Cosmetics contact allergy

Taking the history of the patient and noting the clinical symptoms and localization of the lesions are critical. Allergen identification for a patient with a possible contact allergy to cosmetics is performed by means of patch testing with the standard series, specific cosmetic-test series, the product itself, and all of its ingredients. We can only find the allergens we look for. For skin tests with cosmetic products... 

Vaijonen, E., Petman, L., and Makinen-Kiljunen, S., Immediate contact allergy from hydrolyzed wheat in a cosmetic cream, Allergy, 55, 294, 2000. 

Bonamonte D, Foti C, Angelini G. Contact allergy to ester gums in cosmetics. Contact Dermatitis 2001 45(2) 110-11. 

Preservatives are important causes of allergic contact dermatitis in cosmetics. In a 10-year analysis in 16 centers in 11 countries, 73 818 consecutive patients were patch-tested for the preservatives listed above. There were several cases of contact allergy to formaldehyde and MCI/MI. These preservatives are currently avoided in cosmetics. However, the frequency of positive reactions to MDBGN has risen, from 0.7% in 1991 to 3.5% in 2000. The authors suggested that the concentration of this preservative should be reduced in leave-on cosmetic products (1). 

Contact allergy is the most frequently described adverse effect of topical drugs and cosmetics the diagnosis can be established by patch-testing (1 ) and review articles (5). 

Hannuksela M. Skin contact allergy to emulsifiers. Int J Cosmet Sci 1988 10 9-14. 

Coumarin is a component of cosmetics and fragrances for which conflicting results have been reported regarding its propensity to induce contact allergy. A careful study has shown that pure coumarin does not exhibit irritant or sensitizing properties. It only exhibits toxic properties when contaminated with impurities J43 ... 

Tomar J, Jain VK, Aggarwal K, et al. Contact allergies to cosmetics Testing with 52 cosmetic ingredients and personal products. J Dermatol 2005 32 (12) 951—5. 

Dichlorophene (dichlorodihydroxydiphenylmethane, G4, cuniphen) closely related to hexachlorophene, is used in dentifrices, shampoos, antiperspirants, deodorant preparations, and over-the-counter products for athlete s foot. It is also used as an antifungal and antibacterial preservative in textiles. Schorr (1970) reported three cases of contact allergy to dichlorophene in a skin lotion and a bandage used for stasis ulcers. Two of Epstein s (1966) three patients allergic to dichlorophene were apparently sensitized by cosmetic bases. According to Fisher and Tobin (1953) dichlorophene is a more potent sensitizer than hexachlorophene they did not find cross-reaction between these two substances as did Epstein (1966). 

The sensitizing potential of this preservative has been established in a modified Draize test (17% of 205 volunteers) (Maibach 1971). The industrial exposure is widespread (e. g., wood, leather, and tanning industries, wallpaper glue, nylon spin finish, cutting oils). Chloracetamide in cosmetics and pharmaceutical preparations has caused contact allergy (Nater 1971 Calnan 1971) of 27 contact allergic reactions to Hirudoid ointment 7 were caused by chloracetamide (Smeenk and Prins 1972),... 

Preservatives such as parabens, i.e., esters ofp-hydroxybenzoic acid are used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry as well as in foods. Allergic reactions to parabens have been reported with increasing frequency from the United States (Fischer 1973). Contact allergy to sorbic acid has also been reported but seems to be rare (Hjort and Trolle-Lassen 1962 Klaschka and Beiersdorff 1965 Fischer et al. 1971 Sadhan and Harman 1978 Brown 1979). That the dermatitis should flare up or get worse after intravenous or oral ingestion of such preservatives has not been reported. 

Calnan CD, Caron GA (1961) Quinine sensitivity. Br Med J 2 1750-1751 Calnan CD (1976) Quinazoline yellow SS in cosmetics. Contact Dermatitis 2 160-166 Campbell AD, Horwitz W, Burke JA, Jelinek, CF, Rodricks JV, Shibko SJ (1977) Food additives and contaminants. In Hall VF (ed) Handbooks of physiology, sect. 9. Reactions to environmental agents, Wilhams Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 167-179 Castelain PY (1977) L allergie aux colorants alimentaires. Med Nutr 13 112-113 Chafee FH, Settipane GA (1967) Asthma caused by FD C approved dyes. J Allergy 40 65-72... 

Wiistermann S, Siebert J (1997) Contact allergies to Methyldib-romo Glutaronitrile and methylchloroisothiazolinone/met-hylisothiazolinone as preservatives in cosmetics relevance and exposure. Seifen Ole Fette Wachse 123 398-404... 

