During the Vietnam War American troops sprayed up to 20,000,000 gallons of the herbicide and defoliants called Agent Orange over the countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in the hope of defoliating the forest floor leaving guerrillas nowhere to hide.
Spraying of the chemical agent was done in a variation of ways, including from helicopters, boats, trucks and backpacks. This was done by US soldiers, who covered 12 per cent of the area of Vietnam with the agent. However, the chemical agent had some horrific side effects for both US soldiers and also the people of the aforementioned countries. Aside from causing conditions like cancer and nerve problems the chemicals also caused severe skin problems.
One of the most prominent is called chloracne; this disease causes patients to develop blackheads, cysts and lesions. The condition is made worse should patients gain exposure to other chemicals in the group known as halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons.
Porphyria cutanea tarda is another illness caused by the chemical Agent Orange; this causes issues with Heme production for blood and oxygen in the blood. Some of the first symptoms of this are blisters and cysts on the skin, usually on the face, hands, forearms and lower legs. It heals in time but does leave scarring. The disease is also known to cause odd pigmentation and increased hair growth. Porphyria cutanea tarda also has strong links to the disease Hepatitis C.
Patients who suffer either of these illnesses can help limit their effects by avoiding alcohol, iron supplements, chlorine and extensive sun exposure. There are a number of medical treatments involving blood and phlebotomy based blood draining techniques.
The affects of Agent Orange on skin are well documented and there are other less well known illnesses attributed with the use of the chemical. However, medical treatment is the only way to ensure you get the best possible care.
Spraying of the chemical agent was done in a variation of ways, including from helicopters, boats, trucks and backpacks. This was done by US soldiers, who covered 12 per cent of the area of Vietnam with the agent. However, the chemical agent had some horrific side effects for both US soldiers and also the people of the aforementioned countries. Aside from causing conditions like cancer and nerve problems the chemicals also caused severe skin problems.
One of the most prominent is called chloracne; this disease causes patients to develop blackheads, cysts and lesions. The condition is made worse should patients gain exposure to other chemicals in the group known as halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons.
Porphyria cutanea tarda is another illness caused by the chemical Agent Orange; this causes issues with Heme production for blood and oxygen in the blood. Some of the first symptoms of this are blisters and cysts on the skin, usually on the face, hands, forearms and lower legs. It heals in time but does leave scarring. The disease is also known to cause odd pigmentation and increased hair growth. Porphyria cutanea tarda also has strong links to the disease Hepatitis C.
Patients who suffer either of these illnesses can help limit their effects by avoiding alcohol, iron supplements, chlorine and extensive sun exposure. There are a number of medical treatments involving blood and phlebotomy based blood draining techniques.
The affects of Agent Orange on skin are well documented and there are other less well known illnesses attributed with the use of the chemical. However, medical treatment is the only way to ensure you get the best possible care.
