Research Article
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Published Online: 1 February 2018

Contact Dermatitis Associated With Skin Cleansers: Retrospective Analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group Data 2000–2014

Publication: Dermatitis
Volume 29, Issue Number 1

Abstract

Background

There is limited information regarding contact dermatitis (CD) associated with skin cleansers (SCs).

Objective

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of allergic patch test (APT) reactions and irritant CD (ICD) associated with SCs.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed using North American Contact Dermatitis Group data, 2000–2014.

Results

Of 32,945 tested patients, 1069 (3.24%) had either APT reaction or ICD associated with SCs. Of these, 692 (64.7%) had APT reaction only, 350 (32.7%) had ICD only, and 27 (2.5%) had both. Individuals with APT reaction and/or ICD were more likely to have occupationally related skin disease (relative risk [RR] = 3.8 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 3.3–4.5] for APT reaction and 10.0 [95% CI = 8.2–12.2] for ICD, respectively, P < 0.0001). As compared with those without APT reaction to SC, individuals with APT reaction had significantly higher frequencies of hand (RR = 2.4 [95% CI = 2.1–2.7]) and arm dermatitis (RR = 1.3 [95% CI = 1.1–1.6], P  0.001). Irritant CD was strongly associated with hand dermatitis (RR = 6.2 [95% CI = 5.2–7.3], P < 0.0001). More than 50 allergens were associated with SCs including quaternium-15 (11.2%), cocamidopropyl betaine (9.5%), methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (8.4%), coconut diethanolamide (7.9%), fragrance mix I (7.7%), Myroxylon pereirae (5.9%), 4-chloro-3,5-xylenol (5.8%), amidoamine (5.5%), and formaldehyde (4.4%).

Conclusions

Many allergens, especially preservatives and surfactants, were associated with SCs. Most cases involved the hands and were occupationally related.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Dermatitis
Dermatitis
Volume 29Issue Number 1January/February 2018
Pages: 32 - 42
PubMed: 29256904

History

Published in print: January/February 2018
Published online: 1 February 2018

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Authors

Affiliations

Erin M. Warshaw
From the *Department of Dermatology, University of Minnesota Medical School;
Department of Dermatology, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center;
HCMC Parkside Occupational and Contact Dermatitis Clinic;
Molly C. Goodier
Department of Dermatology, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center;
HCMC Parkside Occupational and Contact Dermatitis Clinic;
University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis;
Joel G. DeKoven
Division of Dermatology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
Howard I. Maibach
Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco;
James S. Taylor
Department of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic, OH;
Denis Sasseville
Division of Dermatology, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada;
Donald V. Belsito
Columbia University Medical Center, New York;
Joseph F. Fowler Jr
University of Louisville, KY;
Anthony F. Fransway
Associates in Dermatology, Fort Myers, FL;
Vincent A. DeLeo
Department of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA;
James G. Marks Jr
Department of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University, State College;
Melanie D. Pratt
Division of Dermatology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada;
Toby Mathias
Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, OH;
Matthew J. Zirwas
Ohio State University, Columbus;
Kathryn A. Zug
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH.

Notes

No reprints available.
The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to declare.
This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
The contents do not represent the views of the US Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.

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