Chloasma is a mask-like area of pigmentation of the skin on the face that can frequently be associated with pregnancy (sometimes referred to as a “pregnancy mask”) and birth control pills. Chloasma is known to be related to hormonal changes. Chloasma is a darkening of the pigmentation of the skin sometimes resembling “blotches,” a collection of freckles, or can even resemble someone who has gotten a suntan that has partly peeled. The discoloration is commonly seen on the forehead, above the upper lip (like a “mustache”), and over the cheeks.

When chloasma persists after the birth of a child or after birth control pills have been discontinued or after other such events, it can frequently be difficult to correct and is not generally considered to be “curable.” Amazingly, the chloasma of some patients has been seen to fade considerably (even up to 90 – 95%) upon normalization of body temperature patterns with the WT3 protocol. This is especially true in cases where the patient’s chloasma followed typical pattern of presentation of a Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome symptom.

In the beginning of this book, we discussed how body temperature can affect the color of a Siamese cat’s fur. I remember one patient who found that her hair began changing in color from brown to white with the onset of her Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome symptoms. She, her hairdresser, and I, myself, were able to observe her hair color returning more to its original color as her symptoms of Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome resolved with proper liothyronine treatment. This may give credence to stories that are sometimes told about people’s hair turning white after being terrified, or after a severe physical stress such as a heart attack. There are fables about people’s hair turning white after “seeing a ghost.” There may be some basis for this popular saying about terror causing a person’s hair to turn white.

Poliosis is the medical term for premature graying of the hair. Poliosis has been seen in the past to be a possible effect of severe hypothyroidism. (Emergency Medicine Reports, Volume II, Number 23, 11/5/90). Since Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome is a cause of DTSF, one can see some basis for the common comment that stressful times can give people “a few gray hairs.” Some people notice that their hair can become more gray at stressful times and less gray when the stress has passed. Their hair can sometimes be observed to go back and forth between more and less gray several times in their lives.

Another interesting phenomenon that has been observed to follow the pattern of presentation and resolution of Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome symptoms, is that of the skin under a person’s rings becoming black. Some patients may find the skin under their wedding band becomes black in spite of wearing 18 or 24 karat gold. Some patients find that white gold will not cause the phenomenon, while yellow gold will. The interesting thing is that the blackening of the skin sometimes comes and goes with other symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome, occurring only for a period of time prior to the monthly menstrual cycle and then disappearing again after the menstrual cycle. In one memorable case the patient’s symptom of “black finger” resolved and did not occur premenstrually, or at any time, once her body temperature patterns were normalized with proper thyroid therapy. Her “black finger” resolved together with her other symptoms of PMS and Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome.