NCBI ROFL: When your sweat turns red, maybe it's time to eat less food coloring.

Discoblog
By ncbi rofl
Sep 15, 2010 4:00 AMApr 19, 2023 2:34 PM

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The case of the red lingerie - chromhidrosis revisited. "Chromhidrosis or the production of coloured sweat is a rare clinical finding. A 26-year-old female presented with marked pink staining of her uniform and lingerie. Extractions of clothing, skin surface samples, eccrine sebum, urine and a fast food product were spectrophotometrically analysed to identify the pink staining pigment. Three water-soluble colouring agents have been identified. An eccrine route of excretion probably produced chromhidrosis. An overview is presented." Bonus quote from the full text: "A healthy 26-year-old nursing sister consulted our department with continuous pink to bright red staining of her white uniform following an 8- to 10-hour workday. This affliction has been noticeable for some 5 months after her annual leave. She had an uneventful previous medical history and denied taking any drugs, health foods or vitamin supplements in the 6 months prior to her consultation... A follow-up in-depth history produced confirmation of a 6-month fetish for a specific brand of tomato-flavoured prepacked fast foods. The patient admitted indulging in 500–2,500 g/week [1.1-5.5 pounds] over an extended period...It would therefore seem that a pink lipid- and water-soluble agent obtained from prepacked food was being excreted via the renal and integumental systems."

Related content: Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: A foot needs a nipple like a fish needs a bicycle. Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Morning breath odor: influence of treatments on sulfur gases. Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Attack of the belly button lint! WTF is NCBI ROFL? Read our FAQ!

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