According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, there's very little data on the condition, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly how many people are affected and whether there's a link between chromhidrosis and things like race, sex, occupation, geographic location or the weather. Pseudochromhidrosis. Eccrine glands are distributed with varying density over almost the entire integument and excrete large amounts of sweat, containing mostly water and electrolytes (1, 3). Sandmann G. Carotenoids of biotechnological importance. Blurred circle covering tattoo. Table II sums up potential triggers of IPCH based on the literature review. (c) Diffuse blue discolouration on the neck. health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health Other possible reasons for the appearance of colored sweat include infection, blood in the sweat (hematohidrosis), excess bilirubin (an orange-yellow pigment formed in the liver), and/or poisoning. Mayser P, Schafer U, Kramer HJ, Irlinger B, Steglich W. Pityriacitrin an ultraviolet-absorbing indole alkaloid from the yeast Malassezia furfur. Koley S, Mandal RK. The goal of treatment for chromhidrosis is to reduce symptoms in order to also reduce any related psychosocial impacts or stigma. Cutis 2010; 86: 305308. Red pseudochromhidrosis of the neck. IPCH following administration of an antihistamine. Certain activities such as hot showers and friction against the skin increase the likelihood of discolored sweat in people with chromhidrosis. Ann Dermatol 2015; 27: 482483. Taylor MJ, Lawton WD, Goldberg ID. A 24-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of an asymptomatic and odourless blue discolouration covering her hands, feet, and neck (Fig. Case reports of infectious pseudochromhidrosis and causative microorganisms. face, axillae, anogenital area, and breast areolae) that . Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. In other words, it's not your sweat that's colored the color comes from the way your sweat interacts with other things outside your body. reviewed pigment production in Corynebacterium spp., and reported that carotenoid production is one of many important virulence factors (59). Inhibition of this enzyme may alter the primary sweat composition and reduce water formation. Additionally, stress or physical activity may trigger colored sweat in people with chromhidrosis. Marks JG, Jr. It's common and affects people of all ages, races, and genders. J Biochem 1977; 81: 843850. Chromhidrosis is a harmless condition. Here's What Your Body's Trying to Tell You. Clinical Neuropharmacol 2008; 31: 339346. Others have noted thatBotox injectionscan treat chromhidrosis. Regular sweat is clear or slightly cloudy in color. Liu GY, Nizet V. Color me bad: microbial pigments as virulence factors. Others may have such mild sweat discoloration that they do not even notice it. Trends Microbiol 2009; 17: 406413. Publish modules to the "offcanvas" position. Regular sweat is clear or slightly cloudy in color, but people with chromhidrosis notice a colored sweat. Infectious pseudochromhidrosis seems to be triggered by certain drugs and conditions causing physiological alterations and/or changes in microflora on the skin surface. J Bacteriol 1953; 65: 509510. Serratia marcescens red/pink IPCH (4547): S. marcescens is a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, and saprophytic bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family (60, 61). 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). J Cosmet Dermatol 2010; 9: 318320. Hyperhidrosis (hi-pur-hi-DROE-sis) is excessive sweating that's not always related to heat or exercise. Pseudochromhidrosis occurs when sweat interacts with certain substances, resulting in colored sweat. A pigment called lipofuscin is commonly associated with chromhidrosis. The blue discolouration appeared 23 weeks after his wifes. Mycoses 2006; 49: 388392. Read the reviews and add your own to help us continue to earn this wonderful recognition each year. Ditto for manual pressure (pressing down to express the glands) to improve the look of the affected area, with results lasting only 24 to 72 hours. Int J Dermatol 2010; 49: 562564. About Chromhidrosis. Please tell us who you are in the hyperhidrosis community. Pseudomonas aeruginosa blue-green IPCH (36, 48, 62): P. aeruginosa is a Gram-negative, aerobic coccobacillus, which is widespread in nature (63). You can spread the common cold from a few days before your symptoms appear until all of the symptoms are gone. The coloration may be barely noticeable and restricted to a few locations or more. Facial and axillary apocrine chromhidrosis. There is no cure for rosacea. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. J Clin Microbiol 1978; 8: 105107. Microorganisms may produce pigments to increase the likelihood of survival. Avalos J, Carmen Limon M. Biological roles of fungal carotenoids. Dermoscopy of the discoloured areas revealed diffuse superficial pigmentation and an unmodified skin pattern (as postulated by Pistone et al. In this article, learn more about what chromhidrosis is, what causes it, and what treatments are available. That means the norovirus infection can easily spread to others. Carman KB, Aydogdu SD, Sabuncu I, Yarar C, Yakut A, Oztelcan B. J Clin Diagn Res 2013; 7: 243246. 