Facial hair (hirsutism) and skin problems - Thyroid UK

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Facial hair (hirsutism) and skin problems

marbez10 profile image
9 Replies

Has anyone out there (women) experienced acne type spots all over the body and/or hirsutism? I have been fobbed off for years about both of these but am currently waiting for a fresh appt. with a good endocrinologist who I hope will look into things further.

I had a total thyroidectomy 10 years ago.... after being hyper, followed by hypo; to prep. me for surgery.

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shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

There are several reasons for facial/body hair and it is hormonal. I have googled and this is one I came across. I don't know if you have been diagnosed with PCOS but Dr Lowe did an article on multiple PCOS cysts on a young female which disappeared when given thyroid hormones.

Not enough thyroid hormones can cause widespread ill-health.

This is an excerpt about polycystic ovary syndrome.

The principal features are anovulation, resulting in irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, ovulation-related infertility, and polycystic ovaries; excessive amounts or effects of androgenic hormones, resulting in acne and hirsutism; and insulin resistance, often associated with obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.[10] The symptoms and severity of the syndrome vary greatly among affected women.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyc...

This is from Thyroid Science by Dr Lowe

web.archive.org/web/2011040...

marbez10 profile image
marbez10

Thank you... :-) I've had tests for PCOS and a scan revealed that I had uterine cysts but not PCOS, so no-one has ever done anything for me. When I was first diagnosed as hyperthyroid, I was give Carbimazole (long-term), Aspirin and Propanalol (for a while) and all facial hair disappeared for a month.... but doctors have never taken any notice of that. I was told by one that it was a cosmetic problem and he couldn't help.

Skin problems started some time later following the thyroidectomy and being switched to Levothyroxine. To my knowledge, I have never been given any T3 at all. I have had high(isn) cholesterol since I started suffering from thyroid problems but am not diabetic.

I have a fasting blood test this Monday because I am showing symptoms or Hypo at the moment and have asked for a referral with Dr. S at Colchester General Hospital, so I'm not sure what else I can do right now.

Thyroid rules my life at times and I hate it! Suffering for years on end has made me stronger though and if they still insist it's not linked to thyroid, then I need answers as to what it is linked to and what can be done to help.

jjlily profile image
jjlily in reply tomarbez10

Hi marbez I really can feel for you I know exactly how you are feeling. If you look at my posts you can see what I am up against. I was doing some research about hirsutism and found the following article[ sorry I dont know how to link it]---

Hirsutism due to the treatment with L-thyroxine in patients with thyroid pathology.

It is an old study and don't know if L-thyroxine is the same as levo I assume so. I have also found another forum just today called Treato pharma where they are talking about hirsutism and thyroid.hope you had success with your endo.

best wishes Jill

Jackie profile image
Jackie

Hi PCOS ,only really matters if you are hoping for a baby then may need treatment., there is not much.done, certainly mine was never treated. It does not make one infertile just can be more of a problem conceiving. it is a common cause of facial hair. However , I see you have had this ruled out, another check for it might be helpful.Of course, thyroid disease is also hormonal so certainly plays its part ,especially with skin. Hopefully the endo ( if good) will sort this out as it is certainly all hormonal. That covers lots of things.

Brest wishes,

jackie

deniD profile image
deniD

I had similar also was over active till thyroid removal in end long story of been left with horrendous symptoms mainly pain. It turned out I had a cyst endometriosis fibroids and lots of pelvic adhesions! I didn't get many spots just one of 2 painful every month without fail in same place they never come back after hyster! X

Zephyrbear profile image
Zephyrbear

May I utter a little word of caution regarding the use (probably over-use) of Wikipedia... This site is a good starting point only, and to accept anything written on this as gospel can be very dangerous! By all means look there, but also have a look at various other sites such as patient.co.uk/health/Polycy... netdoctor.co.uk/womenshealt... and pcos-uk.org.uk/

tactano50 profile image
tactano50

I also have facial hair and spots on chin and also over body this last year i have had urtacaria and angiodema.i am exhausted i go to bed feeling exhausted and get up feeling the same my tsh is in normal range doctor asked for more blood tests for t3 i wnt and had these done but lab refused to check them .i have just gone back to work after being off for ten weeks through stress at the way ive been treated regarding my illnesses.i have now given in and been on antidepressants for 3 months i just feel quite numb with it all.

deniD profile image
deniD

All the gyny stuff with me was ignored for years till I woke up through night and collapsed with the cyst! I was a right mess inside, I have no faith in docs anymore tried to feed me antidepressant When l knew something was wrong! They might know all the jargon but I'm the expert of my body !

marbez10 profile image
marbez10

I get depressed about it all but am not suffering from depression... I can see how doctors might consider treating this as the easiest option though; saves them time and money investigating other options. Mine could well be a gynae problem as well, just to add to my misery. I also go to bed and get up again exhausted; it's no life. I'm back to work tomorrow after having 2 days off through chronic fatigue. The job is incredibly stressful anyway, which also doesn't help.

If it comes to it, I'll have to get signed off for longer. I'm 50 this year, so don't really care what's on my work record these days xx

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