Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Kava dermopathy

S A Norton1, P Ruze

  • 1Department of Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96859.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|July 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Kava, a traditional Pacific Islander beverage, can cause a unique scaly skin condition known as kava dermopathy. This reversible eruption in heavy drinkers may be linked to cholesterol metabolism disruptions.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Corrigendum to "The chemical evolution of tributaries to Lake George (Essex County), New York (USA), 1970-2024: Recovery from acidic atmospheric deposition and the impact of road salt" [Sci. Total Environ., 1015 (2026), 181402].

The Science of the total environment·2026
Same author

The chemical evolution of tributaries to Lake George (Essex County), New York (USA), 1970-2024: Recovery from acidic atmospheric deposition and the impact of road salt.

The Science of the total environment·2026
Same author

Tropical parasitic itch in returned travellers and immigrants from endemic areas.

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV·2022
Same author

Protocol paper: Multi-site, cluster-randomized clinical trial for optimizing functional outcomes of older cancer survivors after chemotherapy.

Journal of geriatric oncology·2022
Same author

Identifying gaps in global health dermatology: a survey of GLODERM members.

The British journal of dermatology·2021
Same author

Family caregiver descriptions of stopping chemotherapy and end-of-life transitions.

Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·2018

Area of Science:

  • Ethnobotany
  • Dermatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Kava (Piper methysticum) is a traditional psychoactive beverage with a long history of ceremonial use in the Pacific Islands.
  • It is a nonfermented depressant known for its tranquilizing effects.
  • Kava consumption is associated with a distinct skin condition, kava dermopathy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the historical context and dermatological manifestations of kava dermopathy.
  • To review early reports of kava's cutaneous effects and their evolution.
  • To discuss the current understanding and potential causes of kava dermopathy.

Main Methods:

  • Historical review of ethnobotanical and medical literature.
  • Analysis of early expedition reports, including those from Captain James Cook's voyages.
  • Examination of dermatological descriptions of kava dermopathy.

Main Results:

  • Cutaneous effects of kava were first noted during Captain James Cook's Pacific expeditions.
  • Heavy kava drinkers develop a reversible ichthyosiform eruption, termed kava dermopathy.
  • The exact cause of kava dermopathy remains unknown, with potential links to cholesterol metabolism.

Conclusions:

  • Kava dermopathy represents a significant, yet under-documented, dermatological consequence of heavy kava consumption.
  • Understanding its history provides insight into the complex effects of kava.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms behind kava dermopathy.

Related Experiment Videos