How does Graves Disease affect the skin?
Although it is rare, Graves’ Disease patients will sometimes get a lumpy reddish thickening of the skin in front of the shins (pretibial skin). This condition is known as “pretibial myxedema” (also more generically referred to as dermopathy). It’s usually painless, not serious and, may not start even when the hyperthyroidism starts. As with the eyes, it is believed that this swelling in the pretibial skin is caused by antibodies attacking these tissues. What else do I need to know about Graves’ Disease? • Where hyperthyroidism eye complications occur, see an eye doctor in addition to your regular physician. • Smoking tends to worsen the eye problems associated with Graves’ disease – yet another reason to quit. • It is more prevalent in women than in men, by a ratio of about 8 to 1 • Typically occurs in middle age Now that you know something about hyperthyroidism, the dangers, the causes, and it’s most common forms, in the next part of the series, we’ll look at how hyperthyroidism is di
