Menu Healthy Lifestyle Diseases & Conditions First Aid Symptoms Tests & Procedures Videos Definitions FAQs MyxedemaUpdated: 2017-06-13OverviewMyxedema is a dry, waxy swelling of the skin. It's caused by buildup of protein parts and water in the skin. It's usually associated with hypothyroidism, a condition in which the gland that makes body-regulating hormones (the thyroid gland) doesn't make enough.In severe cases, a coma may result (myxedema coma). © 1998-2022 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research(MFMER). All rights reserved. Terms of Use