Early presentation of allergic contact dermatitis due to paraphenylenediamine

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a more frequent pathology in adults than in children, because, in most cases, allergic sensitization requires a prolonged exposure time to the allergen, mostly months or years. In fact, the actual incidence and prevalence of ACD in children and adolescents is unknown. However, there is a hypothesis that ACD is increasing in the pediatric population. Among the allergens involved in ACD, the frequency of paraphenylenediamine (PPDA) is increasing. PPDA is one of the five most common contact allergens in the general population and one of the 10 most common contact allergens in children. The most relevant sources today are henna tattoos and hair dyes. Currently, European Union legislation limits the use of PPDA in hair dyes and prohibits its use in henna tattoos. Despite this legislation, the use of henna tattoos with PPDA is becoming more frequent in younger ages. We report an early presentation of ACD by PPDA, with a permanent hypopigmented skin area as an aftermath, in a 7-year-old male child. We believe that health authorities should advise against making these tattoos in children (AU)

Is Food-Triggered Atopic Dermatitis a Form of Systemic Contact Dermatitis?

Food allergy in atopic dermatitis is mediated by complex immune interactions between genetics, diet, environment, and the microbiome. When contact between inflamed skin and food antigens occurs, contact hypersensitivity can develop. Consequently, systemic contact dermatitis (SCD) can occur after ingestion of allergenic foods or food additives in the setting of a Th2 response with CLA-positive T cells, triggering dermatitis where skin resident memory lymphocytes reside. This phenomenon explains food-triggered dermatitis. Atopy patch tests (APTs) detect sensitization to food proteins responsible for SCD, which in turn can be confirmed by oral food challenge with delayed interpretation. We summarize the literature on using APTs to identify foods for oral challenge with dermatitis as an outcome. In dermatitis patients at risk for Th2 skewing based on a history of childhood-onset flexural dermatitis, shared decision-making should include a discussion of identifying and avoiding food and food additive triggers, as well as identifying and avoiding all contact allergens, prior to initiation of systemic therapy for dermatitis.

Insight Into Dermatology Providers' Perspectives on Approaches to Sensitive Skin: A Pilot Survey.

Sensitive skin (SS) is a common patient complaint; however, there are no consistent guidelines to guide dermatologists' approaches to diagnosis and management of SS. Attendees of an international dermatology conference were surveyed to gauge dermatology providers' experiences and perspectives on SS. Survey results suggest that although the definition and diagnosis of SS are ambiguous, SS is increasingly being considered as a unique condition. Patients are commonly seeking dermatologic care for SS; however, dermatologists identified challenges with diagnosis, counseling patients, selecting products or medications, and assessing clinical improvement. These data highlight both a significant demand and a current need for improved provider resources for SS. Citation: McCormick ET, Desai S, Friedman A. Insight into dermatology providers’ perspectives on/and approaches to sensitive skin: a pilot survey. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(9):950-951. doi:10.36849/JDD.7450.

Sexually transmitted infections lesions found during colonoscopies

Introduction: Anal examination and videoanoscopy (VA) are rarely performed during colonoscopies. In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in lesions of sexually transmitted anal and rectal infections, but these conditions are not noticed or reported during routine colonoscopy. Objective: To raise awareness regarding the fortuitous findings of lesions and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in colonoscopy exams and to demonstrate that anal examination and VA provide important information and should be routinely performed. Methods: We conducted a descriptive retrospective study in 16,132 patients screened by colonoscopy and VA between 2006 and 2018. Among numerous other findings, the presence of anal condylomata and sexually transmitted retitis or perianal dermatitis was observed. The rates of each finding were calculated, and the patients were subdivided by sex and into age groups by blocks of ten years. Results: Among the 16,132 colonoscopies performed, 26 cases of condyloma (0.16%) and 50 cases of proctitis or perianal dermatitis suspicious for STI (0.33%) were found. Conclusion: Performing anal examination and VA systematically in all routine colonoscopies enabled the identification of numerous anal conditions, including several fortuitous cases of STIs. The study proposes that anal examination and VA should be performed in all routine colonoscopies and, in suspected cases, complementary tests for STIs. (AU)

Effectiveness of a Skin Care Program With a Cream Containing Ceramide C and a Personalized Training for Secondary Prevention of Hand Contact Dermatitis.

