A double chin is common and can be caused by changes in your thyroid or other factors. It's generally nothing to be worried about. If you're experiencing other symptoms that could indicate problems with your thyroid, talk to your doctor to see if you need further assessment and treatment.
There are various medical conditions that may contribute to a double chin. Some of these include an underactive thyroid, Cushing's disease, kidney disorders, salivary gland inflammation and a sinus infection.
A lack of thyroid hormone can be associated with facial swelling, though not everyone with hypothyroidism experiences this symptom. Facial puffiness is most common in advanced hypothyroidism. It usually accompanies other changes in a person's appearance, including a change in skin texture and tone.
A double chin, also known as submental fat, is a common concern because hormonal changes and genetics can lead to fat tissue accumulation in the chin area. Losing weight can help reduce your overall body fat percentage, but you can't spot-reduce fat.
A swelling or enlargement in the neck is a visible clue that something may be wrong with the thyroid. A goiter may occur with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Sometimes swelling in the neck can result from thyroid cancer or nodules, lumps that grow inside the thyroid.
If you have a double chin despite being skinny, your body just happens to genetically store extra fat around the jawline. There's really nothing unusual about it, but it does present a challenge in that your chin fat is much harder to target through diet and exercise alone.
Age. As you get older, your skin's collagen and elastin get thinner and weaker. These proteins in your skin are responsible for keeping your skin full, firm, and elastic. Your body produces less of these proteins over time, causing your skin to sag, including the skin under your jaw.
With thyroid fatigue, you may feel like you can't get through a day without a nap. You may sleep more than usual but still feel completely exhausted. You may not even have the energy to exercise. At times, you may fall asleep during the day or very quickly at night.
Common symptoms are fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, constipation, hair loss, "brain fog," skin dryness, nail changes, and menstrual cycle changes (typically irregular cycling). Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Hypothyroidism is underactivity of the thyroid gland that leads to inadequate production of thyroid hormones and a slowing of vital body functions. Facial expressions become dull, the voice is hoarse, speech is slow, eyelids droop, and the eyes and face become puffy.
Swollen glands, known medically as lymphadenopathy, may be felt under the chin or in the neck, armpits or groin, where they can be found in larger clumps. Many different types of infection can cause swollen glands, such as a cold or glandular fever.
While a double chin isn't necessarily something to worry about, the root cause can cause health issues. For example, obesity, which is the main cause of a double chin, can be linked to several health issues, including a higher mortality rate, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and more.
Bad posture can also weaken your neck muscles. Like aging, this muscle loss can lead to saggy skin around the neck and a double chin.
Not exactly. While chewing gum can help keep the muscles of your jaw strong and may give your chin a little lift, chewing gum cannot reduce fat deposits found in your double chin.
While double chin is mostly associated with excess weight or weight gain, even those who are skinny can still have it.
Excess weight does contribute to the development of a double chin, but it isn't only the cause. Besides, skinny people can still have it. This is why losing weight doesn't guarantee that you'll ditch your double chin.
Why is my face getting fat but not my body? Increased facial fat is typically due to weight gain. It may also be as a result of water retention, which can make the face appear puffy or swollen. Making changes to a person's diet and lifestyle can help support weight management and prevent excess facial fat.
Why are my cheeks chubby, but I'm skinny? If you're slim and still have chubby cheeks and a rounded face, then you probably have large buccal fat pads. A buccal fat pad is an area of fat in the cheeks between the facial muscles right below the cheekbones.
When you touch it, you can tell it isn't fat since it is firm and doesn't move much. Most thyroid goiters are painless, but they may produce symptoms due to their size itself. The most common symptom from a thyroid goiter is a lump in the neck.