Subjective irritant contact dermatiti

Positive patch testings from sulfur (>-l-) were reported in 5 of 39 exposed workers, compared with 1 of 21 control subjects. This article provides results of previously unreported irritant contact dermatitis [44]. 

Smith, H.R., et al., Irritant thresholds in subjects with colophony allergy. Contact Dermatitis, 42, 95, 2000. 

Before confirming a diagnosis of subjective irritation, patients must be patch tested and open tested to exclude allergic contact dermatitis and contact urticaria, respectively. Subclinical contact urticaria, in particular, mimics sensory irritation. 

Zelter et al. [126] compared iontophoretic and subcutaneous delivery of lidocaine and reported that although cutaneous bums were observed in two of the 13 patients for iontophoretic delivery, the majority of the subjects suffered only blanching or mild erythema of the treated site. Other studies also reported blanching and erythema of the skin [127], mild skin irritation [128], sensations of localized heat or cold [111], tingling and itching [126], and allergic contact dermatitis and vims activation [111]. 

The human skin serves as the body s first line of defense against biological and chemical attack. It is not, however, an armored plate. Rather, it is a permeable membrane that is vulnerable to attack by a large number of chemicals. It is subject to irritation and burning by chemicals and can also react to chemical allergens, as in allergic contact dermatitis. Respiratory sensitization can also ensue following dermal sensitization. 

Adverse Effects. The side effects of topical minoxidil are mainly local, caused by skin irritation and contact dermatitis. Systemic side effects are uncommon because of limited percutaneous absorption, but diffuse hypertrichosis of the face and limbs has been reported with the 5% solution and was attributed to systemic absorption of the drug (84). Although topical minoxidil does not change blood pressure in healthy subjects, it increases heart rate by 3-5 beats/min and slightly increases the left ventricular end-diastolic volume, cardiac output, and left ventricular mass (85). These effects are not considered clinically significant, and the potential for cardiovascular side effects is very low. 

The field of dermatotoxicology includes measurement of absorption of materials as well as assays that evaluate the ability of topically applied chemicals to induce or promote the development of neoplasia, trigger an immune response in the skin (allergic contact dermatitis and immunological contact urticaria), directly destroy the skin (corrosion), irritate the skin, and produce non-inflammatory, painful sensations. The inflammatory responses of skin are the most common chemically induced dermatoses in humans. This chapter briefly introduces the subject the Mar-zulli texts provide more detail (Marzulli and Maibach... 

Lammintausta K, Maibach HI, Wilson D (1987) Irritant reactivity in males and females. Contact Dermatitis 17 276-280 Lammintausta K, Maibach HI, Wilson D (1988) Mechanisms of subjective (sensory) irritation. Propensity to non-immuno-logic contact urticaria and objective irritation in stingers. Derm Beruf Umwelt 36 45-49... 

Impregnation of military uniforms with permethrin to prevent malaria and leishmania is a rare cause of contact dermatitis in soldiers. Only two among 229 subjects wearing the impregnated uniforms developed mild skin irritation (Soto et al. 1995). 

A Canadian study found the overall prevalence of allergic reactions to alcoholic beverages to be 0.46% (Israel et al. 1992). Hypersensitivity to wines has been attributed to histamine and other amines as well as sulfites (Dahl et al. 1986), but the alcohol itself may also be responsible. An extensive review of the subject (Ophaswongse and Maibach 1994) concluded that alcohol can be an allergen and cause both contact urticaria and irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. They documented 15 reports of either immediate or delayed allergic reactions after... 

Human subjects exposed briefly to 25 ppm experienced irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Workers exposed to 5-8 ppm for 1 month complained of fatigue and malaise, which disappeared when air levels were reduced to l ppm. Repeated or prolonged skin contact with the liquid may cause dermatitis because of its defatting action. Although it may be more toxic and irritative than lower-molecular-weight ketones at equivalent concentrations, it poses less of an inhala-... 

Human subjects exposed to 2 5 ppm for 15 minutes experienced eye irritation at 50 ppm, there was also nasal irritation and a persistent unpleasant taste that remained with many subjects 3-6 hours after the exposure. Liquid mesityl oxide produces dermatitis with sustained skin contact. ... 

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