Thyroid and skin
When you look in the mirror and see pimples and acne on your face while you are over 25 years old, the question arises for you, what is the cause of these pimples? Is it possible that the thyroid problem is the cause? We will discuss this issue further.
How does acne occur?
Acne vulgaris is the medical term for chronic inflammation of the hair follicles on your skin. “Dead skin cells, sebum and bacteria block follicles,” says endocrinologist Alexandra Mikhail. While there are many causes of acne, the main cause of post-teen acne is hormonal imbalance.
Acne can be difficult to treat unless you know exactly what’s causing it. And it can be tricky to figure it out—especially if your approach has been to slather different types of lotions and creams on your skin. Acne is a condition that usually reflects something going on inside your body, rather than what’s happening directly to your skin. So if you see the problem as something that can be solved with creams and topical creams, you may never treat the root cause of your acne. In fact, one of the most common causes of acne is due to thyroid hormone imbalance. Yes, other hormones can cause acne, but thyroid problems are more complicated to diagnose and treat
Can hypothyroidism and other thyroid problems cause acne?
Located at the base of your neck, the thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland that plays a big role. It is responsible for releasing hormones that control your metabolism and regulate skin function, such as the amount of oxygen your skin absorbs.
The skin is one of the first organs where thyroid hormone imbalance appears. This is why dermatologists often suspect thyroid disorders. Alopecia is when your hair falls out in patches. Vitiligo is when you lose pigment cells, so your skin can be discolored in places, and thyroid dysfunction causes both.
- 1 Hormonal imbalance
When we think of acne we often think of hormonal acne that occurs during puberty. No matter your age, hormones can cause skin issues. In the cause of thyroid conditions, hypothyroidism often causes acne because it can cause an imbalance of estrogen/progesterone levels.
Estrogen / progesterone – A properly functioning thyroid gland creates hormones that are used to convert cholesterol into progesterone. If your body is not producing enough thyroid hormone, your ovaries may not be able to produce adequate levels of progesterone, causing an estrogen dominance in your body. This estrogen dominance can cause acne breakouts and overly oily skin. It may also cause PMS, and particularly painful periods.
- 2 Poor gut health correlated with hypothyroidism
Another important aspect of hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis are gastrointestinal issues such as intestinal permeability (IIP), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Think of the gut as an ecosystem, if your intestinal tract is overpopulated (or underpopulated) by bacteria, the whole ecosystem is thrown for a loop. This can cause GI symptoms like bloating, gas, and diarrhea. But in some cases, it can cause non-GI symptoms such as acne, eczema, fatigue, or nutrient deficiencies.
- Dry and cracked skin
Thyroid hormones have an important role in regulating skin cells. A study in The Journal of General Internal Medicine reported 74% of hypothyroid patients reported dry skin. This may be because skin cells have a shorter lifespan and a rapid turnover rate. This means the skin cells might be more sensitive to low thyroid hormone levels – causing dry, cracked skin. Having poor skin cell health as a result of low thyroid levels can have a direct impact on your acne breakouts. If your skin is very dry, it might try to compensate for that and create excess sebum, so you might have an oily t-zone where flaky skin cells get caught between the sebum and the pores — creating an inflammatory skin response like acne.
Can thyroid medication cause acne?
Thyroid medications also don’t usually cause acne unless you’re allergic to an ingredient in them. But some acne medications can affect thyroid function. For example:
Retinoids: Certain types of retinoids can interfere with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
Isotretinoin: Oral isotretinoin is sometimes prescribed for severe acne that may cause changes in thyroid function tests, including higher TSH and lower levels of thyroid hormones T3 and T4.
What are the characteristics of acne caused by hypothyroidism?
Acne caused by hypothyroidism has several characteristics: it usually resolves or improves with the addition of thyroid hormone; it is usually cystic in origin (hypothyroidism causes cystic acne); it is usually not cyclical and is always present (but it may worsened by stress) generally not related to menstrual cycle generally associated with multiple other symptoms: fatigue, weight gain or resistance to weight loss, changes in nails and hair (brittle/dry/etc.) acne may occur Spread all over your body (not just your face) If your acne follows this pattern, it may be due to hypothyroidism rather than another hormonal imbalance. Although it is worth noting that hypothyroidism can worsen hormonal acne if not treated properly.
What measures should be taken to treat acne?
Treatment for your acne depends largely on what’s causing it. Suppose your problem is hypothyroidism, but digestive problems also play a role in causing your acne. In this case, you need to address the hypothyroidism and address the gut issues as well. In general, thyroid treatment alone may not be sufficient. Do the following to treat acne:
- Treat hypothyroidism if present
- Balance progesterone and estrogen levels
- Balance of androgens (testosterone and DHEA) Androgens include DHEA, testosterone and testosterone metabolites.
- Consider supplements to help nourish the skin. While there are many causes of acne, it cannot be denied that many people lack essential nutrients that can disrupt the proper functioning of the skin.
- Check and fix how your gut works
References
https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-acne/
https://www.struthealth.com/blog/can-hypothyroidism-cause-acne
