Clinical spectrum of cutaneous manifestations of thyroid disorders in patients attending MediCiti Institute of Medical Sciences

• Author Details:   
• B. Srujana
• B. Narayan Reddy
• GK Prasad

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Background: The cutaneous manifestations of the thyroid disorders are often varied. The thyroid diseases may cause diverse symptoms, including skin changes, affecting all age groups and manifesting in various ways. The aim was to study the cutaneous manifestations in thyroid disorders and to suggest appropriate intervention, wherever pertinent, and to identify various cutaneous associations with thyroid disorders, in patients attending our hospital.
Methodology: This study was conducted at MediCiti Hospital, from January 2014 to June 2015, in which, 191 in and out patients of all ages and both sexes, attending Dermatology, and other OPDs were screened for evidence of cutaneous manifestations of thyroid disorders.
Exclusion criteria: Pregnant women, Known Diabetics, Patients without any cutaneous manifestations of thyroid disorder.
Results: The cutaneous manifestations are much higher in females than in males, in both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism cases, and age group of 21 to 30 years was most affected. The commonest cutaneous sign, in hypothyroidism, among females was xerosis, noted in 62% and in males, both xerosis and hair changes were seen in 68% cases. When cutaneous signs of hyperthyroid females were examined, hair changes were seen to a maximum extent i.e., in 55% of cases and among males, hair changes were seen in 50% cases.
Conclusion: Females are affected to a much larger extent than males and there is preponderance of more cutaneous manifestations in hypothyroidism cases when compared with hyperthyroidism cases. A better understanding of these features, helps in diagnosing the underlying thyroid abnormality.

Keywords: Thyroid disorders, Cutaneous manifestations, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, MediCiti Institute