Thyroid pioneer Dr. Broda Barnes wrote, “When thyroid function is low, circulation is reduced. In advanced cases of hypothyroidism, the skin, in fact, may receive as little as one-fourth to one-fifth the normal blood supply.”

I suspect I had undiagnosed hypothyroidism for most of my life. From a very young age skin conditions including dry itchy skin, itchy flaky scalp, dry frizzy hair, dry cracked heels, loss of the outer third of eyebrows, brittle nails, loss of eyelashes, pale colorless skin, and chronic eczema have been a constant in my life. I went through a period of rapid hair loss that devastated me so much that I spent over one year researching the causes of hair loss to save my own hair. Thankfully with optimal thyroid treatment many of my skin issues have improved.

I wonder just how many people with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are struggling with skin-related conditions. Do they know these skin issues may be a sign their thyroid condition is not optimally treated?
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