Allergic contact dermatitis caused by cosmetic products.

Contact dermatitis due to cosmetic products is a common dermatologic complaint that considerably affects the patient's quality of life. Diagnosis, treatment, and preventive strategies represent a substantial cost. This condition accounts for 2% to 4% of all visits to the dermatologist, and approximately 60% of cases are allergic in origin. Most cases are caused by skin hygiene and moisturizing products, followed by cosmetic hair and nail products. Fragrances are the most common cause of allergy to cosmetics, followed by preservatives and hair dyes; however, all components, including natural ingredients, should be considered potential sensitizers. We provide relevant information on the most frequent allergens in cosmetic products, namely, fragrances, preservatives, antioxidants, excipients, surfactants, humectants, emulsifiers, natural ingredients, hair dyes, sunscreens, and nail cosmetics.

Occupational contact dermatitis in the wind energy industry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In 2010, wind energy coverage in Spain increased by 16%, making the country the world's fourth largest producer in a fast-developing industry that is also a source of employment. Occupational skin diseases in this field have received little attention. The present study aims to describe the main characteristics of skin diseases affecting workers in the wind energy industry and the allergens involved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a descriptive, observational study of workers from the wind energy industry with suspected contact dermatitis who were referred to the occupational dermatology clinic of the National School of Occupational Medicine (Escuela Nacional de Medicina del Trabajo) between 2009 and 2011. We took both a clinical history and an occupational history, and patients underwent a physical examination and patch testing with the materials used in their work. RESULTS: We studied 10 workers (8 men, 2 women), with a mean age of 33.7 years. The main finding was dermatitis, which affected the face, eyelids, forearms, and hands. Sensitization to epoxy resins was detected in 4 workers, 1 of whom was also sensitized to epoxy curing agents. One worker was sensitized to bisphenol F resin but had a negative result with epoxy resin from the standard series. In the 5 remaining cases, the final diagnosis was irritant contact dermatitis due to fiberglass. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational skin diseases are increasingly common in the wind energy industry. The main allergens are epoxy resins. Fiberglass tends to produce irritation.

Occupational Contact Dermatitis in the Wind Energy Industry. / Dermatitis de contacto profesional en la industria eólica.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In 2010, wind energy coverage in Spain increased by 16%, making the country the world's fourth largest producer in a fast-developing industry that is also a source of employment. Occupational skin diseases in this field have received little attention. The present study aims to describe the main characteristics of skin diseases affecting workers in the wind energy industry and the allergens involved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a descriptive, observational study of workers from the wind energy industry with suspected contact dermatitis who were referred to the occupational dermatology clinic of the National School of Occupational Medicine (Escuela Nacional de Medicina del Trabajo) between 2009 and 2011. We took both a clinical history and an occupational history, and patients underwent a physical examination and patch testing with the materials used in their work. RESULTS: We studied 10 workers (8 men, 2 women), with a mean age of 33.7 years. The main finding was dermatitis, which affected the face, eyelids, forearms, and hands. Sensitization to epoxy resins was detected in 4 workers, 1 of whom was also sensitized to epoxy curing agents. One worker was sensitized to bisphenol F resin but had a negative result with epoxy resin from the standard series. In the 5 remaining cases, the final diagnosis was irritant contact dermatitis due to fiberglass. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational skin diseases are increasingly common in the wind energy industry. The main allergens are epoxy resins. Fiberglass tends to produce irritation.

Rubber dermatitis. Clinical forms.

The incidence of rubber sensitization is difficult to evaluate, as the statistics are not standardized. Rubber gloves are considered to be the main source, but other objects are also of importance. Sensitizations are usually multiple, with the patient reactive with two or more rubber allergens. These allergens produce a great variety of clinical pictures, which are described in detail with the possible allergens implicated.

[Contact-sensitivity to p-tert-butylphenol formol (PTBP resin)]. / Sensibilidad de contacto a resina para-terciario butil-fenol-formol (resina PTBP).

