Search

Background: Mentha piperita (MP; peppermint) oil has many commercial uses. Objective: To characterize the epidemiology of contact allergy to MP oil 2% petrolatum. Methods: Retrospective analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group data (2009-2020). Results: Of 28,128 patients tested to MP, 161 (0.6%) had an allergic reaction. Most allergic patients were female (77.0%) and/or over 40 years of age (71.4%). The most common anatomical sites of dermatitis included face (31.7%; of these, one-third specified lips), hands (17.4%), and scattered/generalized (18.6%). Nearly one-third (30.4%) of reactions were strong (++)/extreme (+++), and 80.1% were considered currently relevant. Common sources included oral hygiene preparations, foods, and lip products. Co-reaction with at least 1 of the other 19 fragrance/plant-related screening test preparations occurred in 82.6% (133/161) of MP-allergic patients, most commonly Cananga odorata oil (42.9%), fragrance mix I (41.0%), hydroperoxides of linalool (35.7%), Compositae mix (35.4%), Jasminum officinale oil (31.9%), Myroxylon pereirae (31.7%), and propolis (28.1%). Co-reaction with at least 1 of the 3 most commonly used fragrance screening allergens (fragrance mix I, fragrance mix II, and/or Myroxylon pereirae ) was 59.6%. Conclusions: Twelve-year prevalence of MP allergy was 0.6%. Approximately 40% of cases would have been missed if only fragrance screening allergens were tested.

Background/Objectives: Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) is an aromatic amine dye that may cause allergic contact dermatitis. This study examines the epidemiology of allergic patch test reactions to PPD. Methods: This retrospective analysis characterizes individuals tested to PPD (1% petrolatum) by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (1994-2018). Demographics and dermatitis site(s) were compared between PPD-allergic and PPD-negative patients. PPD reactions were analyzed by reaction strength, clinical relevance, occupational relatedness, and source as well as coreactivity with structurally related compounds. Results: Of 54,917 patients tested to PPD, 3095 (5.6%) had an allergic patch test reaction. Compared with PPD-negative patients, PPD-allergic patients had significantly greater odds of age >40 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.55 [95% confidence interval; CI 1.43-1.69]) and female gender (OR 1.52 [95% CI 1.41-1.66]), but lower odds of being White (OR 0.66 [95% CI 0.60-0.71]). The most common primary anatomic sites of dermatitis were face (25.5%), hands (21.9%), and scattered/generalized pattern (15.5%). Over half (55.3%) of PPD reactions were ++ or +++ at the final reading and 60.9% were currently relevant. Common exposure sources included hair dye (73.5%) and clothing/shoes/apparel (3.9%). Occupationally related reactions occurred in 8.3%, most commonly in hairdressers/cosmetologists (72.8%). The most common coreactions were benzocaine (11.3%), N -isopropyl- N '-phenyl- p -phenylenediamine (6.7%), disperse dye mix (6.5%), and black rubber mix (5.1%). Conclusions: The 24-year percentage of allergic reactions to PPD was 5.6%. PPD allergy was associated with female gender and age >40 years. PPD allergic patients were less likely to be White. Allergic reactions were usually clinically relevant and hair dye was the most frequently identified source.

Importance: The common use of isothiazolinones as preservatives is a global cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Differences in allowable concentrations of methylisothiazolinone (MI) exist in Europe, Canada, and the US., Objective: To compare the prevalence of positive patch test reactions to the methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) combination and MI alone in North America and Europe from 2009 to 2018., Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group, European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA), and the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) databases included data from patients presenting for patch testing at referral patch test clinics in North America and Europe., Exposures: Patch tests to MCI/MI and MI., Main Outcomes and Measures: Prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis to MCI/MI and MI., Results: From 2009 to 2018, participating sites in North America and Europe patch tested a total of 226 161 individuals to MCI/MI and 118 779 to MI. In Europe, positivity to MCI/MI peaked during 2013 and 2014 at 7.6% (ESSCA) and 5.4% (IVDK) before decreasing to 4.4% (ESSCA) and 3.2% (IVDK) during 2017 and 2018. Positive reactions to MI were 5.5% (ESSCA) and 3.4% (IVDK) during 2017 and 2018. In North America, the frequency of positivity to MCI/MI increased steadily through the study period, reaching 10.8% for MCI/MI during 2017 and 2018. Positive reactions to MI were 15.0% during 2017 and 2018., Conclusions and Relevance: The study results suggest that in contrast to the continued increase in North America, isothiazolinone allergy is decreasing in Europe. This trend may coincide with earlier and more stringent government regulation of MI in Europe.

