Maggies Thread

[Dear Maggie]

Could a mark after birth on forehead be an hemangioma?

I have a family member who has an 8 month baby girl with what appears to be a hemangioma on her upper forehead. It is growing and the high class pediatrician told the mom to not worry it would go away. The local GP doctor in mom's small town was very concerned 2 months ago, measured it, etc.

Baby didn't have it at birth. Someone shared that the blood pressure in a newborn and a baby are different, so that may be why they don't show up at birth

These are some concerns I have that might contribute to such a condition, per a study I have done in last 2 years on a particular chemical exposure (that is commonplace)

I was also immediately 'on guard' when the baby was 5 weeks premature. There is no reason the mom should have had a premature baby. She is a big sized girl and there is no such family history of premature births.

There are premature births with those harmed by 2-butoxyethanol which I have learned a lot about these past 3 years. I do suspect this chemical for the cause of harm for many, such as those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, CFIDS, 'gulf war syndrome'

When I found that Accutane had the same symptoms as 2-butoxyethanol I was amazed. One year later, in relooking at the web page I had done, I noticed it had a butylated inert ingredient. http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/accutane.htm

At the very least the harm of this commonly used chemical component in many products, is unrecognized http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/unrecognized.htm

Some 'gulf war syndrome' vets have shared with me that their children have been born so prematurely, as to not be able to survive. AND they give up trying to have a child. Or I hear that they are unable to have children because the man has ZERO sperm & that there is no reason this should be so, other than exposure to the 2-butoxyethanol as this Coast Guard Man shared with me http://www.valdezlink.com/vet_symptoms.htm#monitor

I have a woman friend in IL whom I suspect to be harmed from this chemical by using Lysol tub 'n tile through the years. It has a compounded version of this. Worst exposure is at cuticle areas and in the eye membranes. Her son and his wife have been trying for the past 15 years, ever since I've known Helen & before ... to have a child. He took Accutane as a teen. I wonder, I tell you the truth, I wonder if that could be the cause.

In looking thru the NJ Hazard info sheet (6 pdf pages)
It states p.2 Reproductive Hazard
"2-butoxyEthanol may damage the testes (male reproductive glands)"
http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/0275.pdf

This article, "Strawberry hemangiomas" appears to be very informative

Question: When our son was two weeks old, a pink mark appeared between his nose and mouth. Since then the mark has grown to almost the size of a dime and has become bright red and slightly raised. Our doctor has told us it is a strawberry hemangioma birthmark and will most likely get bigger. We are upset because the mark is in a prominent spot and is the first thing people notice about our son. How large is it likely to get, and what, if anything, can be done to remove this mark?

Answer: Strawberry hemangiomas are the most common tumors of infancy. I say tumor, not as it is typically used to mean cancer, but rather, meaning a collection of cells. In the case of hemangiomas, the collection of cells are those that make up tiny blood vessels. Strawberry hemangiomas, while they are technically birth marks, are often not noticed at birth. In fact, they usually do not become obvious until the first few weeks of life. These occur more often in females than males and are more commonly seen in Caucasian infants than in other racial groups. The vast majority of these occur as one solitary mark. However, in about 20 percent of these infants, more than one may be present.

Probably the most concerning problem for parents associated with these mostly benign birth marks is that they undergo rapid growth over the first six to ten months of life. Thus, what began as a mild blemish can become a quite noticeable mark on the body, usually the face. After this rapid growth phase, it's size only increases in proportion to the child's normal growth. Then over the next several years, the red color of the hemangioma begins to fade the mark dissolves away. Most of the time, there is little if any mark left behind. However, some may have pale scar where the hemangioma used to be. Strawberry hemangiomas completely resolve in 50 percent of children by age five and 70 percent by age seven. The rest show gradual fading completed by the time they reach the teenage years.

The vast majority of children with strawberry hemangiomas experience no complications. However, there are a few who do encounter some problems. In less than five percent of children, the hemangioma can leave a divot in the skin during its fading away phase. These usually occur when the lips are involved. In addition, uncommonly, the hemangioma can enlarge to involve structures vital to eyesight or breathing. Hemangiomas that involve the eyelids can hamper eyesight by their growth, which in turn causes the eyelid to droop. While this condition is transient, because the hemangioma will fade away, having the eyesight blocked by the eyelid can cause significant problems with the development of correct vision. In addition, these birthmarks can rarely involve the inside of the mouth and throat which could cause difficulty breathing.