A revision of the sensitivities produced by PTBP resin is made, taking into account professional and consumers points of view. Fifteen cases of sensitivity to the resin are reported.

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis to methyldibromoglutaronitrile in hand degreasing toilet paper.

We inform about a case of occupational allergic contact dermatitis (OACD) to methyldibromoglutaronitrile (MDBGN) in industrial hand degreasing moist toilet paper. To our knowledge, this is the first published case of OACD to MDBGN in industrial hand degreasing toilet papers. A cause-effect relationship seems to be clearly established. We believe that physicians must keep in mind that MDBGN is a strong allergen either mixed or as a single component of industrial moist toilet papers. MDBGN must be taken into account for OACD at an appropriate work environment.

[Sensitization to Lyral]. / Sensibilización al Lyral.

INTRODUCTION: Lyral is a fragrance that is present in many cosmetic products. It has turned into an emergent allergen during the last years. In studies carried out in other European countries, the prevalence of sensitization to Lyral has been found to be 1.9-2.7 %, but it is unknown the prevalence in Spain, as well as the need to include it or not in the standard series of the Spanish Group of Contact Dermatitis (GEIDC). METHODS: We have patch-tested to Lyral all patients with suspicion of contact dermatitis of any origin who attended our Service between April and May-2005. RESULTS: From a total of 170 patients included in our study, 2 of them had a sensitization to Lyral (1.2 %). One of these two patients had an axillae contact dermatitis caused by a deodorant containing Lyral. The other patient was a masseur-woman with a contact dermatitis on both hands, with periods of dissemination to upper extremities and trunk, and who used several cosmetics products for private reasons and during her job. CONCLUSION: Although the sample of this study is quite small, we think that the results allow to suspect that Lyral is one of the main allergens, or even the most important, in causing allergic contact dermatitis to fragrances in our environment. Therefore, we believe that we must raise the inclusion of Lyral in the standard series of GEIDC, either as independent allergen, or including it in a new mixture of fragrances.

Occupational radiodermatitis from Ir192 exposure.

3 cases of occupational radiodermatitis from Ir192 exposure in personnel handling a gamma ray projector in industrial radiography are presented. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically. The nature and use of the industrial machines are described.

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from cyanoacrylate.

Cyanoacrylates are widely used in adhesive techniques. Cyanoacrylate adhesives differ physically for the different needs of application, and chemically in function of the size of ester molecules. A 40-year-old man employed at the National Mint and Stamp factory presented with hyperkeratotic lesions on the fingers of the right hand. His job consisted of fixing microchips to plastic phone cards with Loctite Series 414. Patch testing confirmed sensitivity to cyanoacrylates. After the diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis was established, the patient, to be cured of the dermatitis, changed his workplace 2 months later.

Patch test sensitivity to the preservative Kathon CG in Spain.

Kathon CG is a very well studied preservative used in cosmetics and toiletries. It is effective in low concentrations (3 to 15 ppm active ingredients) and exhibits outstanding antimicrobial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Although this biocide is not considered to pose a toxicological hazard at recommended use levels, the sensitizing potential of Kathon CG has been established. From November 1988 to June 1989, we patch tested 626 unselected contact dermatitis patients with Kathon CG solution containing 200 ppm active ingredients and obtained 22 (3.5%) positive reactions. Relevance was established in 7 of the 22 patients. Women were predominantly sensitized, the principal source of sensitization being cosmetics.

Occupational dermatoses from cutting oils.

230 patients with occupational dermatitis in the metallurgic industry were studied with standard patch test (GEIDC) and an oil series. An occupational and clinical questionnaire survey was carried out. Responses to paraphenylenediamine, chrome, cobalt in the standard series, and benzisothiazolone, triethanolamine, and Grotan BK were the main positive results.

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from anaerobic acrylic sealants.

Anaerobic sealants are acrylates that polymerize in the absence of oxygen. They are used principally in the engineering and electronic industries. Their use can cause occupational dermatitis in the workers who handle them. In this work, we report our experience with 6 patients who presented with allergic contact dermatitis to these sealants.