3. Skin Hyperpigmentation: The Silent Marker of Stress
Hyperpigmentation doesn’t come with discomfort or pain, but it’s a visible flag of Addison’s. It’s a tan that doesn’t fit the season, a darkness to the skin that sunscreens can’t prevent. It can be spotted in the nooks and crannies of the body, like the inside of the elbow, the knees, and even in areas that see no sun at all.
Parents might dismiss it as dirt or an odd quirk of their child’s complexion. But it’s the result of an internal SOS, with the body producing more melanin-stimulating hormones as a response to adrenal distress. These areas become telltale signs, hints to the observant eye that all is not well.
What’s more striking is when these patches show up in places like gums or scars. They’re not areas we expect to change color. When a child smiles and you see a darkness to their gums that wasn’t there before, it’s not a dental issue; it’s a deeper problem.
It’s essential to monitor these changes in skin color, to recognize them as more than just cosmetic. They’re the body’s way of waving a flag, signaling a deficiency that lies hidden within. (3)
