Utah Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

Addison's disease is characterized by:

1. Too much hydro-cortisone production

2. Too little hydro-cortisone production

3. Autoimmune skin conditions

4. Overactive thyroid function

The correct answer is: Too little hydro-cortisone production

Addison's disease is characterized by insufficient production of hormones by the adrenal glands, particularly cortisol, which is also known as hydrocortisone. The adrenal glands, situated on top of each kidney, play a crucial role in producing hormones that regulate metabolism, immune response, and stress response. In Addison's disease, the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol, leading to various symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, low blood pressure, and darkening of the skin. In this context, understanding the adrenal glands’ role and the significance of cortisol is essential. Elevated cortisol levels are associated with conditions such as Cushing's syndrome, which is different from Addison’s disease. Additionally, conditions related to autoimmune skin diseases or overactive thyroid function do not pertain to Addison's disease specifically, as they involve different mechanisms of hormonal imbalance or autoimmune responses. Thus, the key aspect of Addison’s disease is indeed the underproduction of hydrocortisone, making the correct choice the one reflecting too little cortisol production.