The American Contact Dermatitis Society Core Allergen series was introduced in 2013 and updated in 2017. Changes in our recommended allergens are again necessary, taking into account data from the American Contact Dermatitis Society's Contact Allergen Management Program top 100 allergens from 2018. For the updated series, we removed methyldibromoglutaronitrile and added new haptens: Lyral, Limonene, Linalool, carmine, benzyl salicylate, disperse yellow 3, jasmine, peppermint, pramoxine, shellac, and lauryl polyglucose (glucosides). These additional allergens should increase the yield of relevant positive reactions for our patients.

We report the case of a 10-month-old previously healthy boy who presented with acute rash, edema, and low-grade fever in the setting of recent diarrhea. We differentiate between acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy (AHEI) and Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP).

Allergic contact dermatitis is associated with significant disease and economic burden in the United States. To properly manage allergic contact dermatitis, it is important to accurately identify the substance(s) implicated in the dermatitis to prevent disease recurrence. The commercially available T.R.U.E Test (36 allergens) screening panel has been reported to have a conservative hypothetical allergen detection rate of 66.0%, at most. Importantly, these calculations are based on the 78% of patients who had clinically relevant reactions to allergens present on the North American Contact Dermatitis Group screening series (70 allergens), without the use of supplemental allergens. Testing with supplemental allergens beyond a screening series can more fully evaluate an individual's environmental and occupational exposure, which may significantly increase diagnostic accuracy. Comprehensive patch testing with additional allergens in sunscreens, cosmetics, and fragrances, for example, may increase the diagnostic yield as well as the likelihood of achieving a cure if the dermatitis is chronic and recalcitrant.

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) remains a significant burden of disease in the United States. Patch testing is the criterion standard for diagnosing ACD, but its use may be limited by reimbursement challenges., Objective: This study aimed to assess the current rate of patch test utilization among dermatologists in academic, group, or private practice settings to understand different patch testing business models that address these reimbursement challenges., Methods: All members of the American Contact Dermatitis Society received an online survey regarding their experiences with patch testing and reimbursement., Results: A "yes" response was received from 28% of survey participants to the question, "Are you or have you been less inclined to administer patch tests or see patients needing patch tests due to challenges with receiving compensation for patch testing?" The most commonly reported barriers include inadequate insurance reimbursement and lack of departmental support., Conclusions: Compensation challenges to patch testing limit patient access to appropriate diagnosis and management of ACD. This can be addressed through a variety of innovative business models, including raising patch testing caps, negotiating relative value unit compensation, using a fixed salary model with directorship support from the hospital, and raising the percentages of collection reimbursement for physicians.

The American Contact Dermatitis Society Core Allergen Series was introduced in 2012. After 4 years of use, changes in our recommended allergens are necessary. For the updated series, we have reordered the first 4 panels to approximately mirror the current TRUE Test and removed parthenolide, triclosan, glutaraldehyde, and jasmine. Polymyxin B, lavender, sodium benzoate, ethylhexylglycerin, and benzoic acid are new additions to the American Contact Dermatitis Society series.

The American Contact Dermatitis Society recognizes the interest in the evaluation and management of metal hypersensitivity reactions. Given the paucity of robust evidence with which to guide our practices, we provide reasonable evidence and expert opinion-based guidelines for clinicians with regard to metal hypersensitivity reaction testing and patient management. Routine preoperative evaluation in individuals with no history of adverse cutaneous reactions to metals or history of previous implant-related adverse events is not necessary. Patients with a clear self-reported history of metal reactions should be evaluated by patch testing before device implant. Patch testing is only 1 element in the assessment of causation in those with postimplantation morbidity. Metal exposure from the implanted device can cause sensitization, but a positive metal test does not prove symptom causality. The decision to replace an implanted device must include an assessment of all clinical factors and a thorough risk-benefit analysis by the treating physician(s) and patient.

