Raccoon-like periorbital leukoderma from contact with swim goggles

A 12-year-old girl developed a periorbital leukoderma from contact with swim goggles. She had worn the same goggles the preceding year and re-used them after the leukoderma had cleared without any ill effects. The hypopigmentation was believed to be caused by the leakage of breakdown products in the neoprene rubber or glue. These breakdown products may have caused a toxic rather than an allergic reaction on skin contact, inhibiting melanin production possibly by competitive inhibition of tyrosine oxidation. These chemical compounds probably leaked from the goggles and were eventually exhausted. This possibility may explain why the leukoderma did not recur after re-use of the goggles.