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Background: Oxidative hair dyes are an important source of chemical exposure and a major risk factor for the development of occupational and non‐occupational allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) worldwide. Objective: To identify the frequency of common allergens associated with occupational and non‐occupational ACD to hair dyes during the last 10 years, in Greece. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with suspected ACD to hair dyes from 2010–2019. All patients with patch‐test‐confirmed ACD to hair dyes were evaluated. Results: Out of 501 patients with suspected ACD to hair dyes, 362 had at least one positive reaction to hair dye allergens (62.4% were customers and 37.6% were hairdressers). The mean age of customers and hairdressers was 43.8 years and 30.8 years, respectively. Of the customers, 58.9% were exposed to dyes for >10 years and 61% of hairdressers for <5 years. The most common site of ACD among customers was the scalp (85%) and among hairdressers the hands (90%). p‐Phenylenediamine (PPD) was the most common contact allergen (52.2%), followed by toluene‐2,5‐diamine, p‐aminophenol, m‐aminophenol, and ammonium persulfate. Conclusions: Sensitization prevalences for PPD and cross‐reacting allergens have increased in Greece during the last decade, regardless of occupational or non‐occupational exposure to hair dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The patient characteristics according to the MOAHLFA index were as follows: 619 (31.3%) male patients, 624 (31.6%) patients with occupational dermatitis, 692 (35.0%) with atopic dermatitis, 993 (50.2%) with hand dermatitis and 481 (24.3%) with leg dermatitis. At the population level, contact allergy to fragrances was quite frequent, affecting between 1.1% and 2.3% of the general population in Europe.[7] Finally, 31.55% of our patients had occupational dermatitis, reflecting the fact that our department is a specialized referral center for occupational dermatitis. The ongoing high prevalence of nickel allergy shows the importance of complying with nickel regulation, which includes consumer products.[[8]] Fragrance mix was the second most prevalent allergen, also suggesting a need for intervention. Acceptable risk of contact allergy in the general population assessed by CE-DUR--a method to detect and categorize contact allergy epidemics based on patient data. [Extracted from the article]

Certain individuals experience more intense and frequent adverse sensory effects than the normal population after topical use of personal care products, a phenomenon known in popular usage as sensitive skin. Consumer reports of sensitive skin are self-diagnosed and often not verifiable by objective signs of physical irritation. Companies who manufacture cosmetic and personal care products are challenged to provide safe products to an audience with tremendous differences in skin type, culture and habits. This review examines the still incomplete understanding of this phenomenon with respect to aetiology, diagnosis, appropriate testing methods, possible contributing host factors such as, sex, ethnicity, age, anatomical site, cultural and environmental factors, and the future directions needed for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes a retrospective on the causes of eczematous cheilitis, an inflammatory condition of the lips, in Athens, Greece. The study found that the common exogenous causes of the inflammatory condition are contact allergens in lip cosmetics and their metal casings, toothpastes and dental materials, nail varnishes, foods, and medicaments, as well as irritancy from cosmetic agents, foods, and physical factors.

15 patients suffering from allergic contact dermatitis verified by patch test, were investigated for intracellular activity of enzyme 5 nucleoltidase from intact and affected skin. These patients were not treated topically or per as with corticosteroids or other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. 5 nucleotidase activity was measured by an enzymatic method in skin cytosol. These results show an increase of intracellular activity on enzymes, significantly higher in affected skin than in non-affected.