Allergic contact dermatitis is a common condition in dermatology. Patch testing is the criterion standard for diagnosis. However, dermatitis is not always caused by an allergen, and patch testing does not identify a culprit in every patient. Generalized dermatitis, defined as eczematous dermatitis affecting greater than 3 body sites, is often encountered in dermatology practice, especially patch test referral centers. Management for patients with generalized dermatitis who are patch test negative is challenging. The purpose of this article is to outline an approach to this challenging scenario and summarize the paucity of existing literature on patch test negative generalized dermatitis.

Guttate psoriasis (GP) typically occurs following an acute infection such as streptococcal pharyngitis. It is thought to have a better prognosis than chronic plaque psoriasis (PP). This retrospective cohort study of 79 patients with GP aims to assess the likelihood of developing PP after the first episode of GP as well as compare clinical and laboratory data in patients with GP who do and do not develop PP.

With the growing number of dermatologic surgeries performed each year comes an increased potential for patient exposure and sensitization to allergens. Patients are exposed to many well-documented allergens in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings during surgery. Postoperative skin complications of allergic contact dermatitis increase health care costs and cause patient suffering. Early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment by dermatologic surgeons are essential to decrease morbidity related to medically necessary and elective cutaneous surgeries. While a specific standard screening panel for cutaneous surgery-related allergens is not well established, we propose several categories of allergens be strongly considered and tested if a patient is suspected of having allergic contact dermatitis in an attempt to reveal pertinent allergens and prevent future exposures.

Evidence for the effectiveness of patch testing and the need for an expanded series that provides experience and evidence-based suggestions for an extended patch testing series are examined in this review. Many of those testing with shorter allergen series are interested in expanding the spectrum of patch testing. The American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) Core Allergen Series Group has arranged a group of suggested allergen groups that can be logically scaled up or down depending on the needs of the patch tester and the community being tested. This is not an "ACDS 80 Standard." We suggest a core group of allergens similar to the TRUE Test (SmartPractice, Phoenix, Ariz) with subsequent trays providing a greater breadth of coverage in a logical fashion, with more likely allergens being higher in the tray. For more extensive testing, specialty trays (ie, cosmetics, metals, plant, etc) are recommended.

Background: The state of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) education has not been formally examined since the original study done by High and Cruz (Am J Contact Dermat. 2003;14(4):195-199)., Objective: The objectives of the study were to characterize the current state of ACD and patch-testing education in US dermatology residency programs and to determine if there has been any significant improvement over the past 8 years., Method: This was a survey of ACD education and patch-testing practices in US dermatology residency programs., Results: Surveys were sent to program directors and chief residents at all 112 US dermatology residency programs. Of the 224 surveys sent out, 105 (46.88%) were returned. There were several statistically significant changes from the 2002 survey. More faculty members who are designated as ACD experts are now members of the American Contact Dermatitis Society. Fewer programs now routinely review contact dermatitis-specific journals. Residents are now more likely to receive didactic lectures on ACD. Program directors estimated graduating residents will now be less likely to perform the TRUE Test in practice, and although not statistically significant, program directors also estimated an increase in the number of residents who will use expanded tests., Conclusions: Although some areas of ACD education have improved over the past 8 years, opportunities to further improve remain.

We report a case of an 11-year-old boy who experienced an anaphylactic reaction after administration of bacitracin ointment. After falling and scraping his left elbow, bacitracin ointment was applied to the wound. Within minutes, he experienced an adverse reaction consisting of bilateral pruritus of the feet, which quickly progressed to his head; diaphoresis; nausea; vomiting; facial pallor; and hives. An epinephrine injection was administered and the boy immediately felt better. He was taken to the emergency department and given intravenous methylprednisolone sodium succinate and intravenous diphenhydramine hydrochloride. He was kept for observation, recovered well, and was discharged with prescriptions for prednisone and diphenhydramine hydrochloride. We discuss other similar cases so physicians continue to be aware of this rare yet potentially life-threatening reaction to a commonly used medication.

A 76-year-old man developed progressive blanchable reticulate erythema at the implantation site of his third implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Despite reports of allergic contact dermatitis to implantable devices, extensive routine patch testing in our patient failed to identify a responsible allergen. The clinical presentation and pathologic evidence were consistent with reticular telangiectatic erythema that has been reported overlying pacemakers and, in the English literature recently, overlying ICDs in two patients. Reticular telangiectatic erythema is a benign reactive condition that is possibly due to a combination of aberrant local circulatory and physical forces such as heat, electric fields, or magnetic fields.