Background/Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness of personalized training on skin protection associated with the regular use of ceramide-containing cream (CC) versus other creams (OC) for improving hand contact dermatitis. Methods: We performed a double-center randomized trial that enrolled workers with hand dermatitis. All workers received personalized training. The intervention was 3 times per day application of the study emollient. The control arm used an emollient of choice without ceramide, as needed. The primary outcome was improvement in hand dermatitis at 1 and 3 months of follow-up. Results: In total, 102 patients with hand dermatitis were enrolled in this study. Improvement in dermatitis was found in 40%, 52.5%, 50%, and 63% of OC and CC, at the first and second follow-ups, respectively. The use of CC was significantly associated with an improvement in dermatitis (odds ratios 2.6; 95% confidence intervals 1.30-5.2), analyzed using generalized equation estimation during the follow-up. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that an educational personalized intervention could improve the signs and symptoms in patients with hand dermatitis, and the use of a CC resulted in a significantly better outcome during the 3 months of follow-up.

Hypersensitivity Reactions to Homemade Topical Preparations.

Homemade topical preparations are becoming increasingly popular due to the widespread belief that herbal and natural products are a safer and better option in the treatment of various conditions. However, homemade topical preparations can precipitate allergic and irritant reactions, depending on the herbal composition of the preparation. Hypersensitivity reactions to such preparations range from contact allergic dermatitis, contact irritant dermatitis, contact urticaria, toxic reaction, photosensitivity, and phototoxic reaction. In Europe, and especially in the Mediterranean area, medicinal herbs from the Compositae family and aromatic Mediterranean herbs are most frequently used in the formulation of topical preparations. Although plants are regarded as strong sensitizers, the number of reported cases of hypersensitivity reactions is relatively small. The problems are limitations in diagnostics due to the lack of necessary patch test substances and the danger of active sensitization during testing. Caution is required in patients prone to allergies and those with existing dermatoses, who should be advised to use registered preparations. The first step in management is cessation of exposure, followed by implementation of topical corticosteroids. Systemic corticosteroid therapy is reserved for more severe cases.

Sensibilización alérgica de contacto en pacientes con rosácea / Contact Allergy in Patients with Rosacea

Introducción y objetivo La rosácea es una dermatosis acneiforme crónica donde la disrupción de la barrera cutánea puede provocar una facilidad para la sensibilización a distintos alérgenos. Nuestro objetivo es analizar la sensibilización alérgica de contacto en los pacientes con rosácea de nuestro medio. Material y métodos Se realizó estudio de cohortes retrospectivo analizando todos los pacientes parchados en la consulta de Alergia Cutánea de nuestro servicio entre mayo de 1991 hasta mayo de 2019. Resultados Durante el tiempo de estudio han sido remitidos a nuestra consulta un total de 200 pacientes con rosácea, el 2,1% del total de pacientes parchados en este tiempo. El 81% de los pacientes eran mujeres, con una edad media de 44,7años. El 46,5% presentaron al menos un parche positivo, considerándose de relevancia presente (RP) en el 15%. Los parches positivos más frecuentes fueron níquel (26%), seguido de cloruro de cobalto (6,5%), isotiazolinonas (6%), PPDA (5,5%), mezclaII de perfumes (5%) y thiomersal (3,5%). Los parches positivos de RP más frecuentes fueron isotiazolinonas en 10/200 pacientes (5%), PPDA, mezclaII de fragancias, toluensulfonamida formaldehído resina en 4/200 pacientes cada uno (2%), tixocortol y mezclaI de fragancias en 2/200 cada uno (1%). El grupo de sustancias más frecuentemente detectadas fueron los metales, con una RP en el 12,6%, seguido de los fármacos con una RP en el 25,8%. Los conservantes y las fragancias fueron los siguientes grupos de sustancias más frecuentemente positivas, con una RP en el 70,8% y el 43,7%, respectivamente. La fuente de sensibilización más frecuente fueron los cosméticos, seguidos de los fármacos tópicos, destacando los corticoides y los antifúngicos tópicos. Conclusiones Destacamos una elevada prevalencia de dermatitis alérgica de contacto en pacientes con rosácea, lo que sustenta la realización de pruebas epicutáneas (AU)

Background and objective Rosacea is a chronic acneiform skin disorder in which impaired skin barrier function can lead to sensitization to allergens. We aimed to analyze contact allergies in our patients with rosacea. Material and methods Retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent patch testing in our skin allergy clinic between May 1991 and May 2019. Results A total of 200 patients with rosacea were referred to our clinic for patch testing during the study period; they represented 2.1% of all patch tested patients in the period. Eighty-one percent were women (mean age, 44.7years). At least 1positive patch test was recorded for 46.5%; 15% were of current relevance. The most frequent positive reaction was to nickel (26%), followed by cobalt chloride (6.5%), isothiazolinones (6%), p-phenylenediamine (5.5%), fragrance mixII (5%), and thimerosal (3.5%). The most common currently relevant patch test reactions were to isothiazolinones in 10 of the 200 patients (5%); to phenylenediamine, fragrance mixII, and toluensulfonamide formaldehyde resin in 4 patients (2%) each; and to tixocortol and fragrance mixI in 2 patients (1%) each. The allergen groups most often implicated were metals (of current relevance in 12.6%) and drugs (of current relevance in 25.8%). Preservatives and fragrances were the next most common allergen groups, and 70.8% and 43.7% of the positive reactions in these groups, respectively, were of current relevance. Cosmetics were the most frequent source of sensitization, followed by topical medications — notably corticosteroids and antifungal agents. Conclusions We emphasize the high prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with rosacea, a finding which supports patch testing, especially if eruptions worsen when these patients use cosmetics and topical medications (AU)

