A young woman's skin turned unexpectedly dark during a family holiday, and she later learned it was a sign of Addison's disease, a rare but potentially fatal condition. The NHS warns that many symptoms of Addison's disease, including skin darkening, can be mistaken for other conditions.
Woman's holiday 'tan' turned out to be a medical emergency
Poppy Guy, 29, was on a family holiday in Malaga, Spain, when her skin turned "black brown" instead of the "nice golden brown" she expected. She also experienced vomiting, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. She was later diagnosed with Addison's disease and was experiencing an adrenal crisis, a medical emergency.
During the crisis, she collapsed and was rushed to hospital. A doctor told her that if she hadn't been admitted that day, she would "probably be dead."
NHS lists symptoms of Addison's disease
Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands above the kidneys do not work properly. The NHS advises that it most commonly affects adults aged 30 to 50, but can affect children. Symptoms include extreme tiredness, areas of skin darker than surrounding skin, loss of appetite, weight loss, tummy pain, feeling or being sick, cravings for salty foods, dizziness when standing up, joint pain, muscle weakness, cramps, headache, slightly raised temperature, thirst, frequent urination, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and depression.
Leukodystrophy charity Alex notes that a "key" sign is "an all-over sun tan even without going out in the sun," adding that the tan would be unusual for the person and there would be no sun tan lines.
Adrenal crisis: a life-threatening complication
Adrenal crisis can be triggered by infection, accident, injury, or surgery. Symptoms include severe dehydration, low blood pressure, seizures, loss of consciousness, stroke, and sudden cardiac arrest.
There is no cure for Addison's disease, but it can be managed with steroid medicine, such as hydrocortisone, prednisolone, and fludrocortisone. The NHS advises that patients need to take the medicine daily for life, carry a steroid emergency card, and may need extra doses during illness, surgery, or stress.