Because strawberry hemangiomas rarely cause significant medical or cosmetic problems, treatment is usually reserved for those who are at high risk for complications. In these cases, high doses of steroid medication given orally are usually first tried. In addition, there is now a good amount of experience using certain laser therapy techniques. However, the use of this technology has not yet become widespread.

I am sure your baby's appearance is quite a distressing factor for you. Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict exactly how much larger it will get. And anytime there are unknown factors, it will certainly cause more stress for you. First, I would suggest to you that the overwhelming majority of babies with strawberry hemangiomas located in the spot you describe have no medical complications arising from them. In addition, the odds are also way in your son's favor that it will resolve over time causing little or no mark by the time he reaches school age. I would advise against any massaging as this will not make it resolve any faster, and in fact, you could cause some bleeding within the hemangioma which could cause complications or scarring. To date, there is no topical medications or creams that have proven to be effective in reducing these birthmarks.

I would talk to your doctor about your concerns. Specifically, ask if you can have him show you a number of "before and after" pictures from pediatric dermatology texts. Being able to actually see cases of children who have had strawberry hemangiomas more extensive than your son's which resolved on their own may ease your mind. And finally, having a dermatologist examine it may be helpful but may also be a waste of your time and money because most are hesitant to do any treatment unless there is a significant medical or cosmetic risk. On the other hand, if talking to your doctor has not reassured you, getting a second opinion from a dermatologist would certainly not be unreasonable and could do a lot to arm you with more information. by Robert Steele, M.D. http://parenting.ivillage.com

I don't know this baby Dr's thoughts on the matter, but have some input for him to consider, (From past experience, though, the GP is not interested in being 'helped out')

which I posted in general terms on this forum

[Dear Maggie]

Agent orange, or dioxin may NOT have been most harmful because it was mixed with jet fuel.

(& that is suspect for 'the chemical' I've been learning about)

Look how similar the health ailments are to the cold war Korean vet and to the 'gulf war vet'

This chemical has been harming us since its invention in the 1930s -
Sssso why did it showed up so much in the first gulf war?

[shadow]

ya talkin bout jp4? what about benzene?

[Dear Maggie]

Originally Posted by shadow

ya talkin bout jp4? what about benzene?

True. The difference between harm of 2-butoxyethanol and benzene is that they both harm the blood, but in different ways. (Benzene causes aplastic anemia - preventing formation of red, white or platelet blood cells; Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether causes hemolytic anemia - in which the red blood cells are prematurely destroyed)

AND they can both cause leukemia. 2-butoxyethanol goes on to harm liver, kidneys, any of the glands, the central nervous system. Basically the 'gulf war syndrome' or CFIDS or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome symptoms

I've put together this little survey to see how widespread it is
X And if enough reply, there is a co who will donate glyconutrients as they believe it will stop the autoimmune functioning of the immune system.

[Dear Maggie]

Some retired military were joking about using DDT
So, I got to thinking, what's in DDT? ... & looked it up:

DDT is a pesticide (so is 2-butoxyethanol in an odd sort of way)
and this is what they say about it:

DDT - well known pesticide - does bioaccummulate

Possible human carcinogen. Human mutagenic effects. May cause reproductive damage. May act as a systemic poison.

http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/DD/DDT.html

Molecular formula: C14H9Cl5
CAS No: 50-29-3

And 2-butoxyethanol: C6H14O2/CH3 MSDS
which is said NOT to bioaccummulate (But is that so?)

The chemical companies lobbied EPA & the 2 year process ended a year ago. They should have been granted permission to put more 2-butoxyethanol in the air since then (remember worst exposure is in the eyes - & that the elderly & children will be most harmed)


So, the main problem is that the pesticides fool the biological processes and that's why the endocrine system & hormones and everything goes high or low whether we are talking about cortisol or blood pressure or blood sugar or thyroid; get the picture?

