Dermatitis, allergic solvent

Examples of allergic solvents are terpene products with high sensitivity potential, which can cause positive test reactions (patch-test) or even allergic diseases (contact sensitization and dermatitis). Allergic dermatitis can even be provoked by d-limonene in the air. Terpenes and terpenoid substances are found especially in natural products , e.g., cosmetic products, foods, and plants (oilseed rape). ... 

There are rather few case reports on allergic contact dermatitis to solvents, considering their extensive use and the size of the exposed population. This may be due partly to the inherent problems encountered when patch testing with solvents (see below), but also to ignorance or lack of suspicion by the examining physician and partly due to the solvents relative chemical inertness. 

Irritant contact dermatitis results from first-time exposures to irritating substances such as soaps, plants, cleaning solutions, or solvents. Allergic contact dermatitis occurs after an initial sensitivity and further exposure to allergenic substances, including poison ivy, latex, and certain types of metals. 

Beck MH, King CM Allergic contact dermatitis to epichlorohydrin in a solvent cement. Contaa Derm 9 315, 1983... 

Toxic solvents, such as methyl alcohol, benzene, and chlorinated hydrocarbons, can penetrate the skin through cuts and abrasions. On contact, these solvents cause chronic dermatitis and allergic skin reactions in susceptible individuals. 

The most common types of damage caused by chemicals in workers is probably to the lungs and to the skin. These are the main sites of the body that are exposed to chemicals. The most common industrial disease is dermatitis, which accounts for more working days lost than all the other industrial diseases together. If solvents or chemicals that workers handle come into contact with their hands, this can lead to irritation. More serious is contact dermatitis which results from repeated exposure over time. Sometimes serious allergic dermatitis occurs, where the chemical acts to sensitize the skin. Workers in the paper and printing industry are prone to skin diseases, and photographic chemicals, metals, resins, and coal tar derivatives can all sensitize the skin. As we have seen, certain chemicals, such as dioxins, can cause a particularly severe form of acne, chloracne. 

Acute toxic contact dermatitis may be induced by a single application of a toxic material. One local inflammatory skin reaction is characterized by erythema and oedema. This type of reaction occurs following contact with materials such as acids, alkalis, solvents, and cleansers and is rarely associated with topical application of medicinal or cosmetic products. In contrast, irritant contact dermatitis (a superficial non-immuno-logically based reaction) may occur after repeated exposure to many substances, including topical pharmaceutical agents. The reaction is usually localized to the site of exposure and usually diminishes after the stimulus has been removed. Some materials can stimulate an immune response following an initial topical application. Any future exposure may result in an inflammatory immune reaction, an allergic contact dermatitis, or sensitization. 

Skin contact with petroleum solvents can cause allergic contact dermatitis. Preexisting skin disease may increase the potential for adverse effects. Overexposure via inhalation of petroleum ether affects primarily the CNS. Short-term, high overexposure is associated with an excitatory phase followed by a depressive phase. Exposures of 100-400 ppm for 7h have resulted in headaches, fatigue, and incoordination with dose-associated effects on equilibrium, reaction time, visuomotor coordination, and memory. Inhalation exposures of 445-1250 ppm resulted in blurred vision, a cold sensation in extremities, fatiguability, headache, fatty demylination of muscle fibers, and demylination and mild axonal degeneration. Exposure to 880 ppm produced eye and throat irritation with temporary olfactory fatigue. 

Various solvents have well-known allergic potentials. Allergic symptoms of the respiratory tract (rhinitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, asthma), allergic contact dermatitis and conjunctivitis can be provoked by solvents. The allergic effects of solvents can also contribute to other diseases such as MCS, autoimmune diseases. 

Amichai B, Grunwald MH, Abraham A, et al. (1993) Tense bullous lesions on fingers. Arch Dermatol 129 1043-1048 Ancona-Alayon A (1975) Occupational koilonychia from organic solvents. Contact Dermatitis 1 367-369 Anerva L, Mikola H, Henriks-Eckerman ML, et al. (1998) Fingertip paresthesia and occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by acrylics in a dental nurse. Contact Dermatitis 38 114-116... 

Most cases of allergic contact dermatitis are caused by epoxy compounds contained in solvent-based and water-based paints (Jolanki 1991), but powder paints have also been responsible for contact sensitization due to epoxy compounds (Bokelund et al. 1980 Dooms-Goossens 1989 Jolanki 1991 Munro et al. 1992 Foulds et al. 1992). Of the above-mentioned 68... 

Until the 1980s, turpentine was the principal solvent and thinner in paints and the main cause of irritant and allergic dermatitis among painters. It is an extract of pine trees, and its chief components are terpene... 

Aside from future avoidance of direct skin contact with the offending solvents, irritant and allergic contact dermatitis and chemical burns are treated according to general dermatological principles. Due to the risk of anaphylaxis, patients with verified immunological contact urticaria should avoid further contact. The extent to which antihistamines are beneficial in cases of contact urticaria to solvents is not known. 

Gollhausen R, Kligman AM (1985) Human assay for identifying substances which induce non-allergic contact urticaria the NICU-test. Contact Dermatitis 13 98-106 Goodfield MJD, Saihan EM (1988) Contact urticaria to naphtha present in a solvent. Contact Dermatitis 18 187... 

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