Contact allergy to acrylate‐containing nail cosmetics: A retrospective 8‐year study.

Background: Over the last 10 years, allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from acrylate‐containing nail cosmetics (acrylic nails, gel nails, gel nail polish) has been reported repeatedly. Objectives: To investigate the frequency and clinical features of ACD in nail cosmetics in a university hospital in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study in patients diagnosed with ACD from acrylate‐containing nail cosmetics at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers between January 2015 and August 2023. Results: Sixty‐seven patients, all women, were diagnosed with ACD from nail cosmetics, representing 1.6% of all individuals and 2.3% of all women patch tested in this period. Sixty‐five of sixty‐seven (97%) subjects had a positive patch test to 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Forty‐nine patients (73%) were consumers and 18 (27%) were professional nail stylists. The sites most frequently affected with dermatitis were the fingers (79%), hands (40%) and the head and/or neck. Avoidance of contact with acrylate‐containing products resulted in complete clearing of dermatitis in 80% of patients. Conclusions: ACD from acrylate‐containing nail cosmetics is frequent in women patch tested in Amsterdam. Nearly all were identified by a positive patch test to 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate in the (meth)acrylate series or the European baseline series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]