Brittle hair and skin changes are often associated with which endocrine condition?

Brittle hair and skin changes are commonly associated with hypothyroidism. This condition occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, leading to a slowdown in various metabolic processes. Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in maintaining the health of hair and skin. When thyroid levels are low, you may notice that hair becomes dry, brittle, and becomes nonexistent due to the lack of stimulation for hair follicles, while skin may appear rough, dry, and less elastic because of impaired moisture retention and reduced turnover of skin cells.

In contrast, conditions like hyperthyroidism might lead to changes such as thinning hair rather than brittleness, while Cushing syndrome is more linked to other skin conditions like striae and changes in pigmentation. Diabetes mellitus can lead to several skin manifestations, but brittle hair is primarily associated with thyroid hormone deficiencies rather than glucose regulation issues. Thus, hypothyroidism is the best association for brittle hair and skin changes among the options provided.