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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Got Fairly Sunburn. Noticed Metallic Smell On Shoulders. Tested Negative For Lupus. Have Undiagnosed Auto-immune Disease. Worrisome

Hello, 2 days ago I got a fairly bad sunburn . I was only in the sun for about 15 minutes, but I m quite fair and burn very easily. Today I have noticed a metallic smell on my shoulders where my sunburn is. My husband can also smell it standing beside me. I have an undiagnosed auto-immune disease, my rheumatologist is thinking Behcets or Lupus , although all bloodwork for Lupus has thus far come back negative. Can this be related? I ve never noticed this before!
Mon, 29 Jul 2013
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Cosmetic & Plastic Surgeon,  's  Response
metalic smell and sunburn is not related scientifically... Metal has no smell. however....when metal comes into contact with skin, it catalyzes reactions among the organic molecules that coat our bodies. When skin oils are exposed to iron and copper they produce unpleasant smelling aldehydes and ketones. For example, touching iron can produce the ketone 1-octen-3-one, which has a metallic, musty odor.
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Got Fairly Sunburn. Noticed Metallic Smell On Shoulders. Tested Negative For Lupus. Have Undiagnosed Auto-immune Disease. Worrisome

metalic smell and sunburn is not related scientifically... Metal has no smell. however....when metal comes into contact with skin, it catalyzes reactions among the organic molecules that coat our bodies. When skin oils are exposed to iron and copper they produce unpleasant smelling aldehydes and ketones. For example, touching iron can produce the ketone 1-octen-3-one, which has a metallic, musty odor.