high, food sits in your stomach un digested for long periods.

[Happy7 in reply to Happy7]

You can order high quality digestive enzymes from mercola.com

[Clarrisa in reply to Happy7]

Would making chicken soup do the same as bone broth?

[magnoliauk]

I'm just going to throw this out there but do your own research - I use Udder Cream!

Equine Udder Cream to be exact. Beautiful none greasy, easily absorbed cream that has a slight tea tree oil smell. I use it on hands, arms, legs and feet and have done for years.

The one I currently am using is called Equimins Udder Cream and is available from Agricultural stores and Amazon. Less then £15 for a kilogram.

The description on Amazon is: "Equimins Udder Cream Is A Soft Easy To Apply Anti-Bacterial Cream With Aloe Vera, Zinc, Castor Oil And Tea Tree Oil To Gently Soothe The Skin. Equimins Udder Cream Is Very Useful As A Barrier In Muddy Conditions."

There are several reviews extolling the use for humans but if you ever suffer from mud rash it is very good for that as well!

Oh yeah - the main reason for buying it was for the contact psoriasis on my husbands hands Which is much better and for the first time in several years is nearly clear.

Sadly it hasn't turned him into a stallion! *rolls eyes*

[Leharv]

For a year before I was diagnosed with extreme hypothyroidism, the skin on the palms of my hands resembled crocodile skin. Thick splitting and peeling around the edges. People couldn't believe it, I had rough hands anyway being a plumber but this was something else. Applied snowfire at nights and slept with hands in socks, all it did was softened the skin a bit. Later diagnosed tsh off the scale and thyroid hormones non existant.

[Blues12]

Hi there I have suffered for years now with constantly peeling skin and fingers, I don’t think there is a cream or lotion I haven’t tried, my skin is very dry in general, cuticles, legs , just given up now !!!

[Hillman51 in reply to Blues12]

Hi Blues12..... me too, e45 helps when I first put it on, but doesn,t last long..... so from all the replies I have had , it seems it is connected with underactive thyroid.....😊

[Happy7]

Hi, you asked if you can chicken broth can be used? Yes, but make sure you use plenty of bones and put them in the water you will use for the soup for 30 minutes with 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, this helps extract the collagen. Then slowly cook. You can flavor your soup with onion, garlic, veggies and herbs you like. Same applies to beef soup. I suggest the book by Izabella Wentz, Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology. She has excellent advice and recipes. She has been mentioned on this blog many times.

[Happy7]

Sorry for my sloppy writing at the beginning, I was writing too fast and didn’t re read my message before I sent.

[NataliAAA]

I suddenly get a small dry skin circle that starts to peel?

Can be fungal infection.My daughter had dry circle on her hand which was fungal and clotrimazole cream helped her.

[Neon65]

Hi,

My hands are awful, painful sore and peels around cutical area and surrounding tips of fingers and other areas of hands. Skin grows faster than the nail so nibble badly to reduce but doesn't help either.

[Hillman51 in reply to Neon65]

Hi Neon 65..... it’s awful isn’t it ? .... mine can be fine for weeks , then I get a circle of dry skin and it’s here we go again, the palms of my hands have hee particuly bad this time, it’s a wonder I,ve got any skin left !! 🙄🙄