[Translated article] Contact Allergy in Patients With Rosacea / Sensibilización alérgica de contacto en pacientes con rosácea

Background and objective Rosacea is a chronic acneiform skin disorder in which impaired skin barrier function can lead to sensitization to allergens. We aimed to analyze contact allergies in our patients with rosacea. Material and methods Retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent patch testing in our skin allergy clinic between May 1991 and May 2019. Results A total of 200 patients with rosacea were referred to our clinic for patch testing during the study period; they represented 2.1% of all patch tested patients in the period. Eighty-one percent were women (mean age, 44.7years). At least 1positive patch test was recorded for 46.5%; 15% were of current relevance. The most frequent positive reaction was to nickel (26%), followed by cobalt chloride (6.5%), isothiazolinones (6%), p-phenylenediamine (5.5%), fragrance mixII (5%), and thimerosal (3.5%). The most common currently relevant patch test reactions were to isothiazolinones in 10 of the 200 patients (5%); to phenylenediamine, fragrance mixII, and toluensulfonamide formaldehyde resin in 4 patients (2%) each; and to tixocortol and fragrance mixI in 2 patients (1%) each. The allergen groups most often implicated were metals (of current relevance in 12.6%) and drugs (of current relevance in 25.8%). Preservatives and fragrances were the next most common allergen groups, and 70.8% and 43.7% of the positive reactions in these groups, respectively, were of current relevance. Cosmetics were the most frequent source of sensitization, followed by topical medications — notably corticosteroids and antifungal agents. Conclusions We emphasize the high prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with rosacea, a finding which supports patch testing, especially if eruptions worsen when these patients use cosmetics and topical medications (AU)

Introducción y objetivo La rosácea es una dermatosis acneiforme crónica donde la disrupción de la barrera cutánea puede provocar una facilidad para la sensibilización a distintos alérgenos. Nuestro objetivo es analizar la sensibilización alérgica de contacto en los pacientes con rosácea de nuestro medio. Material y métodos Se realizó estudio de cohortes retrospectivo analizando todos los pacientes parchados en la consulta de Alergia Cutánea de nuestro servicio entre mayo de 1991 hasta mayo de 2019. Resultados Durante el tiempo de estudio han sido remitidos a nuestra consulta un total de 200 pacientes con rosácea, el 2,1% del total de pacientes parchados en este tiempo. El 81% de los pacientes eran mujeres, con una edad media de 44,7años. El 46,5% presentaron al menos un parche positivo, considerándose de relevancia presente (RP) en el 15%. Los parches positivos más frecuentes fueron níquel (26%), seguido de cloruro de cobalto (6,5%), isotiazolinonas (6%), PPDA (5,5%), mezclaII de perfumes (5%) y thiomersal (3,5%). Los parches positivos de RP más frecuentes fueron isotiazolinonas en 10/200 pacientes (5%), PPDA, mezclaII de fragancias, toluensulfonamida formaldehído resina en 4/200 pacientes cada uno (2%), tixocortol y mezclaI de fragancias en 2/200 cada uno (1%). El grupo de sustancias más frecuentemente detectadas fueron los metales, con una RP en el 12,6%, seguido de los fármacos con una RP en el 25,8%. Los conservantes y las fragancias fueron los siguientes grupos de sustancias más frecuentemente positivas, con una RP en el 70,8% y el 43,7%, respectivamente. La fuente de sensibilización más frecuente fueron los cosméticos, seguidos de los fármacos tópicos, destacando los corticoides y los antifúngicos tópicos. Conclusiones Destacamos una elevada prevalencia de dermatitis alérgica de contacto en pacientes con rosácea, lo que sustenta la realización de pruebas epicutáneas (AU)

Dermatitis de contacto a alérgenos de la Batería Estándar Española en población del sur de Gran Canaria / Contact Dermatitis to Allergens in the Spanish Standard Series: Patch Test Findings in the South of Gran Canaria

