Is Your Body Changing? Why Your Features Grow and What to Know About Acromegaly

Have you noticed that your rings feel tighter, your shoes no longer fit, or your facial features look different in recent photos? Maybe your jaw seems more prominent, your nose broader, or your hands larger than they used to be.

While gradual body changes can happen with age, progressive enlargement of hands, feet, or facial features in adulthood is not normal. One possible cause is a rare hormonal condition called acromegaly.

This article explains what acromegaly is, why it causes physical changes, what symptoms to watch for, and what the next steps should be if you're concerned.

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What Is Acromegaly?

Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that happens when your body produces too much growth hormone (GH) after you have finished growing.

In most cases, the excess growth hormone is caused by a non-cancerous tumor (adenoma) in the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of your brain that controls many hormones in your body.

Growth hormone normally helps regulate:

• Growth during childhood
• Muscle and bone development
• Metabolism
• Energy levels

In children, too much growth hormone causes gigantism (excessive height). In adults, because the growth plates in the bones have already closed, the condition causes thickening and enlargement of bones and soft tissues instead. That is acromegaly.

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Why Do Your Features Grow in Acromegaly?

Excess growth hormone stimulates the liver to produce another hormone called insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). High levels of IGF-1 cause tissues throughout the body to grow.

This leads to:

• Thickening of bones (especially in the hands, feet, and face)
• Enlargement of soft tissues
• Organ enlargement
• Joint and cartilage changes

Because this process happens slowly—often over years—many people don't realize their appearance is changing until they compare old and new photographs.

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Common Signs and Symptoms of Acromegaly

Acromegaly develops gradually. Symptoms can be subtle at first.

Changes in Appearance

• Larger hands (rings no longer fit)
• Larger feet (increase in shoe size)
• Broader nose
• Enlarged jaw or protruding lower jaw
• Wider spacing between teeth
• Thicker lips
• More prominent brow
• Thickened skin
• Skin tags

Physical Symptoms

• Joint pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (numbness/tingling in hands)
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Excessive sweating
• Oily skin
• Deepened voice
• Enlarged tongue
• Snoring or sleep apnea

Internal Health Effects

Untreated acromegaly can affect internal organs and increase the risk of:

• High blood pressure
• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart enlargement (cardiomyopathy)
• Colon polyps
• Arthritis
• Sleep apnea
• Vision problems (if the tumor presses on nearby nerves)

These complications are why early diagnosis matters.

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How Common Is Acromegaly?

Acromegaly is rare. It affects approximately 3 to 14 people per 100,000, depending on the population studied. Because it develops slowly, many people live with symptoms for years before receiving a diagnosis.

The average delay in diagnosis is often 5 to 10 years.

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When Should You Be Concerned?

Not every change in your body means acromegaly. Normal aging can cause:

• Weight gain
• Skin changes
• Mild joint discomfort
• Slight changes in facial appearance

However, you should consider further evaluation if you notice:

• Progressive enlargement of hands or feet
• Clear changes in facial structure over time
• Increasing ring or shoe size as an adult
• Multiple symptoms from the list above
• A combination of physical changes and high blood pressure or diabetes

If you're experiencing any combination of these symptoms and want to understand whether they could be related to Acromegaly, a free AI-powered symptom checker can help you quickly assess your symptoms and determine if you should seek medical evaluation.

This is not a diagnosis—but it can help you decide whether to seek medical care.

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How Is Acromegaly Diagnosed?

If your doctor suspects acromegaly, testing typically includes:

1. Blood Tests

• IGF-1 level (usually elevated in acromegaly)
• Growth hormone suppression test (oral glucose tolerance test)

2. Imaging

• MRI of the pituitary gland to look for a tumor

Early diagnosis is important because treatment can prevent long-term complications and may reverse some symptoms.

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What Are the Treatment Options?

The goal of treatment is to:

• Normalize growth hormone and IGF-1 levels
• Remove or shrink the tumor
• Prevent long-term complications

1. Surgery

The most common first-line treatment is surgical removal of the pituitary tumor. When successful, hormone levels can return to normal quickly.

2. Medication

If surgery doesn't fully resolve the condition, medications may be used, including:

• Somatostatin analogs
• Growth hormone receptor blockers
• Dopamine agonists

These medications reduce growth hormone production or block its effects.

3. Radiation Therapy

Radiation may be used if surgery and medication are not fully effective.

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Can Acromegaly Be Cured?

In many cases, especially when diagnosed early and treated surgically, acromegaly can be controlled or cured.

However, untreated acromegaly can shorten life expectancy due to cardiovascular disease and other complications.

The good news: When treated appropriately, life expectancy often returns to near normal.

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Why Early Action Matters

Because acromegaly develops slowly, it's easy to dismiss symptoms. But delaying evaluation can allow complications to develop.

If you're noticing changes in:

• Facial structure
• Hand or foot size
• Joint health
• Sleep quality
• Blood sugar or blood pressure

It's reasonable—not dramatic—to ask questions.

Being proactive is not overreacting. It's smart healthcare.

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What Should You Do Next?

If you suspect acromegaly:

1. Compare old and recent photos.
2. Write down your symptoms.
3. Consider using a free AI-powered Acromegaly symptom checker to see if your symptoms align with this condition.
4. Make an appointment with your primary care doctor or an endocrinologist.

Be clear and direct. You can say:

"I've noticed my hands, feet, and facial features seem to be changing. Could this be acromegaly? Can we check my IGF-1 level?"

If you experience severe headaches, vision problems, or symptoms of heart issues (such as chest pain or shortness of breath), seek urgent medical care.

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Final Thoughts

Acromegaly is rare—but real. Gradual changes in your appearance, especially enlargement of hands, feet, and facial features in adulthood, are not simply "normal aging."

At the same time, not every body change means something serious. The key is awareness and action.

If something feels different about your body:

• Don't panic.
• Don't ignore it.
• Get informed.
• Speak to a doctor.

Hormonal conditions like acromegaly are treatable. The earlier they're found, the better the outcome.

If you are concerned about symptoms that could be serious or life-threatening, please speak to a doctor promptly. Early evaluation can protect your long-term health.