33
AKIN LESIONS AND EPTLATION
Hinwwen of three pigmented lesions were
taken from 2 of the white Ameneans of the
Roagenk growp. Only | oof 3 showed evidence
NE. SF een.
2al
+ wrelthatiansafite vy emiathaneseth
ental ember =
of damage, which was slight and confined to the
equdermis.
Third seri
—6th month poat-ezposure. Sec-
tions of skin at this time revealed some changes
persisting in the epidermis and to a lesser extent in the dermis (Plates 2% and 29).
EFpidermix, The following changes were
found to varying degrees: focal atrophy of the
stratum granulosum; slight focal pigmentary
disturbances in cells of the basal layer; slight to
moderate hyperkeratinization; and slight disturbances in polarity of epithelial cells in the
still persistent basal papillary projections.
Dermia, In the dermis. telangiectasis superficially persixted froma slight to moderate degree in most of the sections, and contributed the
only abnormality noted.
3.33
Epilation and Nail Pigmentation
FEptilation, The incidence and time of appearance of epilation in the various groups is illustrated in Tables 3.1 and 3.2, and Figure 3.1.
Epilation was first observed of the fourteenth
post-exposure day in the Rongelap group, and
somewhat later in the other groups. It was of
a spotty nature and was contined almost entirely
to the head region. Eypilation was divided
arbitrarily into 3 degrees of severity. "1+"
indicated loss of hair without obvious thinning:
“2+indicated loss of hair sufficient to cause
thin spots: and "3+" indicated an extensive
epilation with bald spots. Table 1 illustrates
that there was a yreater degree of epilation in
the children (0 to 15 vears). with over 90 percent developing epilation to some degree as
compared to only 2% percent in the older age
group. The preponderance of scalp lesions in
the areas of epilation indicated that radiation
from the fallout material on the skin was primarily responsible for the epilation. Only three
cases of mild epilation developed in the
Adlinginae children, and questionable epilation
occurred in one of the Americans, characterised
by lome hair upon coming Sat sithom cose.
of alopecia.
Regrowth of hairoin all individuals come
mrenced some time ciuring the third month after
expomure. At the 6 monthexamination complete regrowth of hair, normal in color, testure.
and abundance had taken place. Plates 1-15,
17, 18, and 19 show epilation and regrowth of
hair.
Nail Pigmentation, Av unusual observation
was the appearance of a bluish-brown; ymentation of the fingernails which was tirst well documented on the 23rd post-exposure day. The «iscoloration began in the semilunar area of the
fingernails (to a lewer extent in the toenails),
and spread outward sometimes in streaks. As
the discolored area grew distally the semilunar
area usually became clear. Plate 20 shows pig-
mented bands in the nails at 77 days. At six
months, pigmentation had grown out with
the nails, and was no longer evident except in
three cases which still showed pigment at the
distal end of the nail, The pigment was on
the under side of the nail plate. Discoloration
of the nails was seen in a large proportion of
the two higher exposure groups (Tables 3.1 and
3.2). The phenomenon appeared to be a radiation response peculiar to the dark-skinned races
since it was seen ina of the exposed: American
Negroes and none of the white Americans supposedly receiving the same exposure. This
lesion was not observed in the Utirik people or
in unexpowed Marshallese. Since the nail pigmentation vecurred in individuals without skin
lesions, it appeared to be the result of a more
penetrating gamma component of radiation.
3.4
Therapy
Tus Treatment Or the skin lesions was
largely non-specific. Most of the superficial
lesions were treated with calamine Jotion with
one percent: phenol, which ino most cases relieved the itching and burning. A few of the
hyperpigmented lesions not relieved by calatune with phenol were treated with pontocaine