The NHS has published symptoms of Addison's disease, a rare and potentially life-threatening condition, after a young woman's skin turned dark during a family holiday "tanning competition," leading to her diagnosis. One key indicator is a darkening of the skin that can be mistaken for a suntan.
Woman's tanning competition revealed condition
Poppy Guy, 29, was on a family trip to Malaga, Spain, expecting a "nice golden brown" tan but was shocked when her skin became "black brown." She also experienced vomiting, breathlessness, and dizziness before being diagnosed with Addison's disease, WalesOnline reported.
Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands above the kidneys fail to function correctly. While there is no cure, the NHS says it can be controlled with medication. However, it can lead to severe complications, the most serious being adrenal crisis, which is a medical emergency.
Adrenal crisis symptoms and risks
During an adrenal crisis, symptoms worsen rapidly, potentially triggered by infection, accident, injury, or surgery. The NHS lists severe dehydration, low blood pressure, seizures, loss of consciousness, stroke, and sudden heart stoppage as possible problems.
Poppy experienced an adrenal crisis that caused her to collapse. She was rushed to hospital, where a doctor told her that had she not been admitted that day, she would "probably be dead."
Recognising Addison's disease symptoms
The NHS states Addison's disease most commonly affects adults aged 30 to 50, but can affect children. Many symptoms overlap with other conditions, including extreme tiredness, areas of darker skin, loss of appetite, weight loss, tummy pain, feeling or being sick, cravings for salty foods, dizziness when standing, joint pain, muscle weakness, cramps, headache, slightly raised temperature, thirst, frequent urination, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and depression.
Medical sources highlight the suntan-like skin darkening as a distinguishing feature. The US National Library of Medicine documents a case of a patient with "suntan-like features." Leukodystrophy charity Alex describes a key indicator as "an all-over sun tan even without going out in the sun," noting it would be unusual and lack sun tan lines. The Mayo Clinic describes hyperpigmentation as "a tan that won't go away," caused by elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates melanin production.
Treatment and management
Treatment primarily involves steroid medication to replace missing hormones, such as hydrocortisone, prednisolone, and fludrocortisone. The NHS advises daily medication for life, with extra doses during illness, surgery, or stress. Patients should carry a steroid emergency card at all times, as steroids should not be stopped suddenly.
