What does endocrine imbalance mean?
Disease description:
A female friend of mine in her thirties went to the hospital for examination due to developing facial melasma, and the results showed endocrine disorder. Could you please explain what endocrine disorder means?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Bai Hongmei
Endocrine disorder refers to a functional disturbance in the body's endocrine system, leading to excessive, insufficient, or absent hormone secretion, thereby causing a state of hormonal imbalance.
The endocrine system is a fluid regulatory system composed of endocrine glands and endocrine cells scattered within various tissues and organs. Hormones secreted by these glands or cells directly enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system and are transported via body fluids to target cells, regulating their functions and thus influencing various physiological activities and life phenomena such as metabolism, growth and development, and reproduction and aging.
When the endocrine system is disturbed by factors such as unhealthy lifestyle habits, negative emotions, harmful substances entering the circulatory system, or significant temperature changes, endocrine disorders may result. These disorders can cause symptoms such as acne, pigmentation spots, irritability, anxiety, depression, weight changes, irregular menstrual cycles, abnormal menstrual flow, dysmenorrhea, abnormal hair growth, and fatigue.
Treating endocrine disorders requires a comprehensive consideration of the underlying causes, symptom severity, and individual differences, and may involve lifestyle adjustments, medication, hormone replacement therapy, psychological therapy, and surgical treatment.
