Obsessive Skincare and Liver Toxicity: A Case Report on Titanium Dioxide Exposure

Year 2024, Volume: 16 Issue: 3, 81 - 85, 31.12.2024

Fatih Öner Kaya , Mohammad Jamal Abunawas , Pınar Mert

https://doi.org/10.35514/mtd.2024.116

Abstract

This Case Report highlights the role of titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a perpetrator of liver toxicity when used topically. Although the European Commission has banned titanium dioxide (E171) from being used as a food additive, it is still widely used in dermatological products. Here, we describe a patient who initially presented to our clinic after experiencing a seizure. An inquiry into her history revealed that she had been suffering from generalized body aches and skin rashes for the past month. Incidentally, liver enzymes were found to be significantly elevated, and abdominal ultrasonography revealed hepatomegaly and hepatic steatosis, which was confirmed by a liver biopsy. Further investigation brought to light the patient’s obsessive skincare habits, requiring broader tests to detect any toxic exposure. Thereupon, high amounts of titanium were found in her blood results. TiO2 particles are associated with hazardous properties and pose a threat to human health and the environment; thus, its enormous usage in various products requires further studies that investigate the various ways of exposure to minimize those toxic effects.

Keywords

Hepatotoxicity, Titanium dioxide, Dermatological products side effects.

Obsesif Cilt Bakımı ve Karaciğer Toksisitesi: Titanyum Dioksit Maruziyeti Üzerine Bir Olgu Sunumu

Abstract

Bu Vaka Raporu, topikal olarak kullanıldığında karaciğer toksisitesinin bir sebebi olarak titanyum dioksitin (TiO2) rolünü vurgulamaktadır. Avrupa Komisyonu, titanyum dioksidin (E171) gıda katkısı olarak kullanılmasını yasaklamasına rağmen, hala geniş çapta dermatolojik ürünlerde kullanılmaktadır. Burada, bir hastanın kliniğimize nöbet geçirdikten sonra başvurduğu ve hikayesinin incelenmesi sonucu son bir aydır yaygın vücut ağrıları ve deri döküntüleri yaşadığı ortaya çıktı. Tesadüfen karaciğer enzimlerinin önemli ölçüde yüksek bulunan bu hastada karın ultrasonografisinde hepatomegali ve karaciğer yağlanması tespit edildi, bu da karaciğer biyopsisi ile doğrulandı. Detaylı araştırma hastanın obsesif cilt bakım alışkanlıklarının ortaya çıkmasına neden oldu, bu da herhangi bir toksik maruziyeti tespit etmek için geniş tarama testleri gerektirdi. Bu testlerin sonucunda anormal olarak kan testlerinde yüksek miktarda titanyum bulundu. TiO2 partikülleri tehlikeli özelliklerle ilişkilendirilmiştir ve insan sağlığı hatta çevre için bile bir tehdit oluşturur; dolayısıyla, çeşitli ürünlerdeki yaygın kullanımı olduğundan bu toksik etkileri en aza indirmek için maruz kalma yollarını araştıran daha fazla çalışmayı gerektirir.

Keywords

Karaciğer Toksisitesi, Titanyum dioksit, Dermatolojik ürünlerin yan etkileri.

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