The ESK blog

World Thyroid Day

08 September 2021

Dr Ginni Mansberg

Welcome to World Thyroid Day, a day dedicated to thyroid patients and to all who are committed to the study and treatment of thyroid diseases worldwide.

Your thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that sits at the bottom of your neck in front of your throat. Being a gland, it makes vital hormones that regulate all your body functions, including:

Breathing
Heart rate
Nervous systems
Body weight
Muscle strength
Menstrual cycles
Body temperature

You can have lumps (both benign and cancerous) on your thyroid gland, your gland can be over active or under active. A lump might be seen or felt, or can just be discovered on a scan done as a work up of an abnormal thyroid blood test.

PEOPLE WITH AN OVERACTIVE THYROID CAN EXPERIENCE;

Anxiety
Irritability
Feeling hot and flushed
Trembling
Hair thinning and loss
Itching
Less frequent and lighter menstrual periods

PEOPLE WITH AN UNDER-ACTIVE THYROID CAN EXPERIENCE;

Fatigue
Dry skin and dry, thinning hair
Itchy skin
Depression
Feeling cold (and cold hands and feet)
More frequent and heavy menstrual periods
Joint and muscle pains

Both over and underactive thyroid is diagnosed with a simple blood test from your GP. We might need to do some more tests with various scans or even a biopsy in some cases. Most lumps need scans and over a certain size will need a biopsy as well.

HOW DOES THE THYROID GLAND AFFECT YOUR SKIN?

This all depends on what your thyroid hormone levels are doing.

AN OVERACTIVE THYROID

There are many skin effects of hyperthyroidism. You might get flushing of your face and hands.

You might develop fine, soft and thin hair. When it comes to nails, they might become overgrown and may even lift off the nail bed altogether. Lot of people with hyperthyroidism have very itchy, blotchy skin.

AN UNDERACTIVE THYROID

Skin problems are so common in hypothyroidism that they are often the symptoms that bring someone to the doctor leading to a diagnosis! You might notice sparse and brittle hair, which falls out in handfuls, thinning of the hair at the outer third of eyebrows. Your skin might be itchy. Some people develop pigmentation while many experience slow growing, ridged or brittle nails.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

If we correct the thyroid levels in your body, your skin, hair and nail changes should sort themselves out. So a trip to the doctor ASAP is vital to get the blood tests rolling and treatment happening.

IN THE MEANWHILE - YOU CAN CHANGE UP YOUR SKINCARE (NAILS AND HAIR ARE A BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE). TRY ADDING IN;

A serum or cream containing Niacinamide can help with reducing skin dryness

B Calm

B Calm is formulated to support irritable and blemish prone skin while maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Ceramides strengthen resilience, Salicylic Acid exfoliates and calms the skin, and Niacinamide helps regulate oil and reduce the appearance of blemished skin.

Featuring:

- Ingredients to support an improved skin barrier

- Helps manage excess oil production

- Supports a clearer-looking skin

B Quenched

Meet B Quenched, a gentle hydrator designed for irritable skin. Powered by niacinamide and hemp seed oil, it helps support the appearance of a calm, hydrated skin barrier, while helping reduce visible redness. Free from scents, parabens, and sulphates, this pH-balanced formula locks in moisture and keeps irritants at bay. B Quenched leaves skin feeling soft, balanced, and refreshed, perfect for daily use.

Key Benefits

- Helps improve the appearance of hydration and softness

- Supports calm-looking, less inflamed skin

- Evidence-backed ingredients to maintain a resilient skin barrier

A broad spectrum, gentle zinc-based sunscreen will help reduce further UV damage to the skin.

Zinc Shade

Zinc Shade is a lightweight matte day cream and primer. Its non-greasy, matte finish allows for smooth application and works well under makeup.

We spent countless iterations perfecting this lightweight, non-greasy formula to avoid the typical white cast and thick feel of zinc products. The results? A matte finish that works beautifully under makeup. With well tolerated matte finish, it's also well suited to irritable and blemish and bump prone skin. With SPF 15 it also provides broad-spectrum sun protection against UVA and UVB rays.

Key features:

Lightweight, matte formula suitable for daily use
Smooth application with minimal white cast
Broad-spectrum UV protection
Tested SPF 15 with enhanced UVA coverage

Usage: Apply evenly to all exposed areas of skin before sun exposure. Reapply as needed throughout the day.

An Ascorbic Acid serum can help reduce pigmentation and make dull skin brighter.

