7. Skin and Hair Changes – The External Manifestation
The effects of Myxedema Coma also reach the skin and hair, organs that may seem peripheral but offer visible clues to the disorder’s presence. Skin may become dry and coarse, losing the elasticity and suppleness that denote health. Patients may notice their complexion becoming pallid and their skin taking on a doughy texture, a result of the mucopolysaccharide deposits that give Myxedema its name.
Hair loss is another distressing symptom. It is not the typical shedding experienced daily but a pronounced thinning that can affect eyebrows and body hair as well. The hair’s texture may change, becoming brittle, lifeless, and dull, reflecting the inner turmoil of the body’s disrupted hormonal state.
These changes are more than cosmetic concerns; they are tangible signs of the body’s cry for help. Moisturizers and hair treatments may offer temporary relief, but they do not address the underlying hormonal deficiency. Only through thyroid hormone replacement can the skin and hair begin to recover their vitality. (7)