Introducción y objetivos El eccema de contacto es un motivo frecuente de consulta. El grado y la frecuencia de sensibilización a alérgenos varían dependiendo de la población de referencia atendida. Revisamos los resultados de sensibilización a alérgenos de la Batería Estándar Española en una población dedicada mayoritariamente al sector turístico (Islas Canarias). Material y métodos Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo tomando la base de datos de la Unidad de Dermatitis de Contacto del Servicio de Dermatología del Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, incluyéndose pacientes parcheados con la Batería Estándar Española desde enero de 2005 hasta junio de 2018. Se recogieron edad, sexo, atopia, localización, positividades y relevancia. Resultados Se estudiaron 1.568 pacientes. El 71,6% fueron mujeres, con una baja proporción de atopia (14,2%) y dermatitis ocupacional (15,8%). La mayoría fueron mayores de 40años (65,2%). Los alérgenos positivos más frecuentes fueron níquel (36,5%), metilcloroisotiazolinona/metilisotiazolinona (11,9%), metilisotiazolinona (11,8%), parafenilendiamina (7,5%) y dicromato potásico (6,3%). Conclusiones En la población estudiada se observa una mayor frecuencia de sensibilización respecto al resto de España para la mayoría de los alérgenos, siendo estas diferencias especialmente llamativas en el caso del níquel, de la metilcloroisotiazolinona/metilisotiazolinona y de la parafenilendiamina (AU)

Background and objectives Contact dermatitis is a common reason for consultation in dermatology. Sensitization levels and frequency, however, vary from one population to the next. The aim of this study was to review patch test results showing sensitization to allergens in the Spanish standard series in the Canary Islands, where a large proportion of the population works in tourism. Material and methods Retrospective, descriptive study of data from the dermatology department's contact dermatitis unit at Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. We studied results recorded for patients patch tested with the Spanish standard series between January 2005 and June 2018. Results Data for 1568 patients were studied; 71.6% were women, and overall rates of atopy (14.2%) and occupational dermatitis (15.8%) were low. Most patients with a positive test (65.2%) were older than 40years. The main allergens eliciting positive reactions were nickel (36.5%), methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (11.9%), methylisothiazolinone (11.8%), paraphenylenediamine (7.5%), and potassium dichromate (6.3%). Conclusions Contact sensitization rates were higher than those reported elsewhere in Spain for most of the allergens studied. The differences were particularly notable for nickel, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone, and paraphenylenediamine (AU)

[Translated article] Contact Dermatitis to Allergens in the Spanish Standard Series: Patch Test Findings in the South of Gran Canaria / Dermatitis de contacto a alérgenos de la Batería Estándar Española en población del sur de Gran Canaria

Background and objectives Contact dermatitis is a common reason for consultation in dermatology. Sensitization levels and frequency, however, vary from one population to the next. The aim of this study was to review patch test results showing sensitization to allergens in the Spanish standard series in the Canary Islands, where a large proportion of the population works in tourism. Material and methods Retrospective, descriptive study of data from the dermatology department's contact dermatitis unit at Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. We studied results recorded for patients patch tested with the Spanish standard series between January 2005 and June 2018. Results Data for 1568 patients were studied; 71.6% were women, and overall rates of atopy (14.2%) and occupational dermatitis (15.8%) were low. Most patients with a positive test (65.2%) were older than 40years. The main allergens eliciting positive reactions were nickel (36.5%), methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (11.9%), methylisothiazolinone (11.8%), paraphenylenediamine (7.5%), and potassium dichromate (6.3%). Conclusions Contact sensitization rates were higher than those reported elsewhere in Spain for most of the allergens studied. The differences were particularly notable for nickel, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone, and paraphenylenediamine (AU)

Introducción y objetivos El eccema de contacto es un motivo frecuente de consulta. El grado y la frecuencia de sensibilización a alérgenos varían dependiendo de la población de referencia atendida. Revisamos los resultados de sensibilización a alérgenos de la Batería Estándar Española en una población dedicada mayoritariamente al sector turístico (Islas Canarias). Material y métodos Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo tomando la base de datos de la Unidad de Dermatitis de Contacto del Servicio de Dermatología del Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, incluyéndose pacientes parcheados con la Batería Estándar Española desde enero de 2005 hasta junio de 2018. Se recogieron edad, sexo, atopia, localización, positividades y relevancia. Resultados Se estudiaron 1.568 pacientes. El 71,6% fueron mujeres, con una baja proporción de atopia (14,2%) y dermatitis ocupacional (15,8%). La mayoría fueron mayores de 40años (65,2%). Los alérgenos positivos más frecuentes fueron níquel (36,5%), metilcloroisotiazolinona/metilisotiazolinona (11,9%), metilisotiazolinona (11,8%), parafenilendiamina (7,5%) y dicromato potásico (6,3%). Conclusiones En la población estudiada se observa una mayor frecuencia de sensibilización respecto al resto de España para la mayoría de los alérgenos, siendo estas diferencias especialmente llamativas en el caso del níquel, de la metilcloroisotiazolinona/metilisotiazolinona y de la parafenilendiamina (AU)