C Serum Lite

C Serum Lite offers the same evidence-backed benefits of Vitamin C in a lighter, non-greasy formula. Packaged in an airless, opaque bottle to maintain stability for maximum effect, this anti-oxidant serum is perfect for use every morning. Designed for a lightly hydrated, brighter and smoother looking skin.

Key Benefits

- Helps create a more even skin tone

- Supports smoother-looking skin and reduces the visible signs of skin aging

- Evidence-based ingredients for hydration and firmness

A brightening skincare product containing 4-n-butylresorcinol can help combat pigmentation, along with a leave on Hydroxy Acid serum and a Retinal night cream.

Enlighten

Enlighten is specifically designed to help reduce the appearance of pigmentation. This lightweight cream helps to gently create a more even skin tone and hydrate and improve the barrier function of the skin.

While rarely used, 4-n-butylresorcinol (4nB) has some of the best evidence in this arena. Enlighten combines 4nB and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to create a rare combination of gentle yet effective ingredients. Enlighten helps tackle a mottled or uneven skin tone and is suitable for long term daily use

Featuring:

Formulated to help skin look brighter and more even
Gentle, nourishing ingredients suitable for daily use
Supports the appearance of an even skin texture and tone

Smooth Serum

Smooth Serum is a night treatment formulated with 3% Glycolic acid, 1% Lactic acid, and 1% Gluconolactone. This gentle AHA blend supports the appearance of skin texture and surface renewal, helping maintain the look of even skin tone.

Key features:

Combination of alpha hydroxy acids to support skin texture
Supports the appearance of smoother, more even skin
Can be used alongside products containing Retinal to maintain overall skin texture

Caution: Not recommended for very sensitive skin or skin prone to rosacea.

Ultimate A

Ultimate A Night Cream contains 0.06% Retinal, the most gentle and effective form of Vitamin A, paired with Niacinamide to help maintain skin barrier function and support brighter, firmer and more even looking skin tone and texture. Well suited even for the most irritable skin.

Key features:

0.06% Retinal to support a brighter, smoother and firmer skin texture
Niacinamide to support skin barrier function and a more even looking skin tone
Gentle formulation suitable for nightly use

Usage: Apply at night after cleansing (and serum if being used) as part of your evening skincare routine.

Ultimate A+

Building on the proven performance of Ultimate A, Ultimate A+ Night Cream is designed for those looking to refine texture and tone or support skin prone to congestion. With 0.1% Retinal (the next-generation form of Vitamin A), Niacinamide, and 2% Glycolic Acid, this formula delivers visible improvements while remaining gentle and well tolerated.

This unique combination supports smoother-looking skin, helps refine the appearance of pores and uneven tone, and promotes a more hydrated, balanced complexion.

Featuring:

Potent yet gentle formulation suitable for daily use
Helps improve the appearance of uneven tone and texture
Supports firmer, more supple-looking skin
Formulated with evidence-based ingredients known to enhance skin clarity

Note: Retinal is not suitable for use during pregnancy.

A soap-free cleanser instead of soap can help prevent skin dryness and itching.

Calming Cleanse

Our Calming Cleanser is a non-foaming, coconut sugar-based formula with a gentle pH of 4.5-5, making it ideal for sensitive skin types, including those with eczema and rosacea.

This creamy cleanser effectively removes impurities while preserving the skin’s natural hydration and pH balance. Its non-soap formula minimises irritation and dryness, providing a soothing cleanse without disrupting the skin barrier.

Designed for sensitive skin, Calming Cleanser avoids harsh ingredients like astringents, camphor, and menthol, which can trigger irritation. Gentle yet thorough, it supports a healthy microbiome and barrier, leaving skin calm, soft, and ready for the next step in your routine.

Featuring;

A coconut sugar base with soothing botanical
A thorough yet gentle cleanse
Suitable for daily use and even as a make-up remover

A creamy soap-free cleanser for skin that needs a gentle, silky wash.

Coconut based with soothing botanicals
Leaves skin clear & hydrated
May be used as a make-up remover

Hydroxy Cleanser

Our Hydroxy Cleanser is a soap-free, pH-balanced cleanser that provides gentle yet effective cleansing for your skin. Lightly foaming, it removes dirt, excess oils, and impurities without drying or irritating, making it perfect for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Designed with a neutral to acidic pH, it’s ideal for sensitive skin types, including those with acne, aging skin and pigmentation. This cleanser helps preserve hydration, supports the skin’s microbiome, and normalises skin pH, creating the perfect base for your skincare routine. Free from harsh soaps, astringents, and irritants, Hydroxy Cleanser leaves skin feeling fresh, balanced, and ready for any treatment.

Featuring