2). From a medical perspective, the pathogenic species C. diphtheriae (diphtheria), C. ulcerans (diphtheria-like infections), C. tenuis (trichomycosis axillaris), C. minutissimum (erythrasma), and C. striatum (endocarditis) might be of greatest interest. Its wise to see a doctor about colored sweat. You may sweat so much that it soaks through your clothes or drips off your hands. Potential triggers of infectious pseudochromhidrosis (IPCH). For patients with pseudochromhidrosis, antimicrobial medications may help balance bacteria to reduce colored sweat. This process might involve your doctor testing skin scrapings, secretion smears and extraction samples from clothing. Semkova K, Gergovska M, Kazandjieva J, Tsankov N. Hyperhidrosis, bromhidrosis, and chromhidrosis: Fold (intertriginous) dermatoses. On the contrary, the patient reported daily attacks of cholinergic and dermographic urticaria, and hypohidrosis even after strenuous exercise and emotional stimuli. As stated in the methods section, hands and feet were the first regions to show blue-coloured sweat. There are a number of conditions that can affect the skin. Alcohol wipes from (a) hands and (b) neck easily removed the discolouration and revealed its blue colour. Cardiovascular health: Insomnia linked to greater risk of heart attack. AMA Arch Derm Syphilol 1954; 69: 449471. Smith CC, et al. Uzoma M, Singh G, Kohen L. Green palmoplantar vesicular eruption in a patient with hyperbilirubinemia. PloS One 2015; 10: e0125428. Anyone who has chromhidrosis and experiences any emotional distress should let a healthcare provider know. Chromhidrosis is a harmless skin condition, but because colored sweat can be a symptom of something more serious, it's important to check in with your doctor or dermatologist for an official diagnosis. Sweating is a way to regulate body temperature. Eccrine glands are found almost everywhere on the body (except for the outer ear canal, lips and certain areas of the genital region) and they're especially concentrated on the forehead and cheeks, armpits, palms and soles of the feet. If youre dealing with discolored sweat, schedule a visit with a dermatologist to get answers, rule out more serious conditions, and learn about treatment options. Her scalp, hair, anterior and dorsal trunk, palms, and feet were surprisingly dry. Production of pyomelanin, a second type of melanin, via the tyrosine degradation pathway in Aspergillus fumigatus. Symptoms include sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. A type of chromhidrosis known as pseudochromhidrosis may be a slightly more plausible culprit. While it can occur at any age, its most often noticeable after puberty. J Am Acad Dermatol 1989; 21: 418420. The colour of the sweat depends on the dye, drug, or chemical involved, with red, blue, orange, brown, yellow, green, black, and white sweat reported. is commonly associated with chromhidrosis. Hurley HJ, Witkowski J. Dye clearance and eccrine sweat secretion in human skin. Sweating also occurs, especially on your palms, when you're nervous. Molecular evidence of person-to-person transmission of a pigmented strain of Corynebacterium striatum in intensive careunits. A novel red pigment from marine Arthrobacter sp. Hill S, Duffill M, Lamont D, Rademaker M, Yung A. Pseudochromhidrosis: blue discolouration of the head and neck. Appl Environ Microbiol 2009; 75: 493503. Whole genome characterization of Bacillus cereus associated with specific disease manifestations. Chromhidrosis causes the sweat glands to secrete colored sweat. Yoshida R, Kobayashi S, Amagai M, Tanaka M. Brown palm pseudochromhidrosis. Moayedi A, Nowroozi J, Sepahy AA. Keum DI, Hong H, Lee SH, Ahn SK. Noroviruses can stay on surfaces and objects for days or weeks. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could Takita Y, Ichimiya M, Yamaguchi M, Hamamoto Y, Muto M. A case of pseudochromhidrosis due to dihydroxyacetone. Rifampin and red urine. He or she will likely want to take the necessary steps to rule out potentially more serious medical conditions before making a diagnosis of chromhidrosis. Experts: GARD is not currently aware of a specialist directory for this condition. Some people with chromhidrosis may report a feeling of warmth or a prickly sensation before the onset of colored sweat. Sweat may be yellow, green, blue, brown, or black. The reported colours are yellow (5), red (4345), pink (46, 47), blue (2, 37, 38), green (36, 48), brown (39, 40), and black (44, 49, 50), most commonly localized on the face, neck, and palms (2). Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. As you produce sweat, the body cools down. Acral green pigmentation (eccrine chromhidrosis). The pigments causing the colour palette seen in this disorder appear to be of major importance for microorganisms. Two glands produce sweat: eccrine and apocrine glands. Two different isolates were cultured; a greyish culture and a greyish culture with a blue tint (Fig. Pigment production is known to occur in Bacillus spp. Australas J Dermatol 2016; 57: e2325. To prevent overheating, the body promotes heat loss through evaporation. Med Mal Infect 2015; 45: 436440. Initially, 2 blood samples were performed at her general physicians office with a 1-month interval. Pseudochromhidrosis is sweat that becomes discolored after it has been secreted. G20 with specific anticancer activity. 2003-2023 International Hyperhidrosis Society. Pseudochromhidrosis results from contact between sweat and dyes, chemicals, or chromogenic bacteria on the skin. Chromhidrosis is a rare, chronic condition characterized by color in your sweat. This content does not have an Arabic version. The coloration may be barely noticeable and restricted to a few locations or more widespread. This tentative diagnosis has been strengthened by complete remission after antibacterial treatment, combining systemic and topical erythromycin in all cases. Sweat may be yellow, green, blue, brown, or black. is chromhidrosis contagious. Nair PA, Kota RK, Surti NK, Diwan NG, Gandhi SS. "Finding and stopping the specific cause is paramount.". Most people will be contagious for up to 2 weeks. Valeru SP, Rompikuntal PK, Ishikawa T, Vaitkevicius K, Sjling A, Dolganoy N, et al. Oxidation of lipofuscin, as well as the increase in number of lipofuscin granules, are thought to cause the skin discolouration (4, 5).