Abstract
Background: Allergy to cosmetics is common. Objectives: We sought to characterize patients with positive patch test reactions associated with a cosmetic source, to identify common allergens; and to explore gender and occupational associations. Methods: We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis. Results: Of 6621 female and 3440 male patients, 1582 female (23.8%) and 611 of male (17.8%) patients had at least one allergic patch test reaction associated with a cosmetic source. Of "allergic" patients (>1 allergic reaction, n = 6815), females were 1.21 times more likely to have an allergic reaction associated with a cosmetic source than were male patients (p < .0001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-1.31). Within the "cosmetic allergic" group (n = 2243), head and neck involvement was significantly higher in female than in male patients (49.3% vs 23.7%, p < .0001). One hundred twenty-five patients had occupationally related allergic reactions associated with a cosmetic. Limitations: This study is limited by its cross-sectional, retrospective design. Conclusion: Of all patients studied, 21.8% had an allergic reaction associated with a cosmetic. Site of dermatitis, cosmetic categories, and specific allergens differed somewhat by gender.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 23-38 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2009 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Conflicts of interest: Drs Zug, Fowler, Belsito, Maibach, Marks, Mathias, Storrs, and Buchholz declared no conflicts of interest. Dr Rietschel has been a speaker for Coria Labs. Dr Warshaw has been a consultant for Shire and Noven Pharmaceuticals. Drs Sasseville and Pratt have been consultants for Spexell Pharma. Dr. Pratt has also been an investigator for Coria and Dormer/Chemotechnique. Dr Taylor has been a consultant for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Betco, Shire, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Procter & Gamble, BASF, Regent Medical, AMA Press, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and ConvaTec Inc. Dr Taylor has been a speaker for Medicis, Hermal Labs, Aula Medica, and Watson Laboratories, Inc. Dr Taylor has also been an investigator for Mekos Laboratories and Guidant Corp. The Cleveland Clinic Department of Dermatology has received grants from Amgen, Astellas Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, and Centocor. Dr Taylor holds stock in GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen, Johnson & Johnson, Keithley Instruments, Medco Health Solutions, Inc, Merck, Wyeth, and Renovo. Dr Taylor has been on the advisory boards for UnitedHealthcare and Connetics Corporation. Dr DeLeo has been a consultant for La Roche-Posay, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Orfagen. He has also been on an advisory board for Schering-Plough.
Funding Information:
Supported by a Women's Dermatologic Society Academic Research Grant Program.