Abstract
Background: Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers are widely used in consumer products and may often cause contact allergy. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of concomitant contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers in dermatitis patients, and to determine the sources of formaldehyde exposure based on personal and occupational products obtained from dermatitis patients. Methods: Patch test data from referred dermatitis patients with a positive patch test reaction to formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasers were analysed. For the period 2000-2008, the formaldehyde content in products obtained from formaldehyde-allergic patients was analysed by chromotropic acid test and/or acetylacetone test. Results: Patients allergic to a formaldehyde-releaser often had simultaneous contact allergy to formaldehyde. Other combinations were also prevalent. In patients who reacted to more than two formaldehyde-releasers, nearly all reacted simultaneously to formaldehyde. Seventy-five percent of the formaldehyde-allergic patients used a product that contained formaldehyde. The main source of formaldehyde exposure was cosmetics (78%). Conclusions: Concomitant contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releaser remains common. Furthermore, contact allergy to a formaldehyde-releaser was nearly always concomitant with another formaldehyde-releaser. Formaldehyde was commonly found in personal products used by formaldehyde-allergic patients.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Contact Dermatitis |
| Vol/bind | 63 |
| Udgave nummer | 1 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 31-6 |
| Antal sider | 6 |
| ISSN | 0105-1873 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 1 jul. 2010 |