28 June 2023 , 18:14
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Changes to your skin could be a subtle sign of Parkinson's disease.
Amongst a number of other symptoms which may present sooner or become more obvious, early sufferers could see their skin becoming more oily or more dry than usual.
It can lead to an increased risk of melanoma and changes are more often seen on the face or scalp.
Others have trouble with dry skin or excessive sweating.
Sometimes sweating occurs on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, while drenching sweats, particularly at night, can also be a warning sign.
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Excessive sweating is often a “wearing off” symptom for people who experience fluctuations in the effectiveness of their medication.
Earlier this month, actor Michael J. Fox was honoured for his contribution to Parkinson's disease research at a healthcare conference earlier this month.
Legendary Scottish comedian, Billy Connolly, 80, was diagnosed with Parkinson's back in 2013 and has been incredibly open about how his life has changed since.
Actor Michael J. Fox was honoured for his contribution to Parkinson's disease research at a healthcare conference earlier this month (Getty Images)Tips for Excessive Sweating
- Ask your doctor about adjusting your carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet®) dose.
- Take lukewarm showers
- Wear lightweight cotton clothes in warm weather
- Drink lots of water and other liquids
- In severe cases, for drenching sweats, your doctor may prescribe oral medications
- For the palms and the feet, your doctor may prescribe topical medications
Other symptoms of the disease can be categorised into motor and non-motor, which denotes if the signs are physical and obvious, or underlying and more hidden, according to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for research into the disease.
]Motor Symptoms (movement)
People are usually more familiar with the motor (movement) symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). These signs are noticeable from the outside and are used by doctors to make a diagnosis. The three main motor symptoms of PD are:
- Stiffness (rigidity): muscle stiffness detected by a doctor on examination
- Slowness (bradykinesia): decrease in spontaneous and voluntary movement; may include slower walking, less arm swinging while walking, or decreased blinking or facial expression
- Resting tremor : a rhythmic, involuntary shaking that occurs in a finger, hand or limb when it's relaxed and disappears during voluntary movement.
Not everyone with Parkinson's experiences all three motor symptoms, but slowness always is present.
While a tremor is the most common symptom at diagnosis, not everyone with Parkinson's has tremor.
Other motor symptoms, including walking problems or difficulty with balance and coordination, also may occur and can happen any time in the course of Parkinson's, but are more likely as the disease advances.
Non-motor symptoms (non-movement)
Non-motor (non-movement) symptoms sometimes are called the "invisible" symptoms of Parkinson's because you can't see them from the outside. These common symptoms can affect almost every body system, occur any time in the course of disease (even before motor symptoms or diagnosis) and differ in severity from person to person. Non-motor symptoms can significantly impact quality of life for people with Parkinson's and their families. They may include:
- Constipation : decreased or difficult-to-pass bowel movements
- Low blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension): decrease in blood pressure when changing positions, such as standing from sitting, which can cause lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting
- Sexual problems : erectile dysfunction in men; decreased libido or pain in women
- Sweating problems : excessive perspiration, even when not hot or anxious
- Urine problems : frequent urination, involuntary loss of urine (incontinence) or difficulty emptying the bladder (weak stream)
Mood and Thinking Changes
Parkinson's disease can impact how you feel and think.
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- Apathy : lack of motivation and interest in activities
- Memory or thinking (cognitive) problems : this can range from multitasking and concentration difficulties that don’t interfere with daily activities (mild cognitive impairment) to significant problems that impact a job and daily and social activities (dementia)
- Mood disturbances : depression (sadness, loss of energy, decreased interest in activities) and anxiety (uncontrollable worry)
- Psychosis : seeing things that aren't there (visual hallucinations) and having false, often paranoid, beliefs (delusions), such as that a spouse is being unfaithful or money is being stolen.
Michael J. Fox, 62, was diagnosed with the condition in around 1991 and he later set up The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which is "dedicated to finding a cure".
He was honoured for his advocacy in the field at the Bits & Pretzels HealthTech convention in Munich earlier this week, with him accepting an award at the event on Tuesday.
He was among the guests at the ICM Munich for the annual conference, which is said to bring "startup founders, investors, corporates and healthcare regulators" together.
Billy Connolly, 80, was diagnosed with Parkinson's back in 2013 and has been incredibly open about how his life has changed since (Getty Images)He became the inaugural recipient of the Frontier Award, which honours people who "venture into the unknown, face adversity with courage and persist with optimism".
Last year Billy Connolly opened up about how he handles his diagnosis, saying: "I have to behave in a certain way so my children don't think I'm a dead loss.
"They don't feel sorry for me. I want them to think: 'He does well with what he's got.' That's it.
"Parkinson's Disease has taken a lot from me. I can't play the banjo anymore. It's just a noise.
"I can't yodel anymore. I can't smoke cigars. It's taken more and more of what I like. It's kind of painful."