Skin discoloration

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone -

I have a 44 year old patient who presented recently with concerns re: neck

skin discoloration, water retention (ankles) and digestive issues. Her main

concern and what is puzzling me is the skin discoloration that started two

years ago. She is of East Indian heritage and with her coloring the

discoloration appears almost charcoal-colored and is focussed around her

neck and backs of her arms in a fairly large area that has slowly grown over

the past few years. It has no other remarkable feature except the

darkening. She has no other skin issues except stretch marks during

pregnancy.

We did recent bloodwork and she has mild iron deficiency, high chloride, low

normal GGT (10 - so magnesium is low) and slightly elevated cholesterol -

otherwise the general chem panel was unremarkable and thyroid function is

fine.

Pt. has indicated high stress has been an issue for several years, but no

significant single event. She sees no other etiology to what changed for

her two years ago.

We are focussing now on eliminating food sensitivities, digestive support,

adrenal support and BTG's.

My question is what might be a cause for something like this? I have some

vague recollection of having heard of this before but can't recall what it

may be related to.

Thanks for any input!!

Polinsky, ND

Vancouver, B.C.

Women's/Family medicine

[Guest guest]

Since I have just taken 2/3rds of my boards (final day

is friday) the major causes of darkened skin

pigmentation(not vitiligo)are...

's Disease

Hemochromatosis/siderosis

and I believe a connection between the thyroid and

vitamin A/beta carotene but that mostly does the palms

and soles.

Good luck!

, ND, 2/3rds of NABNE

Portland, OR

--- " Dr. Polinsky " <drpolinsky@...>

wrote:

> Hello everyone -

>

> I have a 44 year old patient who presented recently

> with concerns re: neck

> skin discoloration, water retention (ankles) and

> digestive issues. Her main

> concern and what is puzzling me is the skin

> discoloration that started two

> years ago. She is of East Indian heritage and with

> her coloring the

> discoloration appears almost charcoal-colored and is

> focussed around her

> neck and backs of her arms in a fairly large area

> that has slowly grown over

> the past few years. It has no other remarkable

> feature except the

> darkening. She has no other skin issues except

> stretch marks during

> pregnancy.

>

> We did recent bloodwork and she has mild iron

> deficiency, high chloride, low

> normal GGT (10 - so magnesium is low) and slightly

> elevated cholesterol -

> otherwise the general chem panel was unremarkable

> and thyroid function is

> fine.

>

> Pt. has indicated high stress has been an issue for

> several years, but no

> significant single event. She sees no other

> etiology to what changed for

> her two years ago.

>

> We are focussing now on eliminating food

> sensitivities, digestive support,

> adrenal support and BTG's.

>

> My question is what might be a cause for something

> like this? I have some

> vague recollection of having heard of this before

> but can't recall what it

> may be related to.

>

> Thanks for any input!!

>

> Polinsky, ND

> Vancouver, B.C.

> Women's/Family medicine

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Consider Acanthosis Nigricans (velvety darkening of skin, found often around

the nape of neck and under arms), especially if she also presents with

oligomenorrhea/ ammenorrhea, difficulty conceiving, history of miscarriage.

Acanthosis Nigricans can be piggy-backed along with PCOS, the metabolic syndrome

and

hormones that need some alignment.

Just a thought.

Lemley, ND

Bozeman, MT

[Guest guest]

Sometimes is an inability to process betacarotenes, or the orange color in

carrots, pumpkin, etc. Try leaving out the orange foods and make sure her

vitamins don't have beta carotene in them.

[ ] Skin discoloration

I have been noticing my fair-skinned child has areas on her body that

look yellowish. Not all her skin, just like her armpits, her knees

and her neck. I know she is mercury toxic but have not read anything

about this being part of it. Is this normal for mercury

toxicity/autism/immune compromised children? Any ideas of whether I

should do anything about it?

