Jeremy Ridnour, 11, of Salem, Oregon has no qualms with his hands. “I love my Fuki hands,” he said. “Some of the other kids at school are scared, but they are just mean.”
The approximately 200 children experiencing Fuki hands pigmentation changes are spread out across Washington and Oregon. Elementary school teacher and child psychologist Meredith C. Birney – who teaches one Fuki hands child – agrees that these children should be celebrated. “I have found that kids are very accepting of differences if we just let them know that it’s OK,” she said. “My Fuki hands student loves the attention she receives, and I don’t think she would trade those hands for anything in the world right now.”
Thurme and other nuclear experts have no idea if or when the Fuki hands might diminish. “We could see that kids with Fuki hands might return to normal hued skin over time,” he said. “Still, until we see evidence that the change in skin tone reflects actual cellular damage we do not recommend any changes in diet or lifestyle.”
Cynthia Hoehm and Rachel Burgess contributed to this story.