Shoe Allergens: A Retrospective Analysis of Cross-sectional Data From the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, 2005-2018.

BACKGROUND: Shoe contact allergy can be difficult to diagnose and manage. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to characterize demographics, clinical characteristics, patch test results, and occupational data for the North American Contact Dermatitis Group patients with shoe contact allergy. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 33,661 patients, patch tested from 2005 to 2018, with a shoe source, foot as 1 of 3 sites of dermatitis, and final primary diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-two patients met the inclusion criteria. They were more likely to be male (odds ratio = 3.36, confidence interval = 2.71-4.17) and less likely to be older than 40 years (odds ratio = 0.49, confidence interval = 0.40-0.61) compared with others with positive patch test reactions. The most common relevant North American Contact Dermatitis Group screening allergens were potassium dichromate (29.8%), p-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde resin (20.1%), thiuram mix (13.3%), mixed dialkyl thioureas (12.6%), and carba mix (12%). A total of 29.8% (105/352) had positive patch test reactions to supplemental allergens, and 12.2% (43/352) only had reactions to supplemental allergens. CONCLUSIONS: Shoe contact allergy was more common in younger and male patients. Potassium dichromate and p-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde resin were the top shoe allergens. Testing supplemental allergens, personal care products, and shoe components should be part of a comprehensive evaluation of suspected shoe contact allergy.

Diagnosis and Management of Dermatitis, Including Atopic, Contact, and Hand Eczemas.

This is a comprehensive and current guide for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and management of eczematous dermatitis, with a focus on atopic dermatitis, irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, hand dermatitis including recurrent vesicular and hyperkeratotic types, asteatotic dermatitis, and nummular or discoid dermatitis. Diagnostic options highlighted are clinical history, physical examination, and patch testing. Therapeutic options highlighted are moisturizers, topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, crisaborole, phototherapy, and systemic medications including biologics.

Patch test reactions associated with sunscreen products and the importance of testing to an expanded series: retrospective analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group data, 2001 to 2010.

BACKGROUND: Both active and inactive ingredients in sunscreen may cause contact dermatitis. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe allergens associated with a sunscreen source. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of patients patch tested by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group between 2001 and 2010 was performed. RESULTS: Of 23,908 patients patch tested, 219 (0.9%) had sunscreen coded as an allergen source. Patients who were male, with occupational dermatitis, or older (older than 40 years) had significantly lower rates of allergic reactions to sunscreens; the most commonly affected areas were the face and exposed sites (P < 0.0001). The top 3 most frequent allergens in sunscreens were benzophenone-3 (70.2% for 10% concentration, 64.4% for 3% concentration), DL-alpha-tocopherol (4.8%), and fragrance mix I (4.0%). Less than 40% of positive patch test reactions were detected by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group screening series of 65 to 70 allergens. CONCLUSIONS: A supplemental antigen series is important in detecting allergy to sunscreens.

North American Contact Dermatitis Group patch test results for 2007-2008.

BACKGROUND: The North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) tests patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis to a broad series of screening allergens and publishes periodic reports. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to report the NACDG patch-testing results from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2008, and to compare results to pooled test data from the previous 2 and 10 years to analyze trends in allergen sensitivity. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Standardized patch testing with 65 allergens was used at 13 centers in North America. χ analysis was used for comparisons. RESULTS: A total of 5085 patients were tested; 11.8% (598) had an occupationally related skin condition, and 65.3% (3319) had at least 1 allergic patch test reaction, which is identical to the NACDG data from 2005 to 2006. The top 15 most frequently positive allergens were nickel sulfate (19.5%), Myroxylon pereirae (11.0%), neomycin (10.1%), fragrance mix I (9.4%), quaternium-15 (8.6%), cobalt chloride (8.4%), bacitracin (7.9%), formaldehyde (7.7%), methyldibromoglutaronitrile/phenoxyethanol (5.5%), p-phenylenediamine (5.3%), propolis (4.9%), carba mix (4.5%), potassium dichromate (4.1%), fragrance mix II (3.6%), and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (3.6%). There were significant increases in positivity rates to nickel, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone, and benzophenone-3. During the same period of study, there were significant decreases in positivity rates to neomycin, fragrance mix I, formaldehyde, thiuram mix, cinnamic aldehyde, propylene glycol, epoxy resin, diazolidinyl urea, amidoamine, ethylenediamine, benzocaine, p-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde resin, dimethylol dimethyl hydantoin, cocamidopropyl betaine, glutaraldehyde, mercaptobenzothiazole, tosylamide formaldehyde resin, budesonide, disperse blue 106, mercapto mix, and chloroxylenol. Twenty-four percent (1221) had a relevant positive reaction to a non-NACDG supplementary allergen; and 180 of these reactions were occupationally relevant. CONCLUSIONS: Periodic analysis, surveillance, and publication of multicenter study data sets document trends in allergen reactivity incidence assessed in the patch test clinic setting and provide information on new allergens of relevance.