Thanks! Wyndie

[Guest guest]

Oh boy, that's going to be hard. I know it's in some of her

vitamins for sure. As I was talking about this to my mom, she

mentioned that my 1 year old has been getting this look, only in the

face. She has sensory issues and only eats butternut squash and

green beans (pureed) with quinoa mixed in. She has been getting

more and more butternut squash colored. Because I'm with her 24/7 I

hadn't really noticed, but now that she said something, I do see

it. Does this mean she likely doesn't process betacarotenes

either? I just may scream. I have no idea what to feed her if she

isn't handling the squash well. I doubt living off green beans and

quinoa is all that great. LOL Is there a supplement I can give to

help them process betacarotenes? My dd #1 is on a huge list of

supps, the baby is only on GSE and CLO.

Thanks for your response

Wyndie

>

> Sometimes is an inability to process betacarotenes, or the orange

color in carrots, pumpkin, etc. Try leaving out the orange foods and

make sure her vitamins don't have beta carotene in them.

>

>

>

> [ ] Skin discoloration

>

>

> I have been noticing my fair-skinned child has areas on her body

that

> look yellowish. Not all her skin, just like her armpits, her

knees

> and her neck. I know she is mercury toxic but have not read

anything

> about this being part of it. Is this normal for mercury

> toxicity/autism/immune compromised children? Any ideas of

whether I

> should do anything about it?

> Thanks! Wyndie

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm unaware of any supplements that help process beta carotenes, maybe Dana will

know, although I don't remember her saying, just that she kept her kids off the

orange things.

I do know chelation helps with this. Also, have their thyroids checked, can't

remember why but thinking this has something to do with thyroid function. Make

sure and have the TSH and the free T3 and free T4 done as nothing else tells you

what you need to know.

Almost all labs apply adult ref ranges for the above thyroid tests, so post them

when/if you get them so someone can give the correct pediatric ref range.

Good luck,

[ ] Skin discoloration

>

>

> I have been noticing my fair-skinned child has areas on her body

that

> look yellowish. Not all her skin, just like her armpits, her

knees

> and her neck. I know she is mercury toxic but have not read

anything

> about this being part of it. Is this normal for mercury

> toxicity/autism/immune compromised children? Any ideas of

whether I

> should do anything about it?

> Thanks! Wyndie

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks ! I'll do that.

Wyndie

[Guest guest]

What about the soles of her feet and palms of her hands? I think I

remember reading those areas are typically discolored in people who

are taking too much beta carotene. I don't know if that holds true

for those who simply are unable to process beta carotene.

I also remember reading that adding protein, zinc and something else

(now that helps, doesn't it) to the diet can assist in the

processing of beta carotene to retinol (Vit A).

, would the people unable to process beta carotene have a

vitamin A deficiency (if they don't supplement)?

has the easier resolution: remove the beta carotene rich

foods/ supplements from the diet and see what happens. The

discoloration is reversible if it is beta carotene related.

Pam

> >

> > Sometimes is an inability to process betacarotenes, or the

orange

> color in carrots, pumpkin, etc. Try leaving out the orange foods

and

> make sure her vitamins don't have beta carotene in them.

> >

> >

> >

> > [ ] Skin discoloration

> >

> >

> > I have been noticing my fair-skinned child has areas on her

body

> that

> > look yellowish. Not all her skin, just like her armpits, her

> knees

> > and her neck. I know she is mercury toxic but have not read

> anything

> > about this being part of it. Is this normal for mercury

> > toxicity/autism/immune compromised children? Any ideas of

> whether I

> > should do anything about it?

> > Thanks! Wyndie

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

>

> I'm unaware of any supplements that help process beta carotenes,

maybe Dana will know, although I don't remember her saying, just that

she kept her kids off the orange things.

My kids could not eat anything orange or green [no carotene or lutein]

until the end of ALA chelation plus selenium and several other

supplements.

If the yellow skin is a jaundice issue, adding milk thistle would be a

good idea. But for my son, it was improper carotene conversion.

