A non-rash Rash

[joslin]

I'm 52, female, have some (10-12) blotches that have suddenly appeared on my legs - front and back.  They are like a ring, not perfect, some irregular, and are darker at the edge with a weakening of color toward the center, almost like a faded bruise, or a washed out water color circle.  They are red, darker on the outside, fading some toward the middle.  Most are about the size of a penny to a quarter.  Some are more oval.  They do not itch.  They are not raised.  They seem to be getting bigger and more plentiful.  I have had them for about a month. I am not in great health, have acute intermittant porphyria (they are NOT from my porphyria) and high blood pressure.  I thought they looked like ring worm, but was told they are not.  I am suspicious they are vascular in nature, and am worried they are a sign somehow of worsening health.  Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I'm afraid I can't tell from your description just what you have.  "Ringworm" (fingus) is scaly, so that seems unlikely.  These spots don't spund like eczmea or infection either.  They also don't remiond me of any systemic diseases.  I thin k you need to see a skin dcotor, who may rfecommedn a skin biopsy to see what's going on.  For me to say anything else at this point would just be guesswork.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[Mother Margaret]

This is a metabolic problem that is thought to be hereditary; however, it could also be chemically induced.

Here are some red blotches on a hand
http://ncchem.com/safe-arbor/pct.jpg  Porphyria cutanea tarda

"Some chemically-injured patients with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) show disturbances in their body's system for making heme, which is the primary component of hemoglobin in red blood cells. Their lab tests reveal abnormal activity in one or more of the eight enzymes involved in heme production. Since most heme is made in the bone marrow, these "disorders of porphyrin metabolism" are usually found there or in the liver. They can have a disruptive effect on numerous processes that rely on heme and hemoglobin. Of clear concern to MCS patients are the "cytochrome P450" enzyme system, which uses heme to detoxify chemicals in the liver and other vital organs, and the oxygen transport system, which relies on hemoglobin to carry oxygen from the lungs to other body organs."

From liver foundation.org the following:
"Porphyrins are chemical compounds that are stepping stones along the pathway which leads to the formation of heme in humans, and to chlorophyll in plants. They are responsible for the fact that "blood is red, and grass is green." Heme is essential if the body is to work properly."

"In porphyria, the cells do no convert porphyrins to heme in a normal manner. Because of this, porphyrins build up in the body and are excreted in the urine and stool in excessive amounts."


I would suspect that this is an autoimmune situation.  I also suspect that it is something that 2-butoxyethanol overexposure could cause.  Many things that are thought to be hereditary, are actually birth defects (late-occuring) from a parent or parents or grandparents who are chemically poisoned by such a chemical as this which is a teratogen (Harms the developing fetus)

http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/inherited.htm

Do you or either of your parents have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome symptoms?  I suspect this chemical for causing such, more acurately for causing CFIDS.  For causing 'gulf war syndrome' and many birth defects & cancers.  First and foremost the underlying problem is the immune system becomes autoimmune.  Stop this & your body can heal itself.  That's what I think

Rheumatoid arthritis lady with exposure to this chemical in 1989 had her doctor concerned about the red blotches on the palms of her hands.  He said, "That is indicative of a liver problem, but your liver test says you are OK there"

Well, this chemical poisoning that she had which most likely caused the arthritis is one which fools the blood tests.  Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (which is always there with acute, direct exposure) fools the blood tests.  Doctors will need to check for that anyway when they find blood in urine ... and they should also find that the red blood cells are dying off prematurely.  That they are IMMATURE.  This fools the liver test because when too many red blood cells are immature it causes an elevated liver count.  But when the liver is not doing well, the counts go down.  (White blood cell counts will be more elevated than they really are, etc.  The computer read is not right; it has to be adjusted)

I don't have any medical background; however, I have looked into what 2-butoxyethanol does.  It harms the CNS; it harms the immune system; the skin; the pituitary gland & other organs - many, many things.  www.valdezlink.com/acute.htm