Usage Tests of Oak Moss Absolutes Containing High and Low Levels of Atranol and Chloroatranol.

Atranol and chloroatranol are strong contact allergens in oak moss absolute, a lichen extract used in perfumery. Fifteen subjects with contact allergy to oak moss absolute underwent a repeated open application test (ROAT) using solutions of an untreated oak moss absolute (sample A) and an oak moss absolute with reduced content of atranol and chloroatranol (sample B). All subjects were in addition patch-tested with serial dilutions of samples A and B. Statistically significantly more subjects reacted to sample A than to sample B in the patch tests. No corresponding difference was observed in the ROAT, though there was a significant difference in the time required to elicit a positive reaction. Still, the ROAT indicates that the use of a cosmetic product containing oak moss absolute with reduced levels of atranol and chloroatranol is capable of eliciting an allergic reaction in previously sensitised individuals

Patch Testing with a Textile Dye Mix in a Baseline Series in Two Countries

Disperse dyes are the most common contact sensitizers among textile dyes. The main aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of patch testing with a textile dye mix 6.6%. A total of 2,049 patients from Sweden and 497 from Belgium were tested with the mix, consisting of Disperse (D) Blue 35, D Yellow 3, D Orange 1 and 3, D Red 1 and 17, 1.0% each, and D Blue 106 and D Blue 124, 0.3% each. Of the total number, 65 patients, 2.6%, tested positively to the mix, 4.2% of the Belgian patients and 2.1% of the Swedish patients. Patch testing with the mix 6.6% revealed significantly more patients with contact allergy compared with testing with a previous mix 3.2% (p<0.01). Contact allergy to the mix was significantly more common in the Belgian than in the Swedish patients

In VivoEvaluation of the Protective Capacity of Different Gloves Against Hair Dyes

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Formaldehyde-releasers: relationship to formaldehyde contact allergy. Contact allergy to formaldehyde and inventory of formaldehyde-releasers

This is one of series of review articles on formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers (others: formaldehyde in cosmetics, in clothes and in metalworking fluids and miscellaneous). Thirty-five chemicals were identified as being formaldehyde-releasers. Although a further seven are listed in the literature as formaldehyde-releasers, data are inadequate to consider them as such beyond doubt. Several (nomenclature) mistakes and outdated information are discussed. Formaldehyde and formaldehyde allergy are reviewed: applications, exposure scenarios, legislation, patch testing problems, frequency of sensitization, relevance of positive patch test reactions, clinical pattern of allergic contact dermatitis from formaldehyde, prognosis, threshold for elicitation of allergic contact dermatitis, analytical tests to determine formaldehyde in products and frequency of exposure to formaldehyde and releasers. The frequency of contact allergy to formaldehyde is consistently higher in the USA (8-9%) than in Europe (2-3%). Patch testing with formaldehyde is problematic; the currently used 1% solution may result in both false-positive and false-negative (up to 40%) reactions. Determining the relevance of patch test reactions is often challenging. What concentration of formaldehyde is safe for sensitive patients remains unknown. Levels of 200-300 p.p.m. free formaldehyde in cosmetic products have been shown to induce dermatitis from short-term use on normal skin

Contact allergens in p-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin

p-tert-Butylphenol-formaldehyde resin (PTBP-F-R) is used as a binder in many adhesive formulations and it consists of a complex mixture of substances, most of which are unknown. The resin has been reported to cause allergic contact dermatitis since the 1950s. The aim of the study was to investigate allergens in p-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin (PTBP-F-R) and to isolate and identify sensitizers that are important factors for the development of hypersensitivity to PTBP-F-R in man. Chemical separation methods were used to isolate fractions and pure substances from the resin. These were patch tested in patients hypersensitive to PTBP-F-R. The sensitizing capacities and cross-reaction patterns of 11 isolated substances were investigated using the Guinea pig maximization test. In the present investigation 7 new allergens in PTBP-F-R were established and 1 more was strongly indicated. The allergens were found among monomers, dimers and trimers. Patch testing of formaldehyde and 4-tert-butyl-phenol, the raw materials for production of PTBP-F-R, indicated that these substances are not frequent allergens among patients hypersensitive to PTBP-F-R. 5-tert-Butyl-2-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-benzaldehyde was considered to be an important allergen among the monomers. The dimers 4-tert-butyl-2-(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-benzyloxymethyl)-6-hydroxymethyl-phenol and 4-tert-butyl-2-(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-benzyloxymethyl)-6-hydroxymethyl-phenol were considered main allergens in the resin. The investigated substances were quantitatively determined in 2 PTBP-F-Rs and shown to be present in concentrations varying between 0.01 and 1.7% w/w

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by self-adhesive electrocardiography electrodes in an infant.

Several reports of contact dermatitis caused by electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes have been published in the literature. The most commonly identified allergens werepropylene glycol, colophonium,acrylates,andp-tertbutylphenol formaldehyde resin (PTBP-F-R). We report here on a case of contact dermatitis in a 1-year-old girl caused by Kendall Kittycat Foam 4203ECG electrodes. Colophonium and modified rosins were the culprit allergens. A herbal extract that could be identified during chemical analysis of the electrodes was perhaps also implicate