It might be that your child can convert limited amounts, just not

large quantities. So you might be able to give *some* of the squash,

just not very much. I could not give ANY orange or green foods to my

son tho.

> I do know chelation helps with this. Also, have their thyroids

checked, can't remember why but thinking this has something to do with

thyroid function.

The body needs zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and thyroid hormone to

convert carotenes into vitamin A.

Dana

[Guest guest]

They would have a Vitamin A deficiency, I guess, if they were relying on foods

which are mainly beta carotene sourced. Although they stick A palmitate in just

about everything they can. Try to avoid it and you will find out how many things

have it added.

A lot of our kids have problems with beta carotenes, this is not uncommon.

Before my kid turned orange :-) think I would avoid the beta carotenes, and add

in some A in the form of acetate.

Btw, went to the Vitamin Shoppe to repurchase the Twin Labs Allergy A, they were

out, but our local HFS is still carrying, although at a discount, as I am sure

they quit producing it. My dd bought all the store had.

[ ] Skin discoloration

> >

> >

> > I have been noticing my fair-skinned child has areas on her

body

> that

> > look yellowish. Not all her skin, just like her armpits, her

> knees

> > and her neck. I know she is mercury toxic but have not read

> anything

> > about this being part of it. Is this normal for mercury

> > toxicity/autism/immune compromised children? Any ideas of

> whether I

> > should do anything about it?

> > Thanks! Wyndie

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi, the skin on my face and hands used to turn orange from

betacarotene foods due to poor conversion and when I started on

thyroid (and adrenal) glandulars it more or less stopped. I've also

been chelating over the past year though still need to chelate a lot

more. I switched from glandulars to taking armour but recently

reduced this and just taking a bit of Iodoral for iodine instead but

I've noticed I still dont get the orange tint to my skin when I eat

carrots or other betacarotene rich vegetables. So I wonder if

chelation too has helped with this alongside the thyroid support. Its

lucky its improved as I cant tolerate vitamin A. I also heard that

B12 helps with the conversion aswell as the other things mentioned

like zinc etc. I really dont know what would be appropriate thyroid

support for a 1yr old child though or maybe some extra minerals would

be enough, unless she is fine with taking vitamin A. I can imagine

its a real problem when the diet is restricted but it is definitely

reversible.

Hope that helps,

Anne

> > >

> > > Sometimes is an inability to process betacarotenes, or the

> orange

> > color in carrots, pumpkin, etc. Try leaving out the orange foods

> and

> > make sure her vitamins don't have beta carotene in them.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > [ ] Skin discoloration

> > >

> > >

> > > I have been noticing my fair-skinned child has areas on her

> body

> > that

> > > look yellowish. Not all her skin, just like her armpits, her

> > knees

> > > and her neck. I know she is mercury toxic but have not read

> > anything

> > > about this being part of it. Is this normal for mercury

> > > toxicity/autism/immune compromised children? Any ideas of

> > whether I

> > > should do anything about it?

> > > Thanks! Wyndie

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Re: Skin discoloration

The body needs zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and thyroid hormone to

convert carotenes into vitamin A.Ok, so I think I need to try either Vitamin A

from acetate (?) or get all these supplements going. Now on my first dd, she is

already on all these things except for thyroid hormone. After reading Andy's

hair test interpretations book, I don't see indications that she has thyroid

problems, so I will try Vit A first. But she also appears to be unable to

absorb zinc as she is incredibly deficient even though we supplement huge

amounts. For my younger dd, can I sprinkle the Vit A in her food or is it

available as a liquid?Ugh, I know my kids need chelating, and it's not difficult

for me to do the older ones, but just thinking of chelating the baby makes me so

nervous! The more I learn, the more amazed I am at how much in the body is

affected by this heavy metal.Thank you for all the replies to my question!

