Myxedema is a group of skin manifestations in the form of mucous edema caused by diseases of the thyroid gland and indicating an extreme clinical form of the disease course. Edema in myxedema is caused by imbalance of protein metabolism and a sharp violation of the basic metabolism( up to 40%).Since the primary cause of such lesions is neglected thyroid disease, the development of myxedem is most often recorded in women after 40 years of age.
Generalized myxedema
Hypothyroidism is a disease of the thyroid gland caused by a persistent deficiency in the production of its hormones. Generalized myxedema is the most characteristic sign of the clinical manifestation of the late stage of the disease in adults. Other signs of lesions of the skin during hypothyroidism, which accompany the myxedema, include:
- xerosis - dry skin;
- follicular hyperkeratosis - goosebumpies or red( white) nodules on hands, hips and buttocks;
- diffuse alopecia is an intense form of alopecia with uniform hair loss throughout the surface of the scalp;
- onycholysis - dryness, delamination, thinning and brittle nails;
- physiological jaundice - dyeing the skin with carotene in yellow on the face, palms and soles;
- acropathy - changes in soft tissues in the area of the hands, fingers look like drumsticks, there is almost constant numbness in the hands.
Causes and lesions of
The cause of edema in hypothyroidism is the excessive accumulation of hyaluronic acid, other mucopolysaccharides and serum albumins in the skin.
Myxedema can be localized on the legs and feet, forearms and hands, and is characterized by a waxy pale skin, the swelling of which does not allow the formation of pits under pressure.
The most characteristic place of defeat is a person. It was called "myxedemal", a very doll-like face. Symptoms of myxedema:
- upper eyelids pale, swollen, as if strained, waxy;
- the skin under the lower eyelids hangs, is stretched and obviously edematous;
- the incision of the eyes is markedly reduced, the eyes resemble cracks;
- outer contour of eyebrows absent;
- lips are bulging;
- face oval is evenly smoothed;
- all face - puffy, evenly swollen with mucus edema, and pale skin covered with a bright blush.
General edema of the face interferes with the facial muscles of the face and this causes a sense of "mask" and the presence of a mental disorder. The swollen tongue and larynx cause snoring and slurred speech, and edema of the vocal cords lead to a coarsening of the voice and a decrease in its timbre. In addition, edemas in the head area contribute to a persistent frustration of twilight vision, a sharp decrease in hearing, begins to pursue a constant ringing in the ears.
All of the above symptoms of myxedema are not permanent and may disappear when treating the underlying cause of their occurrence - hypothyroidism. Treatment is carried out by hormone replacement thyroid preparations. The use of folk remedies and vitamins of curative effect will not bring, but can become a good supportive therapy.
Limited pretybial myxedema
If the generalized myxedema is only a symptom of thyroid disease with insufficient production or complete absence of hormones, its pretybial variety may also occur in diseases with increased( hyperthyroidism) or normal function of the thyroid gland. Basically, this dermal disorder is observed in women after 40-50 years.
Causes of
The reasons for the development of myxedema symptoms, in its limited pretibial form, have not yet been elucidated. Histological studies show that edema is caused by abnormal accumulation of mucosal mucous fluid, which includes dermal hyaluronic and chondroitin sulfuric acids. Modern medical scientists can not connect such a phenomenon with the normal or low content of thyroid hormones, but it is unambiguously associated with the development of thyroid gland diseases.
Symptoms of
Pretybial myxedema is a lesion of the skin on the anterior and lateral surfaces of the shins, it can rarely be seen on adjacent areas of the skin. Let's list the signs that are typical for pre-typhoid defects:
- lesion affects both legs simultaneously, is located at the bottom;
- the skin in the place of the lesion is gradually colored from the usual color to the reddish brown, reminiscent of the structure of the orange peel, which can not be folded;
- the surface of affected areas is covered with dense, rough to the touch, protruding( up to 10-15 mm) or flat plaques of different sizes;
- Pretypial plaques usually have distinct edges, but blurred shapes may also occur;
- the color of the seals is always a little brighter than the color of the rest of the affected skin;
- plaques can be located separately or fused;
- with prolonged and unfavorable course, merging plaques can occupy the entire surface of the shins with the development of elephant leg and foot soles;
- the affected areas are often outlined with a rash of small papules or hyperkeratosis( proliferation and insufficient exfoliation of the stratum corneum);
- hair follicles in the affected areas are retracted, hair loss is observed;
- , unlike all the other edemas, pressing on the affected area does not leave any indentations.
In most patients, concomitant with prethibial edema, exophthalmos are observed - protrusion of one or both eyeballs.
The formed "disease" does not progress, and sometimes it passes by itself. Pretybial myxedema, namely its manifestation and treatment of thyroid diseases are not interrelated. In exceptional cases, the endocrinologist may prescribe Tireoidin or X-ray irradiation of the pituitary gland.
As a rule, such a shin injury does not cause trouble, but sometimes this cosmetic defect causes an obsessive itch. In such cases,
- hormonal dressings are used to facilitate the condition and "cure";
- rubbing;
- introduction of hyaluronidase in lesions;
- ingestion of corticosteroids.