Patch-test results of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group 2005-2006.

BACKGROUND: The North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) tests patients who have suspected allergic contact dermatitis with a broad series of screening allergens, and publishes periodic reports of its data. OBJECTIVE: To report the NACDG patch-test results from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2006, and to compare results to pooled test data from the previous 10 years. METHODS: Standardized patch testing with 65 allergens was used at 13 centers in North America. Chi-square statistics were utilized for comparisons with previous NACDG data. RESULTS: NACDG patch-tested 4,454 patients; 12.3% (557) had an occupation-related skin condition, and 65.3% (2,907) had at least one allergic patch-test reaction. The 15 most frequently positive allergens were nickel sulfate (19.0%), Myroxilon pereirae (balsam of Peru, 11.9%), fragrance mix I (11.5%), quaternium-15 (10.3%), neomycin (10.0%), bacitracin (9.2%), formaldehyde (9.0%), cobalt chloride (8.4%), methyldibromoglutaronitrile/phenoxyethanol (5.8%), p-phenylenediamine (5.0%), potassium dichromate (4.8%), carba mix (3.9%), thiuram mix (3.9%), diazolidinylurea (3.7%), and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (3.4%). As compared to the 1994-2004 data, there were significant increases in rates of positivity to nickel, quaternium-15, potassium dichromate, lidocaine, and tea tree oil. Of patch-tested patients, 22.9% (1,019) had a relevant positive reaction to a supplementary allergen; 4.9% (219) had an occupationally relevant positive reaction to a supplementary allergen. CONCLUSION: Nickel has been the most frequently positive allergen detected by the NACDG; rates significantly increased in the current study period and most reactions were clinically relevant. Other common allergens were topical antibiotics, preservatives, fragrance mix I and paraphenylenediamine. Testing with an expanded allergen series and supplementary allergens enhances detection of relevant positive allergens.

Phototherapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: online survey and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Phototherapy modalities are frequently used in the treatment of patch and plaque mycosis fungoides (MF), but consensus recommendations on treatment regimens are variable. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate current practice variation in patch and plaque MF phototherapy treatment and review the relevant literature. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of International Society of Cutaneous Lymphomas members and literature review. RESULTS: Survey response rate was 29%. Psoralen plus ultraviolet (UV) A (PUVA) and narrowband UVB were the most common phototherapy modalities used for patch and plaque MF treatment, with a predilection for PUVA in cases of more extensive disease and increasing skin phototype. For phototherapy treatment regimens, survey and literature results support: (1) narrowband UVB 3 times per week in the initial clearing regimen continued until clearance; and (2) PUVA 2 to 3 times per week in the initial clearing regimen, continued until clearance. Maintenance therapy regimens for narrowband UVB and PUVA varied widely from no additional treatment to one treatment per week for 5 years or more. There is not evidence to show whether phototherapy can prevent relapse or prolong disease-free interval. LIMITATIONS: Small survey size of specialty interest group and limited response rate are limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Although phototherapy initial clearing regimens for MF are generally consistent, variability and lack of consensus remain in the duration and frequency of maintenance therapy.

Tea tree oil.

Tea tree oil is a popular ingredient in many over-the-counter healthcare and cosmetic products. With the explosion of the natural and alternative medicine industry, more and more people are using products containing tea tree oil. This article reviews basic information about tea tree oil and contact allergy, including sources of tea tree oil, chemical composition, potential cross reactions, reported cases of allergic contact dermatitis, allergenic compounds in tea tree oil, practical patch testing information, and preventive measures.