:)Wyndie

[Guest guest]

>>For my younger dd, can I sprinkle the Vit A in her food or is it

available as a liquid?

You can buy it as a liquid in a dropper bottle.

Dana

[Guest guest]

How bad is it to feed a child products with beta carotene if they

cannot convert it? I mean, along with them turning orange, are

there other health problems this causes? There are so many things

we are fighting right now, I don't know that I can completely cut

out orange foods. We have multiple food allergies so are already on

a severely limited diet and we eat quite a bit of squash. I can

certainly reduce the amount we eat, but was just wondering if it

harms them in some way I am unaware of.

Also, is the Vit A in CLO enough to help them with this? My DD #1

takes 12 softgels a day (spread thruout the day) equaling roughly

600-1200 IU. She weighs 35 lbs. The baby takes 2 per day equaling

100-200 IU. She weighs 19 lbs. Will adding extra Vit A be OK or

will it be too much? I do not know the recommended doses for our

special kids.

Thanks again! Wyndie

> >

> > I'm unaware of any supplements that help process beta carotenes,

> maybe Dana will know, although I don't remember her saying, just

that

> she kept her kids off the orange things.

>

>

> My kids could not eat anything orange or green [no carotene or

lutein]

> until the end of ALA chelation plus selenium and several other

> supplements.

>

> If the yellow skin is a jaundice issue, adding milk thistle would

be a

> good idea. But for my son, it was improper carotene conversion.

>

> It might be that your child can convert limited amounts, just not

> large quantities. So you might be able to give *some* of the

squash,

> just not very much. I could not give ANY orange or green foods to

my

> son tho.

>

>

> > I do know chelation helps with this. Also, have their thyroids

> checked, can't remember why but thinking this has something to do

with

> thyroid function.

>

> The body needs zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and thyroid hormone to

> convert carotenes into vitamin A.

>

> Dana

>

[Guest guest]

I would consider having her liver enzymes checked just to be safe.

Pamela

" Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless

you're scared. "

Eddie Rickenbacker, top US fighter ace, WWI

_____

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of Wyndie

Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 9:08 PM

Subject: [ ] Skin discoloration

I have been noticing my fair-skinned child has areas on her body that

look yellowish. Not all her skin, just like her armpits, her knees

and her neck. I know she is mercury toxic but have not read anything

about this being part of it. Is this normal for mercury

toxicity/autism/immune compromised children? Any ideas of whether I

should do anything about it?

Thanks! Wyndie

[Guest guest]

>

> How bad is it to feed a child products with beta carotene if they

> cannot convert it? I mean, along with them turning orange, are

> there other health problems this causes?

For my son, he was only slightly yellow, not really enough to notice

unless you were really looking. However, it REALLY affected his

brain, very obviously and nasty.

So I guess it depends on how the carotenes are affecting your child.

> Also, is the Vit A in CLO enough to help them with this?

Vitamin A did not help my son with carotene conversion.

If your child does not have measles virus issues, then giving CLO

daily should provide at least some vitamin A.

My DD #1

> takes 12 softgels a day (spread thruout the day) equaling roughly

> 600-1200 IU. She weighs 35 lbs. The baby takes 2 per day equaling

> 100-200 IU. She weighs 19 lbs. Will adding extra Vit A be OK or

> will it be too much? I do not know the recommended doses for our

> special kids.

These doses seem okay, unless there is measles virus. Adding extra is

okay unless it causes signs of toxicity

http://www.danasview.net/vitamina.htm

Dana

[Guest guest]

My wife Jen was diagnosed with DM in August. She has been on Minocycoline for

about three weeks (200 mg). About two weeks ago she noticed that her forehead

was appearing brownish. Since she has had a very red rash all over her face

since Spring, it was difficult to discern at first, but it has gotten much

darker since it started.

We were wondering if the discoloration is from the DM or perhaps a change in

pigmentation form the Minocycoline. I think that we read that Minocycoline can

affect pigmentation.

