How does graves disease affect the skin

It may also become itchy. Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

How does Graves' disease affect the skin? The vast majority of people who develop Graves' dermopathy also have Graves' ophthalmopathy. Milder cases of Graves' dermopathy often improve over time without treatment. Treatment of Graves' dermopathy is usually aimed at correcting the overactive thyroid responsible for Graves' disease. You'll also be advised to quit smoking and to avoid trauma to the skin as much as possible. Even with successful treatment of the underlying Graves' disease, you may still have cosmetic issues and have a hard time getting shoes to fit well.

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Only a board-certified dermatologist has these credentials. Although your thyroid gland sits deep in your neck, your dermatologist may be the first doctor to notice signs of thyroid disease. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that produces hormones, which play a key role in regulating your heartbeat, breathing, and many other functions.

Caught early, treatment can prevent complications. When thyroid disease goes untreated for years, it can lead to a dangerously slow or fast heartbeat, an injury that refuses to heal, or unrelenting pain. You may have gained or lost weight for no apparent reason. A swollen fingertip, curved nail, and thickening skin above a nail are often signs of thyroid disease.

Normally, thyroid function is regulated by a hormone released by a tiny gland at the base of the brain pituitary gland. The antibody associated with Graves' disease — thyrotropin receptor antibody TRAb — acts like the regulatory pituitary hormone.

That means that TRAb overrides the normal regulation of the thyroid, causing an overproduction of thyroid hormones hyperthyroidism. Graves' ophthalmopathy results from a buildup of certain carbohydrates in the muscles and tissues behind the eyes — the cause of which also isn't known. It appears that the same antibody that can cause thyroid dysfunction may also have an "attraction" to tissues surrounding the eyes. Graves' ophthalmopathy often appears at the same time as hyperthyroidism or several months later.

But signs and symptoms of ophthalmopathy may appear years before or after the onset of hyperthyroidism. Graves' ophthalmopathy can also occur even if there's no hyperthyroidism. Although anyone can develop Graves' disease, many factors can increase the risk of disease, including:.

Thyroid storm. A rare but life-threatening complication of Graves' disease is thyroid storm, also known as accelerated hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxic crisis. It's more likely when severe hyperthyroidism is untreated or treated inadequately. The sudden and drastic increase in thyroid hormones can produce many effects, including fever, sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, delirium, severe weakness, seizures, irregular heartbeat, yellow skin and eyes jaundice , severe low blood pressure, and coma.

Thyroid storm requires immediate emergency care. Graves' disease care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Thyroid gland Open pop-up dialog box Close.