Calnan CD (1975) Compound allergy to a cosmetic. Contact Dermatitis 1 123... 

Preservatives combine both antimicrobials and antioxidants and are often added to water-containing products such as skin care ointments. In general, contact allergy to preservatives is considered rare. Sensitization to preservatives is often due to the use of products on damaged skin, e.g., eczema or leg ulcers. Patients often present with symptoms of dermatitis of the hands or face. The most frequently used preservatives in cosmetics and topical drugs are parabens, imidazolinidyl urea, quaternium-15, dimethylol-di-methyl (DMDM) hydantoin, phenoxyethanol, met-hylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone, dia-zolinidyl urea, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-i,3-diol and sorbic acid (Schnuch et al. 1998). Preservatives and antimicrobials are also used in industrial products (called biocides), such as metalwork fluids. 

Cosmetic preparations that contain formaldehyde donor compounds release formaldehyde in the presence of water. Very often, these are water-based preparations, such as shampoos. The presence of released formaldehyde is not required for the antimicrobial action of the compound and is therefore regarded as an nuisance however, this depends on the chemical formula as a whole. In the end, increasing use of formaldehyde-releasing compounds may lead to an increase in the incidence of contact allergy (Kranke et al. 1996). Formaldehyde-releasing agents include ... 

Presence in cosmetics not always proven contact allergy sometimes established by routine testing Has caused pigmented cosmetic/contact dermatitis Has caused phototoxicity/photoallergy Has caused immediate contact reactions (contact urticaria)... 

Dahlquist I, Fregert S (1981) Atranorin and oak moss contact allergy. Contact Dermatitis 7 168-169 De Groot AC (1987) Contact allergy to cosmetics causative ingredients. Contact Dermatitis 17 26-34 De Groot AC (1988) Adverse reactions to cosmetics. Thesis, State University of Groningen... 

De Groot AC, Bruynzeel DP, Bos JD, et al. (1988) The allergens in cosmetics. Arch Dermatol 124 1525-1529 De Groot AC, Baar AJM, Terpstra H, Weyland JW (1991) Contact allergy to moist toilet paper. Contact Dermatitis 24 135-136 De Groot AC, Van der Kley AMJ, Bruynzeel DP, et al. (1993) Frequency of false-negative reactions to the fragrance mix. Contact Dermatitis 28 139-140... 

Farm G (1996) Contact allergy to colophony and hand eczema. A follow-up study of patients with previously diagnosed allergy to colophony. Contact Dermatitis 34 93-100 Farm G, Liden C, Karlberg A-T (1994) A clinical and patch test study in a tail-oil rosin factory. Contact Dermatitis 31 102-107 Farm G, Karlberg A-T, Liden C (1995) Are opera-house artistes afflicted with contact allergy to colophony and cosmetics Contact Dermatitis 32 273-280... 

Urea and melamine do not cause contact allergy. Sensitization to amino plastics has developed from urea-formaldehyde resin used as textile finish (Belsito 1993) and melamine-formaldehyde resin in orthopedic casts (Ross et al. 1992), gypsum molds (Fregert 1981) or in the coating of plastic tubes intended for cosmetics. 

De Groot AC, Frosch PJ (1997) Adverse reactions to fragrances. A clinical review. Contact Dermatitis 36 57-86 De Groot AC, Weyland JW, Nater JP (eds) (1994) Contact allergy to fragrance materials. In Unwanted effects of cosmetics and drugs used in dermatology, 3rd edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Chap. 5.8-5.15, pp 65-72... 

Propolis contact allergy is not caused by one main allergen, but by several allergens varying in chemical composition the presence of these in propolis depends on the nature of the source plant and the place and time of collection by the bees [3]. Studies have shown that 1,1-dimethylallyl and 3-methyl-2-butenyl caffeic acid ester are the strongest sensitizers [3-6]. Propolis allergy today is seen mainly in individuals who use propolis as bio-cosmetics and in self treatment of various diseases [4]. 

Rudzki E, Rebandel P, Grzywa Z (1989) Contact allergy in the pharmaceutical industry. Contact Dermatitis 21 121-122 Rudzki E, Rebandel P, Grzywa Z (1993) Occupational dermatitis from cosmetic creams. Contact Dermatitis 29 210 Rycroft RJG (1981a) Allergic contact dermatitis from laboratory synthesis of 4-bromomethyl-6,8-dimethyl-2(iH)-quinolone. Contact Dermatitis 7 39-42... 

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