Has anyone had this experience? If so, is the discoloration likely to ever go

away?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Ken

[Guest guest]

Dr Chui, who used to advise on this list, recommended to take extra vitamin

C to help avoid discoloration from Minocin. Check the protocol to see if

the recommended dosage is listed. Perhaps someone remembers. I take 1000

-1500mg

Take care,

Ute

[Guest guest]

From the FAQ on www.rheumatic.org -

" 5. WHAT IS HYPERPIGMENTATION? Minocycline can cause discoloration of the

skin anywhere on the body. This is called hyperpigmentation. Large daily

doses of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) may prevent this phenomenon. (Bowles WH,

Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M University System Protection against

minocycline pigment formation by ascorbic acid, J Esthet Dent, 10(4):182-6

1998)

Dr. A. Franco, a rheumatologist practicing in Riverside, California,

says that hyperpigmentation occurs in about 10% to 20% of patients taking

minocycline (Minocin) on a daily basis and over one year. Occasionally it

may appear earlier. It occurs less frequently with patients taking Minocin

on a three times per week basis. It may be necessary to switch to another

antibiotic. It is usually reversible after discontinuation of the

medication, but fades slowly and sometimes not completely.

Dr. Pnina Langevitz in Israel has done three double-blind studies on the use

of minocycline in rheumatoid arthritis with some patients on the medication

over 5 years. The following is from Langevitz et al - Minocycline in

Rheumatoid Arthritis; Isr. J. Med Sci 1996;32:327-330. 'We also observed

skin hyperpigmentation in about one third of our patients as a late

complication of the therapy. Minocycline related hyperpigmentation of the

skin is a well known complication of this agent and can be subdivided into

three categories. The first is characterized by dark black-blue macules

localized at sites of cutaneous inflammation. . . . . . . . . . . The second

type is a more diffuse hyperpigmentation, predominantly on the lower

extremeties and on areas exposed to sunlight. . . . . . . . The third form

of minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation is the 'muddy skin syndrome' Ð a

dark brown-gray discoloration of the skin generalized over the body, less

prominent in non exposed areas. The high incidence of skin hyperpigmentation

in our group of patients is probably due to the longer follow-up period than

that in other groups, and to sun exposure.' (Patients in this study were on

100 mg. of minocycline twice daily.) "

As someone has already mentioned, Dr. Chiu found that prescribing vitamin C

to his patients on Minocin, was helpful in preventing hyperpigmentation.

You might try anywhere from 3,000 to 5000 mg. per day.

Ethel

rheumatic Skin discoloration

> My wife Jen was diagnosed with DM in August. She has been on Minocycoline

> for about three weeks (200 mg). About two weeks ago she noticed that her

> forehead was appearing brownish. Since she has had a very red rash all

> over her face since Spring, it was difficult to discern at first, but it

> has gotten much darker since it started.

>

> We were wondering if the discoloration is from the DM or perhaps a change

> in pigmentation form the Minocycoline. I think that we read that

> Minocycoline can affect pigmentation.

>

> Has anyone had this experience? If so, is the discoloration likely to

> ever go away?

>

> Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Many thanks,

> Ken

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribe@...! Groups

> Links

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Would the Vit. C work at removing the discolorations that I have already?

Mona

Re: rheumatic Skin discoloration

Dr Chui, who used to advise on this list, recommended to take extra vitamin

C to help avoid discoloration from Minocin. Check the protocol to see if

the recommended dosage is listed. Perhaps someone remembers. I take 1000

-1500mg

Take care,

Ute

[Guest guest]

I am on minocicline for 2yrs now. I have a very dark tan , evenly coving all

of me. I get alot of comments about my " tan " I was on the darker side of white

before, but now Im very dark. I do not avoid the sun, but I dont lay out in it

either. I am lucky I dont have spots, but lately Im not happy when i see my

photo standing next to my blonde daughter and dont look related to her! Kathy