Contact Dermatitis in Salvador, Brazil

In Salvador, Brazil, 536 patients were patch tested with 24 contact allergens. The most common sensitizers included potassium dichromate, thimerosal, hydroquinone, nitrofurazone ointment and nickel sulfate. The results of this South American study are compared with those published by North American and European dermatologists. Low frequencies of positive reactions were encountered in Salvador to some substances, including mercury bichloride and p -phenylenediamine. The influences of climate and life style in determining patterns of contact sensitivity are discussed.     

Dermatitis in hairdressers

Hand dermatitis in hairdressers is caused by a variety of factors. Important are the sensitizing and irritant capacities of some hair-cosmetic ingredients, unsafe packaging which causes contamination of the hands, work tables and instruments with hazardous chemicals, absence of protection with adequate gloves and ignorance of safe handling of these chemicals. A strategy is proposed, based on improvement of the safety of ingredients and packaging, use of vinyl gloves and introduction of safe hairdressing procedures. Introduction of this strategy in hairdressing salons with 16 cases of moderate to severe contact dermatitis reduced the number of cases of active dermatitis to 3 in 4 months. The value of pre-employment screening is discussed and the necessity of cooperation of centers of occupational dermatology is emphasized.     

Systemic Contact Dermatitis from Propolis Ingestion

Propolis, also known as bee glue, is a substance collected by worker bees and it is used as a material for constructing and maintaining their beehives. It has been used topically and orally by humans for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the growing use of propolis has been paralleled by reports of allergic contact dermatitis as a reaction to the substance. Contact dermatitis with generalized cutaneous manifestations elicited by propolis ingestion has not been previously reported. Here we report on the first case of systemic contact dermatitis from propolis ingestion in a 36-year-old woman.     

Dermatitis in Ecuadorean farm workers

Using a cross-sectional survey of potato farm workers in northern Ecuador, we examined the relationship between pesticide exposure and skin disorders, From a farm population census, all pesticide applicators and 1/2 of exposed field workers were selected. Controls were age-matched from urban occupations. Individual exposure measures included overall years and current hours working with pesticides. Farm-level measures included numbers of applications over the last 6 months and an application practices score (range 0–4). Each participant underwent a clinical skin examination, with patch tests to maneb on a sample of dermatitis cases. Exposure-related increase in conjunctivitis (7% of applicators, 0% in other groups), dermatitis (68% of exposed and 55%. of applicators versus 31% of controls. p < 0.001) and pigmentation disorders (25% of exposed and applicators vs 10%, controls. p =0.0.06) were found. Among dermatitis cases ( n =117). 5% were positive to maneb on patch testing. In logistic regression analysts, significant predictors ( p < 0.1) of dermatitis included years using fungicides (OR=1.12 per year) and poor application practices (OR=1.42 per score unit). Agricultural fungicide application in high-exposure situations can contribute to dermatitis prevalence among farm populations.     

Sensitization to sodium hypochlorite causing hand dermatitis

2 patients are reported with chronic hand dermatitis related to sensitization to sodium hypochlorite, as the active component in a bleaching product. To avoid irritant reactions in patch testing, a sodium hypochlorite concentration of 1.0% appeared to be useful. It is concluded that with regard to the frequent use of bleaching agents, allergy to sodium hypochlorite must be considered in certain cases of unidentified chronic allergic hand dermatitis.     

Sensitization to methylenedianiline and para-structures

A toxic-allergic skin reaction of the face, neck and arms due to accidental contact with methylenedianiline (syn: 4-4'-diaminodiphenylmethane) is reported in a cleaner at a chemical plant. Patch tests revealed sensitization to chemicals of the para-group. Earlier exposure to it was unlikely. Previous sensitization to related chemicals and possible cross-sensitization was considered to be the primary cause of the allergy and the clinical manifestations.     

Dermatitis in bulb growers

A damaged skin forms a health hazard in flower-bulb growers as it enables higher permeation rates For pesticides than normal skin. Therefore, an investigation was performed into the skin condition of 103 bulb growers and 49 controls. Contact dermatitis of the hands was of the same order (11 and 10%) in both groups. However, minor signs of dermatitis were seen more often in bulb growers (30 versus 8%, p <0.05). Most growers had contact with narcissus sap during the investigation. This irritant sap, as well as many other skin contacts with irritants such as hyacinth dust and pesticides, seemed to be responsible for many skin complaints. Contact serialization was suspected in 19 growers and 3 controls. Patch tests showed that contact sensitization existed to pesticides in probably 10, and to flower-bulb extracts in 4 growers. Reactions to propachlor were not regarded as very reliable as the test concentration seemed to be marginally irritant. There were only a few allergic reactions to narcissus (3) and tulip (2) and none to hyacinth. This investigation showed that minor irritant contact dermatitis was frequent in bulb growers, and indicated that contact sensitization to pesticides and bulbs seemed to be a less frequent but important cause of dermatitis.     

光变应性接触性皮炎的光变应原研究进展

光变应性接触性皮炎是皮肤科常见病,发病率逐年增高。其病因复杂,防晒剂、药物、抗菌剂和香料等光变应原是引起光变应性接触性皮炎的重要原因,光斑贴试验可查找光敏物质,是临床诊断光变应性接触性皮炎的重要方法,长波紫外线+中波紫外线是理想的光斑贴试验光谱。本文对引起光变应性接触性皮炎的相关光变应原及其光斑贴试验研究进展进行综述。