Occupational leukoderma in workers engaged in 4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone manufacturing

Abstract

Occupational leukoderma was found to be caused by exposure to depigmentation agents. This is the first report associated with the depigmenting activity of 4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone and its crude products. The purpose of this paper is to present three cases of occupational leukoderma in the upper extremities of workers engaged in the manufacturing of 4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone. Two workers had symptoms of dermatitis in the same areas before depigmentation. An epidemiological study, their clinical courses and results of phototesting suggest that these cases of leukoderma were due to exposure to 4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone and its crude products.