different thyroid medications & acne

[sugarbear0121]

i know i am super late getting to this post, but i just started to experience problems & i am trying to see if i am the only one lol. i was diagnosed with hashimotos disease when i was around 7 years old. from that age until i was around 16 i took synthroid. when i stopped taking synthroid i changed to np thyroid, which i took until i was 20. i am now about to turn 21 & just started levothyroxine a couple months ago. i have never experienced acne half as bad in my entire life as i have been the last few months. i finally realized the only thing i have changed is my thyroid medication to levothyroxine. has anyone else tried any other type of synthroid medication & experienced acne, or just levothyroxine?

[Hashi-hacker]

Hi, I had bad skin for years and it's only with the introduction of liothyronine to my levothyroxine that my skin has cleared up. What prompted the switch from NDT to levo?

x

[LivingWithHT]

There is a worldwide shortage of NP Thyroid and other porcine NDTs so I’m guessing that’s why you made the switch to synthetic T4?

I have read that many people have had a variety of bad symptoms on levothyroxine alone, including skin issues. I break out easily, whether on synthetic T4 or T3 alone or a mix of synthetic T4 & T3 or NDT. I have oily skin so that’s a major contributing factor. I use La Roche Posay Effaclar medicated gel cleanser and it has really helped reduce oiliness and break outs, so that’s a good option if you have naturally oily skin but it can be drying if you use too much of it, depending on your exact skin type.

I also recently started supplementing with a daily dose of at least 30 mg Zinc, sometimes I take 50mg but then I eat immediately afterwards because it makes me nauseous on an empty stomach (as it does with many.) I have noticed my skin clearing up, I still get a few pimples here and there but they are small ones that are easy to get rid of and/or cover up.

So, if you have no other choice but to stay on levothyroxine, consider investing in a good face wash and supplementing with a daily dose of Zinc. It also helps to make sure all your other vitamin levels are in a healthy range, especially Vitamins B12 and D. Furthermore, it may be that you are having an allergic reaction to the brand of levothyroxine you are taking and, if you can’t or don’t want to switch brands, taking an anti-histamine daily can help reduce break outs.

[Nanny23]

I am on Synthroid and T3 liothorine. Never got acne from either. I think your culprit is Levi thoroxine

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Nanny23]

But Synthroid is levothyroxine. It is just a particular brand of levothyroxine - one which spends an enormous amount of money on marketing and promotional activities in the USA.

[Nanny23 in reply to helvella]

My dr. Particularly prescribes Synthroid for me because he says levothoroxine doesn’t work as well. Only going by what he said.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Nanny23]

We have seen this said numerous times. And we have also seen quite a few patients say how much better they do one or other of the alternative makes. (Not just any random product - and always consistently the same make.) And, very specifically, Tirosint gel caps suit some very well.

It could be that you do better on Synthroid than you would on any other product. We are all individual. But I don't think you can assess that by simply asserting Synthroid works better.

[Nanny23 in reply to helvella]

No of course you can’t. Only saying what my dr. Said. I would love to try armour thyroid but my dr. Doesn’t approve. What to do ?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Nanny23]

Change doctor?

[Nemi123]

I have tried WP Thyroid and Erfa and had no skin problems. I changed to Armour as I’m lactose intolerant and I feel great but got acne , oily skin and hair after only a few days on Armour.