What are EDCs?
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

(EDCs) are synthetic chemicals that interfere with naturally produced hormones, the body's chemical messengers, that control how an organism develops and functions.

Many manufactured chemicals mimic natural hormones and send false messages. Other synthetic compounds block the messages and prevent true messages from getting through.

Some cause disruption by preventing the synthesis of the body's own hormones or by accelerating their breakdown and excretion. Some EDCs are persistent in the environment and bioaccumulate; they accumulate in the fatty tissue of organisms and increase in concentration as they move up through the food web.

More on EDCs...

WWF's work to combat the threats from EDCs
EU chemicals reforms
Reducing your risk from EDCs (PDF)


Why are EDCs a threat?
Wildlife and humans are exposed daily to these pervasive chemicals that have already caused numerous adverse effects in wildlife and are most likely affecting humans as well.

Hormones play a crucial role in the proper development of the growing fetus and EDCs can interfere with this development. The fetus is vulnerable even to the most minute concentrations of introduced substances. Substances that have no effect in an adult can become poisonous in the developing embryo.

Chemicals are passed from mother to offspring, via the womb and breastmilk in mammals and via the egg in reptiles, amphibians, fish and chickens, leading to "trans-generational" effects. Because of their persistence and mobility, they accumulate in and harm species far from their original source.

The effects of endocrine disruptors on animals are varied -- ranging from alligators born with abnormally small phalluses and birds with crossed beaks, to the sudden disappearance of entire populations. Wildlife researchers over the last few years have unearthed a variety of endocrine disruptor-related effects: interrupted sexual development; thyroid system disorders; inability to breed; reduced immune response; and abnormal mating and parenting behavior. Species such as terns, gulls, harbor seals, bald eagles, beluga whales, lake trout, alligators, turtles, and others, have suffered more than one of these effects.

Our current knowledge of endocrine disruption has been propelled by the evolving science surrounding this phenomenon. Scientific investigation has intensified over the last several years and has provided steadily growing evidence linking synthetic endocrine-disrupting compounds to impaired health in wildlife and humans.

To learn more , download WWF's Position Papers on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (DOC: 29.0 KB)
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_...blems/edcs.cfm

Well does the body have Chlorine?

But it does have Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and I would think that this chemical with 16 (or its compound version, 18 Carbons & only Oxygen and Hydrogen extra ... in a very complex formula, would fool the body better. Maybe it does stay in the body, but it can't be identified once it mixes a person up?

I think it is time to see whether or not it is this chemical that harmed our soldiers in every war since WWII and our grandmas and great grandmas and the Troops today, too!

Any of these health ailments for military or civilians with CFS since WWII? X

This just could be the cheapest study of all; and it may tell us the most
I embellished the list of known & seriously expected harm to the Vietnam Vet. But could it be the same for the 'gulf war syndrome' vet? Time will tell, if anyone is keeping track.

Web Page of these comments

Well I wrote my own article, Is that OK? I have no medical background; however, I have spent a lot of time looking into the harm of 2-butoxyethanol and I was invited to this forum by Bluehawk

[shadow]

I claimed the benzene poisoning in my VA claim noting my two sons were born premature and my medical records that show some of my other symptons. They denied any link to benzene. I guess we just have to have more proof. Thank you for your input.

[Dear Maggie]

Originally Posted by shadow

I claimed the benzene poisoning in my VA claim noting my two sons were born premature and my medical records that show some of my other symptons. They denied any link to benzene. I guess we just have to have more proof. Thank you for your input.

Premature births I would expect from the 2-butoxyethanol family of chemicals;
However, it will depend on what the 'package of symptoms are.

It is never just one or 2 things; so, possibly go over some of this info:

from someone on another thread: "GWS has also been diagnosed either/or misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia as well...or is that the same thing as CFS? I have to plead ignorance here."

Yes, I think you are right; but there are those who beg to differ.

I think it has to do with which add on symptoms they wish to group together.

I saw FM as one of the signs that someone's body is 'complaining' about too much of any kind of chemical exposure; however, I would suspect it especially for exposure to 2-butoxyethanol

http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv/why_fatigue.htm

http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv/symptoms.htm

Any interested in participating in a study of this with possible help?