The main treatment for genetic haemochromatosis (GH) is the regular removal of blood, a process called venesection. Where the report looked at current symptoms, skin problems were noted to be a persistent problem in 28% of respondents and a painful problem in 10% of respondents. Within this, the most common types of issues ever experienced were “itchiness (45%), tanning or bronzing of the skin (28%) or blotchiness or rashes (24%)”. In the survey, 70.4% of respondents had experienced skin problems. Patients also report diminished facial, pubic and axillary hair, and there can be dryness and itchiness to varying degrees.Ī patient survey was carried out by Haemochromatosis UK in 2017 and the recently released report “ Living with the Impact of Iron Overload” shows that skin discolouration is one of the most commonly occurring symptoms reported by haemochromatosis patients. If the skin is heavily affected it can become a slate grey in colour. Old scars can be highly pigmented and the conjunctive and lid of the eye can be coloured. ![]() If the sweat glands are affected it can cause heavy, dark staining with a particular colour. This causes an increase in iron in the epidermis. Bronze pigmentation occurs because iron builds up within sweat glands. There has been a traditional link with skin bronzing and arthritis or diabetes where a GH patient was identified with a “bronze fist” or with “bronze diabetes”. Ultimately, is there a question to be answered about links between iron and skin? How may your skin change with genetic haemochromatosis? ![]() Genetic haemochromatosis (GH) tends to be underdiagnosed, and despite many patients reporting skin conditions, the link with skin is missed due to lack of research and awareness. The iron is stored in organs and in turn the excess iron can give rise to a range of medical problems including but not limited to, joint pain and disease, chronic fatigue and weakness, cognitive and psychological difficulties, skin problems, sexual health issues, abnormal liver function, diabetes and cardiomyopathy. Haemochromatosis is a genetic condition that causes the body to absorb excessive iron from the diet. February 2019 Could skin problems be one of the signifiers of what has been branded a “stealth” condition? What is genetic haemochromatosis?
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