Paraphenylenediamine is a common cause of occupational dermatoses in hairdressers, metallurgy workers, and others. Hand dermatitis developed in an employee of a milk packaging facility. The employee's hands were exposed to milk cartons embossed with wet printer's ink on a daily basis for 2 years. The worker was evaluated through a history, physical examination, and patch testing with 50 standard allergens. Patch testing revealed a positive reaction to paraphenylenediamine. The hand dermatitis resolved once the patient instituted protective measures. The worker's reaction might represent a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to printer's ink that contained this agent. More likely, the inciting agent was some other ingredient of the printer's ink that cross-reacts with paraphenylenediamine., (Copyright 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company)

Preservatives are a class of allergens that is well represented in testing series. There are 5 preservatives in the TRUE test, 4 preservatives in the European series, and 13 in the North American Series. Methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiozolinone (MCI/MI) (Kathon CG, Rohm and Haas, Spring House, PA) is a relatively new allergen that was introduced in 1980 in the United States. Its use rapidly increased until reports of contact allergy became an issue. Allowable levels of MCI/MI in products, sensitivity rates, and use rates vary by country. The overall incidence of sensitivity for this allergen, as reported by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, is similar to other allergens in the preservative class.

Cutaneous reactions to foods and spices occur in both the workplace and at home in those who grow, handle, prepare, or cook food. As spices are also used in cosmetics and perfumes other exposures are found. Several patterns have been described upon contact with food including irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, contact urticaria, phototoxic contact dermatitis, and protein contact dermatitis. The purpose of this article is to review the approach to a patient suspected of having a cutaneous reaction to food or spices, as well as discuss these reactions and the allergens that cause them.

Xylene is widely used in medical technology, but there are many concerns about its safety. A 52-year-old woman, employed as a histotechnician, presented with burning, swollen hands. Patch testing and a visit to her place of work confirmed exposure and sensitivity, in the form of contact urticaria, to xylene. The use of xylene-resistant gloves resulted in clearing of the dermatitis. Establishing the diagnosis of contact urticaria from xylene allowed the patient to be cured of her dermatitis and continue working.

Various endogenous factors such as stress and infection are known to influence psoriasis. Previous data suggest that pregnancy has a significant influence on the course of psoriasis. This study explores the effect of pregnancy as well as other hormonal events on psoriasis in women.

Elephantiasis nostras (EN) is a clinical entity that usually presents as a persistent swelling of the lower extremities. It has been related to recurrent lymphangitis of bacterial origin that causes a fibrosis and thickening of both epidermal and connective tissue. Although very rare, EN has been previously reported in the lips. This is the first case reported in the oral medicine literature that describes EN involving the lips. We describe the clinical features and a differential diagnosis of the lip lesions and a treatment protocol to which this patient has responded. A diagnosis of EN should be entertained in patients with chronically edematous, scaling lip lesions.

Oral pigmentation is seen fairly commonly in dermatologic practice. Several conditions must be considered in the differential diagnosis. We present a patient whose condition highlights the clinical syndrome known as Laugier-Hunziker and provides the opportunity to review the clinical course, pathologic features, and literature of this uncommon syndrome.

Background: Previous studies have indicated that cutaneous bacteria, particularly coagulase-negative staphylococci, play a role in the pathogenesis of miliaria. An accumulation of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive material has been described as blocking the sweat duct in miliaria. Furthermore, a PAS-positive extracellular polysaccharide substance (EPS) has been identified as a product of some strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis., Objective: We evaluated the relative ability of various species of coagulase-negative staphylococci to induce miliaria with particular reference to the potential role of EPS., Methods: We inoculated various strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci on the volar forearms of subjects under an occlusive dressing coupled with thermal stimulation. Ability to induce miliaria as well as microbiologic, histologic, and immunostaining features were evaluated., Results: Miliaria was induced only with strains of S. epidermidis; other species including S. haemolyticus, S. hominis, S. cohnii, S. saprophyticus, and S. simulans were not capable of inducing miliaria. Moreover, only S. epidermidis strains capable of producing EPS were capable of inducing miliaria., Conclusion: Our data indicate that EPS is the PAS-positive material that obstructs the delivery of sweat to the skin surface in miliaria and therefore demonstrate that the EPS produced by S. epidermidis plays a central role in the pathogenesis of miliaria. Furthermore, in a survey of staphylococcal flora isolated from 68 subjects, EPS-producing strains were found to be common.