NHS symptoms of deadly condition that could be mistaken for suntan

NHS symptoms of deadly condition that could be mistaken for suntan One young woman was amazed at how dark her skin got during a family holiday but the reason could have killed her. When a young woman's skin turned surprisingly dark during a family holiday "tanning competition", she was horrified to learn it was a life-threatening disease. Many of the symptoms of Addison’s disease are the same as the symptoms of other conditions and one symptom is a darkening of the skin. The NHS has provided several other symptoms of the disease, which is a rare condition where the adrenal glands above your kidneys do not work properly. Addison’s disease can often be managed with treatment but can also turn very serious, as it did for Poppy Guy. The 29-year-old had gone to Malaga, Spain, for a family holiday and, while expecting to go a "nice golden brown" was shocked when her skin in fact turned "black brown", WalesOnline reports. She was also vomiting and experiencing shortness of breath and lightheadedness, and was eventually diagnosed as Addison's disease. While the NHS advises that there’s currently no cure for Addison’s disease, it says it can be managed with medication. However, it also cautions that it can lead to serious and life-threatening complications, the most serious of which is adrenal crisis, a medical emergency. "During adrenal crisis your symptoms get worse very quickly," the NHS says. "This can be triggered by things like an infection, an accident or injury, or surgery." Adrenal crisis can cause problems such as: - severe dehydration - low blood pressure - seizures - loss of consciousness - stroke - your heart suddenly stopping Adrenal crisis is what Poppy was experiencing. It caused her to collapse and she was rushed to hospital, where she says one doctor said if she hadn't been admitted that day she would "probably be dead". Symptoms of Addison's disease The NHS says Addison’s disease "most commonly affects adults between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can sometimes affect children". It advises that many of the symptoms are the same as the symptoms of other conditions. They include: - extreme tiredness/fatigue - areas of skin that are darker than surrounding skin - loss of appetite, weight loss, tummy pain, feeling or being sick and cravings for salty foods - feeling dizzy or light-headed when standing up - joint pain, muscle weakness and muscle cramps - headache - a slightly raised temperature - feeling thirsty and needing to pee a lot - difficulty concentrating - anxiety and depression The US Government's National Library of Medicine reports on a case study of a patient with Addison's disease who "presented with suntan-like features". Leukodystrophy charity Alex says a "key" sign of Addison's disease is "an all-over sun tan even without going out in the sun". It adds: "The suntan would be unusual for the person and there would be no sun tan lines." What is Addison's disease and how do you treat it? Addison’s disease means your adrenal glands are not producing enough hormones, including steroids. There’s currently no cure but there are medicines that can help manage the condition The main treatment is steroid medicine to replace the missing hormones your body needs. Medicines you may be given include hydrocortisone, prednisolone and fludrocortisone. The NHS says: "You’ll usually need to take your medicine every day for the rest of your life. It’s important you always have enough to avoid running out. At certain times you may need to take extra medicine, such as when you’re unwell, about to have surgery, or during stressful periods like when taking exams. "If you’re taking steroids, you should carry a steroid emergency card with you at all times. This tells healthcare professionals you have Addison’s disease and you take steroid medicine that should not be stopped suddenly."