Irritants that cause contact dermatitis are called contact allergens.
These allergens are identified by the diagnostic procedure of patch
testing in dermatitis patients. The North American Contact Dermatitis
Group (NACDG) recognizes ten major contact allergens. They can be further
categorized according to their form and usage.
METALS
- Nickel (nickel sulfate)
- Gold (sodium gold thiosulfate)
- Cobalt (cobalt chloride)
PRESERVATIVES
- Formaldehyde
- Quaternium-15
- Thimerosal
TOPICAL ANTIBIOTICS
- Neomycin sulfate
- Bacitracin 13
FRAGRANCE ELEMENTS
- Fragrance mix
- Balsam of Peru (Myroxylon pereirae)
Nickel
Nickel is a solid silver-colored metal that can be a constituent of jewelry,
buckles, snaps, and other substances made of metal. NACDG tests report
nickel as the most common allergen, with 14% of patch test patients showing
positive reaction to it. Global figures also show nickel to be the most
common allergen with some patch test centers reporting 30-40% positive
results in all cases. However, nickel reactions have a projected 50% significance
to an existing dermatitis condition.
Ear piercing has a major role to play in the high incidence of nickel
reactions, since the metal posts used in the process discharge nickel
and facilitate direct contact with the sensitive skin. Due to its high
presence in jewelry, nickel allergy is more common in women.
Its clinical occurrences are:
- Earring dermatitis
- Necklace or watch dermatitis due to
a nickel-based metal back/band
- Belt buckle or snap dermatitis in
the mid-abdomen
- Eyelid dermatitis from metal eyelash curlers
Concurrent nickel and cobalt allergy is also reported from substances
that combine the two metals. Sweating aggravates the condition as it increases
the metal production of the substance. The dimethylglyoxime test is ideal
for determining whether a substance contains nickel. Those prone to nickel
reactions should switch to jewelry made of stainless steel or gold.
Gold
There are two forms of gold allergy:
1. Systemic reactions: Seen in persons in whom gold is used as a therapy
for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, pemphigus, and lupus erythematosus.
2. Topical gold (auranofin) triggers allergic contact dermatitis
Gold is an inert metal that is used in jewelry, dentistry and also the
electronics sector. The ideal potency of a patch test contains gold sodium
thiosulfate 0.5%., though this allergen is not available in the TRUE® Test.
There is a wide discrepancy in the global extent of gold reactions, regular
testing generally shows a range from 0.78% to 10%. In the NACDG tests,
90% of gold allergy was found in women.
The clinical occurrences of dermatitis are:
Cobalt
Cobalt is a hard metal that commonly occurs in combination with other
metals such as nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten, to increase
hardness and durability. Hence, an estimated 80% of patients reporting
cobalt allergy also react to chromate (more in men) or nickel (more in
women).
The exposure vehicles of cobalt are jewelry, snaps, buttons, tools, cosmetics,
hair dyes, joint replacements, ceramics, enamel, cement, paints, and resins.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a colorless liquid or gas that is universally found in
almost all workplaces and circulates in the air from cigarette smoke and
automobile emissions. It is the most common ingredient in cosmetics, medications,
textiles, paints and paper. Now-a-days, it is avoided in personal care
products and cosmetics. However, formaldehyde reaction occurs due to the
use of other formaldehyde- discharging preservatives.
Formaldehyde resins, which are used in 'wash-and-wear' or wrinkle-free
garments, are also a major cause textile dermatitis. These resins are
also released from plastic containers into products they contain.
The common occurrences of formaldehyde allergy are:
- Irritant contact dermatitis
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Contact urticaria
- Mucous membrane irritation mostly in the conjunctiva
and respiratory tract
Since formaldehyde is omnipresent, it is difficult to detect and avoid.
Patch tests can often be unmanageable and must be checked for clinical
relevance.
Quaternium-15
The preservative Quatermum-15 is a quaternium compound, which acts as
a useful biocide against bacteria and fungi primarily Pseuclomonas aeruginosa
and P. cepacia. Though it is used in many industries, occurrence of work-related
contact dermatitis is not frequent. Its main vehicles are personal care
preparations such as shampoos, moisturizers, conditioners, and soaps,
body washes. It is also the most prevalent cosmetic preservative-based
trigger of allergic contact dermatitis. Its reactivity could be linked
to its production of formaldehyde.
80% of Quatermum-15 sensitive patients also show concurrent allergy with
the latter and other formaldehyde releasing preservatives. Quaternium-15
exposure can be guarded against through educated reading of product label
information.
Thimerosal
Thimerosal - sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate is a common preservative
coming from the following sources:
- Vaccines
- Contact lens solution
- Otic and ophthalmic solutions
- Solutions for intradermal examinations
- Antiseptics
- Cosmetics
Patch testing shows mixed results with some positive and clinically relevant
reactions, while others lacking the latter. Hence, regular testing should
be the strategy, though NACDG has discontinued thimerosal testing since
2003.
Neomycin Sulfate
Neomycin is an antibiotic is a most common topical antibiotic and found
in:
- Antibacterial ointments
- Hemorrhoid creams
- Otic and ophthalmic products
It is often used in combination with other antibacterial agents (bacitracin,
polymyxin, corticosteroids), hence reaction to it is presumably correlated.
Bacitracin
Bacitracin is a topical antibiotic found in antibacterial and ophthalmic
products, generally in combination with other topical antibiotics (mostly
neomycin) and corticosteroids. It often shows concurrent sensitivity with
neomycin. Clinical appearances are:
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Anaphylaxis and contact urticaria
(rarely)
Balsam of Peru
Balsam of Peru (Myroxylon pereirae) is an organically found fragrance
that other than fragrance allergy manifests itself in reaction to spices
(cloves, Jamaican pepper, cinnamon) colas, tobacco, wines and vermouth.
The NACDG identifies it as the third most prevalent allergen and The
International Fragrance Association recommends its avoidance as a fragrance
ingredient. Balsam of Peru was the major fragrance allergy before the
development of the fragrance mix in 1970, which can also be the cause
of allergy.
Fragrance Mix
NACDG marks fragrance mix as the fourth most common allergen (11.7%)
and the commonest cosmetic trigger of allergic contact dermatitis.
Fragrance mix was introduced in 1970s and was a milestone in the recognition
of a fragrance reaction. The existing mix is made of eight fragrances
(1% each):
- cinnamic alcohol
- cinnamic aldehyde
- eugenol
- oak moss absolute
- a-amyl cinnamic aldehyde
- geraniol
- hydroxycitronellal
- isoeugenol
This basic mix identifies 70-80% of fragrance allergies.
Other than their use as pleasant aroma, these mixes also occur in the
following forms:
- In preparations (labeled unscented) that cover bad odors, known as
masking fragrance. Patients who react to them should look for ‘fragrance
free’ labels.
- As a preservative or emollient
