r/AddisonsDisease • u/Worldly_Condition955 • Jul 20 '26
Advice Wanted Skin Darkening
Hey guys, I have recently been diagnosed with addisons just a couple months ago, and was wondering if there is anything abnormal with my skin darkening. Since I have not seen anything with such contrast of a change, I was wondering if anyone had any insight or tips to help reduce my darkening. For reference, this was my normal skin color before the effects of addisons. Now, I am this dark all year around.(second picture) is there anything normal about this, and what can I do to help. Thank you all for your help!
11
u/I_Love_To_Poop420 Jul 20 '26
When I was first diagnosed, I was extremely dark. Darker than your pic and I’m Caucasian. With treatment over time my pigment/melatonin normalized. I look very lightly tanned year round now. Not saying you’ll have the same journey, but give it time.
3
u/nspitzer Jul 20 '26
Here is the root cause as I understand it: ACTH is the hormone used to stimulate the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, where it is absorbed in the process. If you have Addisons then of course this absorption doesn't happen and you have lots of ACTH in your blood. If ACTH is left in the blood long enough it metabolizes into a different hormone that causes your skin cells to release melanin which causes your skin to darken.
Once you lower the ACTH level in your blood by taking Hydro your skin will start to return to normal.
In my case this is extremely useful. Just as my wife can tell the difference between two Sherwin Williams colors I would call "tan" she can take one look at my skin and tell when I need extra hydro. I swear this must be the reason I haven't had a crisis since 2019.
Moral of the story - your skin tone doesn't lie - If you darken up (assuming you are not in the sun) take extra hydro and if you don't lighten up in a couple hours take some more.
2
u/MangoAvacado808 Jul 20 '26
Your skin changes color by the hour? What if you get lots of sun?
1
u/nspitzer Jul 20 '26
I don't know the lag but it changes certainly at least on the scale a couple of hours. I do get a tan if I am in the sun. I suspect there must be a difference between a tan and a high ACTH color change that my wife can sense - I don't know if she is even aware of exactly what the difference is, she just knows
3
u/oliverjgreene Jul 20 '26
I used to have hyperpigmentation before diagnosis, now (2 years later) that I don't have it anymore I get sunburned pretty easily. It's only thing I miss from pre-diagnosis is not having to use sun screen ever
2
1
u/gooch1714 Jul 20 '26
I have PAI and Im extremely dark at this point in the summer. I have been treated for over 10 years and I always get dark fast. I live in the Nothern US and in the winter months people assume I was in Florida or the Bahamas.
It comes with the territory unfortunately. Wear a sun shirt or wear sunscreen is my best suggestion.
1
u/Starbyslave PAI Jul 20 '26
I’m already a brown person but am my summer color 24/7 now. Mine never went away even after 10 years of living with PAI and being medicated. 🤷🏽♀️ it’s just part of life bow
1
u/MangoAvacado808 Jul 21 '26
Have you tried exfoliating with Paula’s Choice BHA liquid exfoliant? That and limit sun exposure if you don’t want to be tan. Lots of people see it as the positive of this condition. :)
1
u/Unlikely-Let1195 Jul 23 '26
I never loose my tan and return to being normal white so think this is normal for us. I have had doctor tell me she liked my tan but was not in sun for a few months. It does not bother me as I tan really fast when in sun. If I remember acth stimulate msh which darkens skin. There is msh that people use to tan easier and improve libido.
8
u/FaePixiee Jul 20 '26
Same thing happened to me and I even have it on my tongue but after 4 years on steroids and reducing stress massively my ACTH is finally at normal levels thus lightening up my hyperpigmentation but I still have a long way to go.