Thyroid Disease Awareness Mani

*Nothing to Disclose*

Hi everyone! Today I have a special event to share with for you! @citruseyes on Instagram recently organized a group of nail artists to bring awareness to a topic that is very near and dear to her heart: Thyroid Disease. We were each tasked to create a mani this January for Thyroid Disease Awareness Month to share on Instagram. During the month of January, you can participate on Instagram by creating your very own mani!

Here are some instructions from @citruseyes for participating in the event on Instagram during the month of January:

To share your thyroid disease awareness mani or to see the beautiful works above up close, use the hashtag #TDAMani - Symbols for thyroid disease awareness are: blue, paisley design, and the butterfly.

Nails above include works from:

@fervnails @nailsbymercedes@miaonoirnails @krbnails @nailkazam @nails_by_xoch @vickylovesnails @pinkannelie @isaisis97@_nailsbymeg @tinseltownnails @amina2inspire @nanazcheekz @bittysweens @pinkyboonails@polishisthenewblack @journailism @mvargas_nails @procrastinailart @nailingthatpolish@thegirlyengineer @hashtagnailpolish @astoldbyannalisa @caribbeancuticles @ilysespieces@prestonails @mypolishedtips13 @littlepandapit @clairelofthouse @thepolishedphd @marshinis.nails@bostonmerlin10 @handtasticintentions @xiii_lacquer @emismanis @courtneydoeshernails@cmlovesnails @npadd1 @anonymouspolish @pikapolish @b_jessica_3 @citruseyes

Here is some more information from @citruseyes about Thyroid Disease to increase our knowledge:

January is thyroid disease awareness month and several nail artists have collaborated in order to spread awareness. The thyroid is the butterfly shaped gland located in the neck that is responsible for releasing hormones that regulate growth and metabolism. Some examples of thyroid diseases include: Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, thyroid cancer, and postpartum thyroiditis (but there are more); thyroid conditions related to these disease are hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

There are no cures for most thyroid diseases but there are various treatments available such as surgery, medication, hormone replacement, and lifestyle modifications. Often times, patients may not “look” physically sick but are still in pain and suffer regularly. For more information on some of these diseases, please continue reading onto the next caption.

   

Hypothyroidism is a condition when thyroid hormone levels are low and can be caused by the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, radiation therapy, or thyroid removal due to cancer or hyperthyroidism. Symptoms may include:  fatigue, lethargy, puffy face, constipation, weight gain despite poor appetite, cold insensitivity, dry skin, slower heartbeat, and more. It can lead to a fatal condition known as myxedema coma if hypothyroidism is not treated and becomes long standing. Babies born with congenital hypothyroidism risk mental retardation and growth delays.

Hyperthyroidism is the opposite: it is when thyroid hormone levels are high. It is oftentimes caused by the autoimmune disorder Graves' disease but can also result from toxic multinodular goiter or thyroid adenoma. Symptoms may include: anxiety, increased irritability, diarrhea, weight loss despite increased appetite, heat insensitivity, hand tremors, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, and more. It can lead to a fatal condition known as thyroid storm if hyperthyroidism is not treated properly. Thyroid storm can lead to heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and death.

Thyroid cancer, like other forms of cancer, needs to be detected early in order for early treatments to increase the chances of survival and decrease the chances of complications. Symptoms may include: a swollen throat, pain, difficulties swallowing, hoarse voice, and feeling a lump present on the throat.

Some thyroid issues can also occur post pregnancy. Postpartum thyroiditis is when the thyroid becomes inflamed after childbirth. Symptoms can either be hypothyroid-related or hyperthyroid-related symptoms. In mild cases, treatment may not be necessary, but in some cases, patients can develop chronic hypothyroidism.

For my mani, I started with a base of Illamasqua Noble (my all-time favorite blue creme). Then, using the symbols for Thyroid Disease Awareness, I added a butterfly on my middle finger (unnamed plate) and paisley patterns on my other fingers (MoYou-London Fashionista plate 11...which is a STUNNING plate). The silver I used to stamp was China Glaze Millennium. Overall, I was really pleased with how cohesive this skittle mani looked! That Mo-You plate has so many pretty paisley designs that it was hard to choose!

So, if any of you want to participate this month to help raise awareness for Thyroid Disease, please use #TDAMani on Instagram so everyone can see your work! Thanks again to @citruseyes for asking me to participate in this event! Thanks for looking everyone!