8 Signs Of Hypothyroidism Beyond Tiredness & Weight Gain

When it comes to hypothyroidism, most people know to look out for tiredness and weight gain, and possibly menstrual disturbances in those who menstruate. But those symptoms could be caused by very many things, so what more specific signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism should we look out for?

Dr. James O’Donovan shows us in this short video:

The lesser-known signs

Dr. O’Donovan discusses:

1. Asteatotic eczema (also called: eczema craquelé): dry, cracked skin with a “crazy paving” appearance, leading to fissures. It’s common on the lower legs, back, torso, and arms, especially in older patients and especially in winter.
2. Cold peripheries with pale, dry, coarse skin: cold hands and feet, along with dryness due to decreased sweating; these invariably come together, though the exact link is unclear.
3. Yellowish hue to the skin (carotenoderma): yellow-orange discoloration from elevated beta-carotene levels. This can easily be mistaken for jaundice and also occurs in diabetes, liver, and kidney diseases.
4. Thin, brittle hair: the hair on one’s head may become dry, coarse, and fall out in handfuls.
5. Loss of hair on the outer third of eyebrows: thinning or disappearance of hair in this very specific area.
6. Slow-growing, rigid, brittle nails: slowed nail growth due to decreased cell turnover rate. Ridges may form as keratin cells accumulate.
7. Myxedema: puffy face, eyelids, legs, and feet caused by tissue swelling from cutaneous deposition.
8. Delayed wound healing: is what it sounds like; a slower healing process.

10almonds note: this video, like much of medical literature as well, does focus on what things are like for white people. Black people with hypothyroidism are more likely to see a lightening of hair pigmentation, and, in contrast, hyperpigmentation of the skin, usually in patches. We couldn’t find data for other ethnicities or skintones, but it does seem that most of the signs and symptoms (unrelated to pigmentation) should be the same for most people.

Meanwhile, for more on the above 8 signs, with visuals, enjoy:

Click Here If The Embedded Video Doesn’t Load Automatically!

Want to learn more?

You might also like to read:

The Three Rs To Boost Thyroid-Related Energy Levels

Take care!