Can toxic chemicals trigger vitiligo?

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Can toxic chemicals trigger vitiligo?

20 May 2009 7 Comments

toxic vitiligo Today I was reading an aritcle about the effects of oxidative stress on vitiligo and a thought came to mind. I’ve read from many sources that stress may induce vitiligo. I always took that to mean that stressful situations, or a stress filled life, could cause vitiligo, but, what if could also mean stress put on my body by toxic chemicals that I’ve been exposed to, knowingly and unknowingly? Afterall, each time I have the carpets cleaned, there is a metallic taste in my mouth and twice a year my house was sprayed for bugs. Nail polish remover is toxic. Window cleaner is toxic. Plant sprays are toxic. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if we came to discover that exposure to toxic chemicals is the catalist to the onset of vitiligo in certain people.

The Can toxic chemicals trigger vitiligo? by Nathalie Pelletier, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

7 Comments »

lorena said:

Interesting. I think that everyone who has Vitiligo has the genetic propensity for it, for some it’s triggered by man-made chemicals, other people have an emotional stress trigger, and still others by organic toxins. In my case I believe that it was caused by mold in the house where I grew up.

# 21 May 2009 at 12:47 pm

Randy said:

I would wonder the same thing about contact with chemicals. A few years ago I was building and repairing golf clubs as a side business. During the process I was using a strong solvent to remove the rubber grips from the clubs. During the process I was wearing rubber gloves and the slovent would eat through the gloves and puddle up between the glove and my knucles. Months later I began having the pigment disapear on my knucles and the top of my hands. The doctors say there is no chance, but I have the brand name of the solvent saved for further research.
Is there any way to check for chemical reactions with Vitiligo?

Randy

# 18 August 2009 at 9:32 am

~ Melatonin supplement side effects said:

my girlfriend has Vitiligo. i think UV treatment and also some topical agents as well pills that increase melanin are working for her.

# 26 September 2009 at 9:38 pm

Glenda said:

I suddenly noticed white spots on my hands after I had acrylic nails. I never had it before. My daughter also had acrylic nails for years and she has Vitiligo. We may be genetically predisposed for Vitiligo, however no one else in the family has it. Only my daughter and myself and we are the only ones that wore acrylic nails. I suspect it is the glue they use to put the acrylic nail on.

# 27 October 2009 at 6:45 pm

Glenda said:

I have it on my hands and around my mouth, and under my arms. The hands and face are the most noticeable. I use bleaching cream on my face to lighten the dark areas and that definitely helps. Cosmetics help too. If I go in the sun, I always wear 70 sun screen and a hat to protect my face. It is always worse in the summer. In the winter it seems to fade some. I truly believe certain chemicals can trigger Vitiligo. Acetone is used in nail salons to remove nail polish and I believe Acetone can tripper Vitiligo. Also certain glues. Just a warning for those of you that have acrylic nails. I am convinced that is what triggered my Vitiligo. I rest my case.

# 27 October 2009 at 6:51 pm

Nathalie Pelletier (author) said:

great point, glenda. my vitiligo showed up in a period of my life when i was getting my nails done bi-monthly. it first appeared just below my nail beds. i went to the dermatologist because i thought it was a fungus transferred from unsanitary tools from the salon…it turned out to be vitiligo. as disgusting as having a fungus sounds, i would take that over vitiligo any day